Two from the shop:1st fountain pen

[Darrin]

I made my 1st fountain pen today. Im pretty pleased overall although I have to ask....when using dry (VERY DRY..10+ years dry) wood, how do you control the splintering around the brass tubes when trimming the barrel? I made my own repairs but would rather not have to next time. Anyhow, This is a Baron made out of Redwood Burl. The next is a Sierra made from Buckeye burl. I love burls....as many know.

 

[JimB]

Congrats on your first fountain. It looks great. Sorry I can't help with your barrel triming question.

 

[xmaddchillx]

the second one is dyed?

 

[NewLondon88]

They both look great. I think you might try some thin CA on the ends before you use the
end mill .. and might be better off sanding rather than milling the ends. Cut as close as
you can, apply CA to stiffen up the end grain and then sand with (220?) down to size

 

[mrcook4570]

Flood the endgrain with thin CA. That will cure your splintering problem.

 

[wdcav1952]

What Charlie and Stan said!

 

[toolcrazy]

Both are very nice.

 

[LostintheWoods]

Everyone is right--generous application of thin CA will help. BTW, redwood is prone to splintering, so be light-handed with the end mill, as well.

 

[angelofdeath]

you have some nice looking pens there....i really like the Buckeye...great job

 

[gatornick]

I just used redwood burl this weekend, and I couldn't get it to stop splintering even with CA. I have a sanding mill that I made by turning an old end mill around, and it definately solved the problem. Redwood is so soft that sanding the ends was very easy.

 

[jkeithrussell]

Use a belt sander instead of a barrel trimmer. If done correctly, it will save you a lot of time and aggravation.

Good looking pens.

 

[bitshird]

Nice pens, and sand the ends, that burl is pretty.

 

[Darrin]

Thanks guys. A belt sander eh?? Well, I'll just have to sit the wife down and let her read these comments so I can justify it Thanks folks!!