Beaufort Leveche Rollerball

[ValleyBoy]

I know colouring wood, especially figured wood, can be a divisive topic but I’ve been experimenting with colour and here are two examples. Both are made from elm burr.

I started making pens out of curiosity rather than to sell them but both of these were very popular and I’ve been asked to make “similar” versions for people.

I’ve done some things along the same lines with other Beaufort and PorKraft pens and I’ll post some pics of those. Mostly two-tone with a natural body and coloured cap.

Anyway feedback very welcome. And apologies if the photos are too big. I’m doing this from my phone and it’s only my 3rd post so if I’m not doing it right then please tell me.

VB

 

[flexi]

We are all different and what someone likes, someone else may not, that's what creates interest...... personally I have made pens from a lot of different materials including sh*t( well moose nugget).
What you have done is too make two very well turned pens firstly and then to add interest, nowt wrong with that....again personally I like both....alot.... I like the second more than the first, but that's preference and I would be interested in knowing more about how you achieved the first too......what dyes? Did you use pressure? What finish? Please

 

[Paul hd]

Very nice pens.

 

[alan morrison]

Well turned pens Ash
I like no.2 better maybe because I like the darker wood.
Well done on both anyway, and keep them coming.

Alan

 

[Penpal]

Like the two pens and the idea of colouring. Thanks for the beaut pics Vb. Lots of methods between the two.

Peter.

 

[ValleyBoy]

We are all different and what someone likes, someone else may not, that's what creates interest...... personally I have made pens from a lot of different materials including sh*t( well moose nugget).
What you have done is too make two very well turned pens firstly and then to add interest, nowt wrong with that....again personally I like both....alot.... I like the second more than the first, but that's preference and I would be interested in knowing more about how you achieved the first too......what dyes? Did you use pressure? What finish? Please

Thanks Mark. I appreciate the feedback and you’re right, if you don’t add something a bit different then everything would look the same. Speaking of which now I’m going to have to check out moose nugget...

As for the finish I use stain. The top pic is water based and the red one is spirit stain (chestnut products). In both cases I apply the stain using either an airbrush (for the feathering effect) or a paper towel. You don’t really need an airbrush but I have one so I use it primarily because I’ll get less stain on my hands and I always forget to wear gloves. I do it whilst on the lathe and I go a lot darker than I want the end colour to be because I then add danish oil to bring out the grain (which also of course dilutes the colour). I leave it for a day to cure. Then sanding sealer (which takes a bit more of the colour out). For final finish I used ca glue for the top pic and used melamine (a la Phil Dart) for the red pen. I really like the melamine so will try to perfect that for future pens.
Cheers
Ash

 

[angelo49]

Nice work!!
I like the feathering effect!

 

[Les ELm]

Nicely done.
Different strokes for different folks.

Les

 

[Mark James]

Well done for both. I have a preference for the first, as I appreciate the subtle tinting and the symmetry between the upper and lower blanks. The single (aluminium ?) insert in the second pen is a very nice element.

Each from Elm - very nice how each reflected your personal touch.

 

[wm460]

Great looking pens Ash

 

[fortress]

They are very different Ash, and very pleasing to behold, well done.

 

[Doug]

They look very nice to me

 

[Chriscb]

Evening Ash,

Two very well turned pens - addition of the aluminium strip adds just that little bit of 'wow' factor. Colouring wood is indeed a 'Marmite' question. I actually think it enhances the pens in this case, but sometimes it's horrendous. I particularly like the second pen - the barrel has a hint of colour whilst the cap is a good contrast.

In terms of the photography - if you're using an iPhone you can tweak the exposure (tap the screen over the darkest/lightest part), and in doing so you can cut the exposure of the cap on the first pen. No doubt there are similar controls on other phones. Forgive the comments if you already know this!

Regards,
Chriscb