OK I lied. Really the last pen of the year....

This is one of the Burl blanks I just got from Bucks (Thanks Bucks!).

It arrived in the post today, straight down the shed :)

This is a Knurl GT in 'gunmetal'.
I really like this kit, it shows a lot of the blank and is a very nice pen to write with.

I toyed with the idea of filling the small voids and features, but went with the 'warts and all' approach. I feel it contrasts really nicely with the hard, clean, dark metal of the pen. The dark spots tie it to the kit nicely.
I went with a dark stain for the voids, and a couple of lighter shades on top to show off the grain. The finish is two coats of sanding sealer, four of Melamine.
You can feel the wood really well in the hand, but it's smooth and 'finished'.

Turned on my little Axminster Precision Pro, with Carbide tools.

I had a lot of fun making this on.

Karl

Lots of character in the piece of timber.
White sanding dust in to voids?

Les

Thanks Les.

No dust, just made sure the stain got into the voids. Then later, the sanding sealer and melamine, so the piece is sealed.
I really wanted to see and feel the nicks and dents in it. Contrasts the smooth sanded wood.

Karl

Great bit of wood, you’ve done well there Karl mate

Thanks very much.

K

Glad you’re happy with the blanks Karl, I really like the pen ‘warts n all’

It really looks good Karl.

Thanks very much.
It was a fun pen to make.

K

Knurling is magic with your pen and the idea is novel and about time we made the most of what we have. What you see is what you get.Like riding your motor bike without the exhaust. Breathtaking finishes have their place ,noticed the big order made by the 17 yr old on the IAP sure proves this.

Peter.

Thanks Peter,

K

Great looking pen Karl, I like those kits.

Thanks very much.

I like the Knurl GT too.
I know it was designed to be a 'sports car', and looks very tech and industrial when used with synthetic blanks, but it looks great set against something really organic.
The tech look sets off the wood.
Also, and very importantly, it's actually a really good pen :)

K

I like that Karl, I did a GT with the pearly gates blank a while ago so the kit can be dressed up or down Either works well.