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Serpentine blank. How I do it.

Terry Q

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Oct 8, 2014
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Location
Roanoke, Illinois USA
First Name
Terry
I show you 2 pens and blank configurations to match the pens. Looking at the blanks you can see how they are made. The blank on the right I was able to glue it up in 2 days. The left blank takes 4 days. If I get up early, do a glue up and leave them clamped for 6 hours I can do a second glue up the same day. I cut the blanks on my scroll saw. Each half of the cut blank has to be sanded along the bottom edge to remove the cutting fuzzys. Each half has to have the dust wiped off before gluing. Apply glue to both halves, insert veneer and clamp. A couple things have to happen all at once. While applying the first clamp push the veneer down against your bench, hold both halves firmly down against your bench and make sure the blanks don't slip along the center axis. The last step isn't important until the 3rd glue up. If you miss this one your previously glued strips won't line up. I use 4 clamps for each blank. I glue up 25 at one time (picture shows 15, I bought more clamps). The veneer is purchased in sheets and is 1/42" or .023 thick. I cut strips to match the width of the blank. This process is for blanks with a single piece of veneer. Blanks with 3 pcs veneer sets require gentle curves and 5 clamps. These are harder to hold and clamp as spring back with 3 pcs is greater.

Blanks can be purchased through ExoticBlanks.com. (Not my web site. I don't have one) Look under guest artist blanks.
 

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Jim

Grand Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Posts
15,617
Got to admit those blanks are bang on Terry, pity i never seen these earlier as on the 6th of this month i placed an order at ExoticBlanks.com for some lava and pine cone blanks (thou i haven't had any conformation email from him?) had i known i could have put a couple of these in my order. Maybe next time. :thumbs:
 

Dalboy

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Posts
7,679
Location
Kent
First Name
Derek
I did a single cut in a blank a long time ago 2009 but never followed it through seeing yours I wish I had as these look great. Thank you for the walk through
 

silver

General dogsbody
Executive Member
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Jun 29, 2013
Posts
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Location
Somewhere in Staffordshire,
First Name
Eamonn.
TerryQ

Really helpful as it seems but it was more unhelpful that it was helpful.. If you know what I mean..:devil:

Do you have a tutorial of how you make the blanks up? I have read your post and still come up with, what you on about? Or is it just me ? .?.....?
All it seems is you are advertising your blanks for us to buy from exotic blanks..
 

Terry Q

Fellow
Joined
Oct 8, 2014
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Location
Roanoke, Illinois USA
First Name
Terry
This is interesting Terry thanks for posting.
Where do you get you veneer from? I cant seem to find it here.

Legend I get it here. Exotic Wood Veneer, Vacuum Press Systems, Veneering Tools and Veneering Supplies

Silver I reread the post and it was a little vague. So, here is a fast explanation. Cut the blank in half lengthwise using a wavey pattern. Glue in a piece of veneer. Next day make another wavey lengthwise cut and glue in another piece of veneer. Day 3 turn the blank 90 degrees and repeat steps 2 more times. If you have more questions please ask.

However I won't object if you want to buy some.:ciggrin:

Terry
 

Gizmo3k

Graduate Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2014
Posts
616
Location
Armadale, West Lothian
First Name
Alan
Funnily enough, I just did something similar at the weekend, but using an irn-bru can. Will try and post a picture later, but even then it doesn't look as good as these!
 

Woody

Registered
Joined
Jul 12, 2013
Posts
12,812
Location
at home
First Name
no
This is exactly the idea I had when I was looking for a fret saw I must say they look very nice I will be doing some one day
 

rroehrig

Apprentice Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Posts
3
Location
Venice, Florida USA
First Name
Bob
Terry, after seeing your pens on the WOW site I had to investigate further and found this pen turners site which by the way I like very much. Your pictures are worth a thousand words and I want to give this a try.
Great job on the pens and congrats on making the WOW cover.
 
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