Pen 4
My grandson selected a Magna Red Original Cactus Blank and matched it with a gold Atrax Fountain Pen. This was the fifth pen he has turned but it is the first one that he did everything (with minimal help from me). I should mention that his Mom and Dad both use fountain pens regularly. My Grandson has been using them since the time he learned to write, as does his younger brothers.
My Grandson encountered a problem with the body of the pen. Once sanded there were some noticeable grooves in the turned blank. I explained his options to him and he chose to turn the blank some more and re-sand. He used a Pen-Pro Carbide insert tool for the turning and finished by sanding and using EEE, White Diamond and Carnauba Wax (Beall Buffing System).
My "hands on" contributions to the creation of this pen were holding and guiding both of his hands as he used the band saw to cut the blanks. I chucked the blanks and the drill bits because he could not get the jaws of the chucks tight enough to prevent slipping of the bits or to securely hold the blank. I also used digital calipers to check the size of the ends of the barrels. Other than that I just stood behind him and verbally coached him. He did 100% of the turning (between centers with bushings) and finishing. I applied Loc- Tite to the inside of the barrels prior to assembly and held the parts for him as he used the press to push them together.
Age 9