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Hybrid Pen Blanks
- Thread starter Jim
- Start date
You mean the kind of things George Watkins makes? Never thought about it, but they do look cracking!
Jim
Grand Master
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2011
- Posts
- 15,617
I have to be honest I just dont like them but that is just me I think they are way over priced but saying that I have never made them from what I see a bit of off cut wood maybe a bit of burr and some resin of some sort so why are they a whole lot more expensive than a whole wood or resin pen blank it just dont add up to me sorry please correct me if I'm wrong
Neil
Fellow
Woody,
George has put his prices up to nearly a tenner a piece and I think he's now way overpriced. The blanks that he makes with the mini cones in are fantastic (in my opinion) and polish up a real treat. The work that does go into them is significant. The resin that he uses is a combination of various resins, he did show me how he does it but he has promised to kill me if I talk about it. The reason hes so expensive is that he currently has exclusivity, and he is trying to make a living out of it having given up his painting and decorating business. Now too bloody expensive in my opinion.
At least he would be doing something useful painting and decorating.
I don't understand the exclusivity part Neil anyone can make them with a little effort and will to want.
He don't hold no patent on them and if he does I would like to challenge it.
I don't understand the exclusivity part Neil anyone can make them with a little effort and will to want.
He don't hold no patent on them and if he does I would like to challenge it.
Wennthepen
Apprentice Member
Would be nice to know how to do it, l have tried several ways with pathetic results.
mick the pen
Full Member
Hi jim any chance of a pic never seen one
Neil
Fellow
Brian,
He's only exclusive in that he is the only person, (that I know of) who makes them. There's nothing that anyone else cant do, but he is very protective of the resin that he uses, apparently its not an off the shelf resin. May be you can shed some speculation on that Brian?
Jim
Grand Master
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2011
- Posts
- 15,617
Neil
Fellow
Mick,
And another
And another
There are others in the US who do it, quite a few actually.
Amazon Exotic Hardwoods: Hybrid, Pen Blank
TurnTex Woodworks - Texas Hybrid Pen Blanks
See the prices they charge !
There are many different formulas Neil each one claiming to be the best, clearest, hardest setting, fastest etc.
George is gonna have a hard time if he is relying on these alone, I know his hollow forms are pretty and he wants to be a pro turner I wish him luck.
I would need garaunteed volumes to come out of retirement in that industry.
Turnover and profit are vastly different when setting up a proper environment to practice in this feild.
These fumes are killers and I am already ultra sensative to them after the years I spent with them.
I do hope you kitchen casters take note of the H&S sheet tjat comes with these products?
If you don't get one ask for one and read it, you are subjecting all about you to what you are doing.
Neil
Fellow
Neil which do you think would be the easiest ones to turn ...don't want to start with difficult ones and then get disillusioned.
Neil
Fellow
Ed,
They are easy to turn, the minicones ones are consistent but getting a really smooth finish across the point at which the mini cones can be an issue, patience required, the burr ones are easy, you need to go easy at the outset as the material density varies, so its small cuts , then get used to it.
I thoroughly enjoyed turning them, but they should be reserved for that special pen! Too costly otherwise, although the Atrax that I pictured above spent ten minutes on the stall at £50.
They are easy to turn, the minicones ones are consistent but getting a really smooth finish across the point at which the mini cones can be an issue, patience required, the burr ones are easy, you need to go easy at the outset as the material density varies, so its small cuts , then get used to it.
I thoroughly enjoyed turning them, but they should be reserved for that special pen! Too costly otherwise, although the Atrax that I pictured above spent ten minutes on the stall at £50.