Newest project---making pens

I needed something to keep me busy for about a month so I started making pens. I wanted to take a break from bowls so I thought I would give this a spin (pun). First couple of them where easy to make and a snap to put together. Then I started making a better quailty pen --then I wanted a corn cob pen. That was Tom's fault I had seen the ones he had posted. Having so much fun making these things I started selling them. Hey it works people pay form them so I can buy more kits to make more pens. This could be another habit I have. Anywho I thought I would post a couple of my Cobs---bad joke.

Very nice Gary... you did a great job on those.... fun aint it.... and very habit forming... also can be very profitable... have already sold $300 worth of pens the last two weekends and the Christmas buying season has not even started at my farm market...
BTW, get hold of Bill B at Arizona Silhouette or Ryan at Woodturningz and get some of the other color Cigars... I find the satin gold really looks great with a corn cob... their cigar prices are the lowest I have found anywhere..

Thanks Tom--already buy from BB--as a matter of fact he shipped a order to me today.
We are going up north next week and plan on stopping in Woodturningz--I talked to Fred yesterday.
I want to check out their blanks.

bunch for the Freedom Pen Project and am using Mylands friction polish. On some porous woods it takes 5-6 coats of it to get a nice finish. I'd be interested in hearing wht you guys are using. I love the corn cob pens, very cool. Alan in Md.

Alan I am still a rookie at this pen thing. I think I have turned 18 of them so far.
I have found for different kinds of wood I am using different things.
But now Tom on the other hand----thats a different story.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alan Tolchinsky

bunch for the Freedom Pen Project and am using Mylands friction polish. On some porous woods it takes 5-6 coats of it to get a nice finish. I'd be interested in hearing wht you guys are using. I love the corn cob pens, very cool. Alan in Md.

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Alan, after sanding out to 320 I coat the blank with CA and sand again. I repeat this sequence until the blank is quite smooth, maybe two or three coats of CA.

At this point I sand with MicroMesh out to 12,000. I stop the lathe and sand lengthwise after the coarse grits. I usually clean the blank with alchohol between grits. This leaves a fairly shiny surface and one that I think is quite acceptable. But to make it even better I put on two or three coats of Mylands followed by a coat of Renaissance Wax.

I figure if the Mylands wears through, the user's fingers will buff the CA finish to an even higher gloss. So far, no complaints.

I'm going to try CA some time but I don't know about that smell. Yow!