Third time is charm - first Cigar pen

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JasonC

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Joined
Apr 27, 2014
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286
Location
Honolulu, Hawaii
Followed Bill's tutorial in the library. First one was Russian Olive burl and I drilled the wrong size (too large) in the blank. :rolleyes: Second time I, for some reason, assembled the two pieces, put them between centers, and decided to make the two the same diameter. That resulted in non-concentric blanks/hardware.

Third time I chose some Walnut crotch, kept a clear head, and followed Bill's tutorial. Took a while, but I didn't make the mental mistakes I made the first two rounds.

Hardware is a Metro from Woodcraft. Ashes were made when I drilled the Buckeye Burl with the brad point bit. Saved the shavings.

C&C welcome, of course.
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When I saw the first picture, my first thought that someone came up with a new project for the lathe, rolling cigars. That is awesome Jason. Very cool pen.
 
wyone said:
I want to make one really badly.. but I have been watching.. reading.. and learning first.. hopefully I can do something a fraction this good for my first time
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I started penturning in April of this year. I spent hours reading through the forums as well as the library. I also bought three or four books on the subject as well. Read, learn and practice. I was trying to figure out how to get the ash right as far as cutting it with the Dremel. Finally I just went at it in a somewhat random way with the exception of the very end. I went in a circular pattern there, just hitting it with the cutter, turning the piece, hitting it again, and so on. I used the woodburner in low areas.

Waggoner said:
Very nice. I hope I have that kind of skill one day.
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This was my first attempt. Go for it.


tgsean said:
Wow that is simply awesome. Amazing work Jason.
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Thanks, man.
 
That is a beauty. I love the image in the ashtray with a little ash it makes the entire package look like it is absolutely real. Great job all the way around.
 
Very nice Jason. The ash and the finish are top notch. I really like that kit with this project, may have to get one or two and try it out. Keep at it.
WB
 
mikespenturningz said:
That is a beauty. I love the image in the ashtray with a little ash it makes the entire package look like it is absolutely real. Great job all the way around.
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Thanks, Mike. Great compliment coming from you.

Wood Butcher said:
Very nice Jason. The ash and the finish are top notch. I really like that kit with this project, may have to get one or two and try it out. Keep at it.
WB
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Bill, thanks for the awesome tutorial. I would've had success the first time if I had not made mental mistakes while following your tutorial. All of the info is there but due to a difference of equipment, I had to improvise a few things.

I'm working on writing up a modified version with things I did on the third one that worked with what I (and I'd guess a lot of guys) have on hand. I don't have fancy collet chucks or pin chucks on hand so I had to improvise. What I did seems to be fairly foolproof (has to be - I did it :tongue:) so after seeing wwneko, Waggoner, and wyone say they hope to be able to do it I thought a more caveman tutorial might be good.

BSea said:
That's a great job Jason! :good:
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Thanks, Bob. I hate that I ruined that Russian Olive Burl blank I got in trade from you. :redface: That would've made for an awesome cigar with a lighter wrap. Would've. :rolleyes:

I'm currently working on cigar pen #2 right now - a La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor. Had a guy see this pen and asked for/pre-paid to get one in his favorite smoke.

I'm taking pics as I go along for tutorial purposes. When that pen is done I'll post the process pics and info.

I took this pen with me to Woodcraft and the guys were afraid to touch the ash - they thought it would fall off. When I tapped the ash on counter and it knocked they freaked out. That was kind of cool.

I left Woodcraft and, to do some research (I'm a non-smoker), I went to a local tobacco shop.

Talked to the guys there, asked if they had any loose labels, and explained why I needed them. I showed them the pen. THOSE guys were afraid to touch the ash as well - they thought it was real. :smile: So...they were amazed and that brought up quite a discussion and education on cigars. I left there with some cigars (for labels) as well as some cigar boxes, and they even let me rummage through a drawer of wood that's used to separate the cigars - perfect pen blank sizes.

Anyway, it was cool to have people see this in person and be convinced that the ash was real. That's a good feeling. The guys at the cigar shop DID mention that it needed less of a sheen which is something I thought as well. Tested a few ideas today so I think I'm making progress on that front.
 
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Ash is dead solid perfect!! Only suggestion would be to dull the finish up a bit; cigars aren't very shiny in most cases.
 
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