Tru-Stone question

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MobilMan

Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2008
Messages
676
Location
Safford, Arizona, USA.
Like Randy S. said, the Malacite is easy to turn. In fact the closer you get to the center the more it turns like acrylic, long strands to wrap around the blank. The Turquoise seemed somewhat harder. Very sharp spindle gouge & it came off in small shavings. But still very easy to turn. Kinda like a piece of stabilized wood. Now the question. What are/is the 'hard' ones or hard to turn ones. I would like to get one-two of what's considered hard. Looking for the challenge. I've read where they've had to resharpen their tool [turning tool, that is] 3/4 times for one blank. Can't even imagine having to do that. I keep my 3/4 spindle gouge [my favorite for pens] very sharp all the time & use the grinder maybe once every couple of months. My back only lets me stand for maybe 30 min. in one place so during break time I use a diamond file across the bevel & a piece of 800 on a dowel held flat on top to knock off any little roll at the edge. So, what is a hard Tru-stone? Thanks
 
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Any of the "NON PLIABLE" Tru-Stone blanks are supposed to be hard to turn and as Roy said the Blue Lapis (my favorite) are hard , although I've never thought that way . To be honest I've never seen the problem of having to resharpen my tools several times turning any of the tru-stones but I am using carbide tipped turning tools .
Don't go by me though , I LOVE turning Acrylester .
 
Thanks again Ed & Roy. I've checked his sight out & have it saved. Actually to my emails where I ship things I want to find easy again. Was curious what other members have turned.
 
I've done a few Trustone. It's amazing how acrylic some are........Though the Lapis is hard(er), I found the Black/Gold Web a tough nut!

I would have to make a pass or three, and re sharpen my chisels. Crazy tough, but makes a nice looking pen.

I'm posting a photo of said pen right now......................

Cheers,
Tim
 
Mobilman,

What you need to do is contact Richard (randbcrafts) and tell him you want a turning challenge!

Ask him if he still has any non pliable Chilean Lapis (not blue lapis) on hand. I turned one and will never do another! Actually, I would order one each of the non pliable Charoite and non pliable Imperial Jade and start with those and work up to the Chilean lapis. :wink:

I will gaurantee you that you or anyone else, regardless of how sharp they think their tools are, will be back to a grinder many, many times with these babies. :biggrin:

As a contrast, I think the easiest I have turned are the colored "matrix" and "web" blanks or the pink coral.
 
Persian turquoise and pink coral turn like butter....even better than many acrylics. I concur with the others that the black/gold web and matrix varieties do take a bit more work. The new lapis is on the harder side and about the limit for me unless I get a skogger or experiment with a carbide router bit or something.
 
Hey Richard, Since you are looking for a challenge, if you decide to order a few blanks that you like, I will throw in 1 or 2 extra "challenge" blanks :wink: for you if you will post the end result here. Let me know...
 
Uh-oh. That little blue face tells me somethings up. I'll take you up on it Richard. but it may be a little bit. I DO intend to go back thru your list & pick some out. Got a lot going on right now but I will stay on it. Got some ideas now & know what to look for. See if I've still got a 3/4 Sp. gouge when I'm done. I'll be getting back with you. Thanks
 
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