What can be done in an hour and a half

[mmayo]

I don't usually time myself when making pens. That said, this group of eight pens were taken from sanded and alcohol wiped to this photograph in just under 90 minutes.

14 coats of CA glue for each tube (on the lathe)
Flush sand the ends (thanks Rick Herrell) on the lathe
Apply three coats of thin 5 cps CA to the ends
Sand using my 3D printed sanding bushings in the lathe
Buff on the Beale buff using my 3D printed buffing bushings on the lathe
Clean the tubes inside and out
Press on the lathe
Photograph

Hopefully sell this weekend.

 

[wolf creek knives]

Impressive Mark to say the least!

 

[magpens]

What can be done in an hour and a half . . . .

. . . . by The Maestro ! ! ! ! . . . Nice work, Mark ! ! !

 

[larrystephens]

I don't usually time myself when making pens. That said, this group of eight pens were taken from sanded and alcohol wiped to this photograph in just under 90 minutes.

14 coats of CA glue for each tube (on the lathe)
Flush sand the ends (thanks Rick Herrell) on the lathe
Apply three coats of thin 5 cps CA to the ends
Sand using my 3D printed sanding bushings in the lathe
Buff on the Beale buff using my 3D printed buffing bushings on the lathe
Clean the tubes inside and out
Press on the lathe
Photograph

Hopefully sell this weekend.

Very inspirational!

I'm not sure I understand the coats of glue for each tube on the lathe?

 

[mmayo]

Very inspirational!

I'm not sure I understand the coats of glue for each tube on the lathe?

The ends are critical to having a long lasting finish on a pen. Sweat can lift CA. This method makes sure the entire outside is coated with CA, the ends which are wood are coated with CA and the inside is brass. Everything is protected.

 

[larrystephens]

The ends are critical to having a long lasting finish on a pen. Sweat can lift CA. This method makes sure the entire outside is coated with CA, the ends which are wood are coated with CA and the inside is brass. Everything is protected.

Now I understand, the 14 coats are referring to the tube after turned, do you use epoxy to glue the tubes and then treat the ends with CA, or use CA for both. Do you use wax to seal the end of the tubes?

 

[keithbyrd]

Awesome Mark! That is fast time for use of CA! Two questions: 1) do you use accelerator with the CA? What do you use for Beale Buffing?

 

[wrjones224]

These look great! I am sure they won't be in your inventory for very long.

 

[mmayo]

Awesome Mark! That is fast time for use of CA! Two questions: 1) do you use accelerator with the CA? What do you use for Beale Buffing?

My technique:

I glue in all tubes with EZ Bond two part epoxy

Turn wood
Sand with 400 grit or finer grit
Clean with denatured alcohol
Let dry thoroughly
Apply EZ Bond thin 5 cps four coats
Spray with Stickfast accelerator lightly after 4th coat
Apply EZ Bond Pen Finish (thin 50 cps) and lightly spray with the same accelerant
Repeat three more times
Reverse lathe
Apply four coats of pen finish and spray after each
Reverse lathe
Apply two coats of pen finish and spray after each coat. For my high end pens I apply at least four coats here!
Let dry and cure for at least 15 minutes
Flush sand ends of tubes with Rick Herrell's jig and 220 grit.
Apply three coats of thin 5 cps to ends
Sand with 400 grit or finer
Buff on the first two wheels on the Beale buff
Press and sell

 

[mmayo]

Now I understand, the 14 coats are referring to the tube after turned, do you use epoxy to glue the tubes and then treat the ends with CA, or use CA for both. Do you use wax to seal the end of the tubes?

When putting the tube in the blank or when spraying the outside for acrylic pens I use dental base wax in the ends. NEVER use CA to glue tubes in pen blanks. It will break far more often than epoxy.

The ends, as stated, get thin 5 cps CA.

 

[keithbyrd]

My technique:

I glue in all tubes with EZ Bond two part epoxy

Turn wood
Sand with 400 grit or finer grit
Clean with denatured alcohol
Let dry thoroughly
Apply EZ Bond thin 5 cps four coats
Spray with Stickfast accelerator lightly after 4th coat
Apply EZ Bond Pen Finish (thin 50 cps) and lightly spray with the same accelerant
Repeat three more times
Reverse lathe
Apply four coats of pen finish and spray after each
Reverse lathe
Apply two coats of pen finish and spray after each coat. For my high end pens I apply at least four coats here!
Let dry and cure for at least 15 minutes
Flush sand ends of tubes with Rick Herrell's jig and 220 grit.
Apply three coats of thin 5 cps to ends
Sand with 400 grit or finer
Buff on the first two wheels on the Beale buff
Press and sell

Thanks Mark! I've never uses Pen Finish - going to have to check it out. Your finishes are great! One last question - what buffing compound do you use?

 

[mmayo]

Thanks Mark! I've never uses Pen Finish - going to have to check it out. Your finishes are great! One last question - what buffing compound do you use?

I use triple E and white diamond only. Skip the wax for me.

 

[keithbyrd]

I use triple E and white diamond only. Skip the wax for me.

Thank you Mark!