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Green maple burr

ValleyBoy

Graduate Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2019
Posts
645
Location
Cardiff
First Name
Ash
Hi pen people

I posted a similar pen to this in purple a little while back. This is the green version which, instead of acrylic, has ebonite threads and section. It also has an ebonite finial on the barrel. This allows me to make a compete pen from a single wooden blank (they are quite pricey).

This pen also has a fully lined cap, which I have started doing on all my wooden pens. The final picture shows the ebonite cap insert which is glued inside the wood next to it. It has a stepped profile as I add a taper to the cap when shaping, so this ensures the wall thickness isn’t compromised. It does add a bit of extra work, and a certain amount of precision is needed, especially when boring the insides of the wood so each step is exactly aligned with the corresponding step on the insert.

The threads are 13mm triple lead and the nib is a Jowo no6.

Cheers
Ash

5DCC1CC4-C65D-4E1B-B37D-0AD5CA19FD6F.jpgCCFB5D67-8D6B-4249-A398-536B1CE7592B.jpgD8059292-7BDF-447D-BF52-FBD71167BFFC.jpgEAC75762-C241-4899-9403-F1BA621AAA05.jpg3E53D892-5DA9-4393-B9D3-858C170847E4.jpg
 

flexi

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,159
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
That's another lovely piece of maple, well framed and showcased, I also like the match with the ebonite too. You can see both a lot of thought and work has gone into this one:drool::drool:
 

Chriscb

Full Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2014
Posts
204
Location
Sutton Coldfield
First Name
Chris
Stunning work. On a technical note, are you turning these pens just using a metal lathe or combination of both wood and metal lathes.

Chriscb
 

ValleyBoy

Graduate Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2019
Posts
645
Location
Cardiff
First Name
Ash
Stunning work. On a technical note, are you turning these pens just using a metal lathe or combination of both wood and metal lathes.

Chriscb
Thanks Chris.

I use a combination of both. I drill, bore and thread on a metal lathe then shape and finish on a wooden lathe, broadly speaking. I sometimes shape on the metal lathe too but I like to keep my hand tool skills going so try to mix it up a bit.

Cheers
Ash
 

Chriscb

Full Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2014
Posts
204
Location
Sutton Coldfield
First Name
Chris
Thanks for that. Not wishing to re-invent the wheel I'm gathering best practice notes from various kitless pen turners. At the moment in essence it's practice, practice ...... whoops - start again!

Chriscb
 

21William

Fellow
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Posts
1,618
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Dorset
First Name
William
Thanks for that. Not wishing to re-invent the wheel I'm gathering best practice notes from various kitless pen turners. At the moment in essence it's practice, practice ...... whoops - start again!

Chriscb

If I could only have one Lathe it would be a metal turning lathe. For freehand turning you really need a proper rest for it though. Here’s one on a Myford.

Hand Turning Rest for the Myford

Parallel and taper turning are much easier on a MW Lathe using the carriage. Rare on modern machines but some old wood turning lathes had a carriage and toolpost etc.
 

ValleyBoy

Graduate Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2019
Posts
645
Location
Cardiff
First Name
Ash
Thanks for that. Not wishing to re-invent the wheel I'm gathering best practice notes from various kitless pen turners. At the moment in essence it's practice, practice ...... whoops - start again!

Chriscb
Yes you’ll probably end up with a few blanks in the bin and maybe a couple thrown at the wall…

When I first started making pens I did everything on a wood lathe. I bought the metal lathe to cut metal rings and sections, but increasingly started using it for more. It’s also really useful for turning square blanks to round. I never enjoyed doing that by hand very much.

As for basic shaping on a metal lathe (tapers for example) I cut steps into the work and then use a file (lathe running) to shape by hand. This is fairly common practice in the machining world to shape metal. It takes a bit of practice and care but it’s fairly easy to do. You can also etch-a-sketch the cross slide and carriage to create curves but that takes a bit more practice…

Cheers
Ash
 

21William

Fellow
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Posts
1,618
Location
Dorset
First Name
William
Yes you’ll probably end up with a few blanks in the bin and maybe a couple thrown at the wall…

When I first started making pens I did everything on a wood lathe. I bought the metal lathe to cut metal rings and sections, but increasingly started using it for more. It’s also really useful for turning square blanks to round. I never enjoyed doing that by hand very much.

As for basic shaping on a metal lathe (tapers for example) I cut steps into the work and then use a file (lathe running) to shape by hand. This is fairly common practice in the machining world to shape metal. It takes a bit of practice and care but it’s fairly easy to do. You can also etch-a-sketch the cross slide and carriage to create curves but that takes a bit more practice…

Cheers
Ash

Can you not angle the top slide to turn short tapers Ash?

You may find this of interest for free hand stuff.


The Turnado Freehand Metal Turning System
 

ValleyBoy

Graduate Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2019
Posts
645
Location
Cardiff
First Name
Ash
Can you not angle the top slide to turn short tapers Ash?

You may find this of interest for free hand stuff.


The Turnado Freehand Metal Turning System

Hi William
Yes it’s certainly an option provided your lathe has a compound slide. I do have one but the reason I don’t use it for this is because I shape the pen barrel on a mandrel so the entire workpiece is exposed meaning I need the tailstock up. So there isn’t enough room, (it’s very tight). They are very handy for cutting threads at 60 degrees though, which was my main reason for getting a lathe that has one.

Thanks for the link, I found it really addictive watching that tool being used. Very cool!

Cheers
Ash
 
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