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Empress
- Thread starter paulm
- Start date
I know what you mean about the Bling Brian but the blanks were 1" x 1" so wanted something substantial to put them in and this kit was at hand.
Penpal
Grand Master
Oak perfection Paul a beautiful pen and the kit also worthy choice, when matched this way one comment because you landed the blanks cheaply does not diminish their value IMHO but makes you feel good when you find them, well seen mate.
Kind regards Peter.
Kind regards Peter.
Goulss
Registered
Blimey at that price you would think they grew on trees:wink:, had to put my sunglasses on to look at the bling! Stunning turning and finish
It's a lovely oak burr and a quality pen. I don't understand the dislike of the Empress, I have made quite a few watch parts pens which were pre-ordered with the Empress and they looked stunning.
Peter
Peter
I am agreeance with this it is a beautiful pen with a beautiful blank i would love this either as the maker or benifactor.
billyb_imp
Registered
Nice looking pen if a bit blingy, great finish
chas_41_uk
Registered
Beautiful piece of wood. Well turned and finished
Neil
Fellow
Paul,
I have some of these kits so am equally guilty of deluding the manufacturer that they have created a masterpiece by creating a demand for this kit. I bought several when TB launched it as the Spring Blossom (I think it was) and then Axminster launched it as the Empress, the difference being that Axminster launched it as both a FP and a RB whereas TB did only as a RB and also the Axminster model had that plastic thing on the end of the clip.
I have to say that the kit has the design finesse of a motorway pile up. Take for example the clip, it says it all. The inset brass coloured bling thing fits looselywithin the punched recess on the clip itself which has no design style whatsoever. it is a flat piece of cheap material, badly coated and simply folded. The design concept for the top of the pen was obviously taken from a baked bean can, the cylinder that it is, is featureless and poorly coated further highlighting its lack of styling and quality. The brassy blingy bits are cheap pressings that lack fine detail and look like a five year olds efforts with play doh.
The plating redefines abysmal, similes nor metaphors not required, simply awful.
To cap it all the pen was launched, and TB refused to market the Fountain Pen, as the internal bore on the pen was too narrow to take a cartridge, who was the designer? Homer Simpson?
The nib section of the Roller ball looks like it came from the head of a medieval arrow tip, designed to penetrate the body and not come out without causing maximum damage.
The pen as a whole has the design flair of a police truncheon and is equally good as a writing implement.
On the issue of the wood, nice piece, but guess that you put the CA straight on the wood or perhaps you may have used liquid sealer first? Wonder what the colour would have been like if you had used aerosol sealer?
Being hypercritical Paul, there is an 'orrible black line at the interface of the cap wood and the metalwork and likewise but not as prominent on the lower barrel and the tip. I suspect, but might be wrong that this is a bit of CA "overhang" and that this line is a shadow caused by the wood not quite joining the metalwork. Could be removed by gently rotating the turned ends on a bit of 400 grit. I have found this gets rid of this problem.
I have some of these kits so am equally guilty of deluding the manufacturer that they have created a masterpiece by creating a demand for this kit. I bought several when TB launched it as the Spring Blossom (I think it was) and then Axminster launched it as the Empress, the difference being that Axminster launched it as both a FP and a RB whereas TB did only as a RB and also the Axminster model had that plastic thing on the end of the clip.
I have to say that the kit has the design finesse of a motorway pile up. Take for example the clip, it says it all. The inset brass coloured bling thing fits looselywithin the punched recess on the clip itself which has no design style whatsoever. it is a flat piece of cheap material, badly coated and simply folded. The design concept for the top of the pen was obviously taken from a baked bean can, the cylinder that it is, is featureless and poorly coated further highlighting its lack of styling and quality. The brassy blingy bits are cheap pressings that lack fine detail and look like a five year olds efforts with play doh.
The plating redefines abysmal, similes nor metaphors not required, simply awful.
To cap it all the pen was launched, and TB refused to market the Fountain Pen, as the internal bore on the pen was too narrow to take a cartridge, who was the designer? Homer Simpson?
The nib section of the Roller ball looks like it came from the head of a medieval arrow tip, designed to penetrate the body and not come out without causing maximum damage.
The pen as a whole has the design flair of a police truncheon and is equally good as a writing implement.
On the issue of the wood, nice piece, but guess that you put the CA straight on the wood or perhaps you may have used liquid sealer first? Wonder what the colour would have been like if you had used aerosol sealer?
Being hypercritical Paul, there is an 'orrible black line at the interface of the cap wood and the metalwork and likewise but not as prominent on the lower barrel and the tip. I suspect, but might be wrong that this is a bit of CA "overhang" and that this line is a shadow caused by the wood not quite joining the metalwork. Could be removed by gently rotating the turned ends on a bit of 400 grit. I have found this gets rid of this problem.
Thanks Neil, you are very right on all accounts. I don't know what the colour would be with another sealer, I did use glue directly onto the wood and very pleased with the results although if it could have looked better then I am I'm always willing to try so I'll get some spray sealer (which one?) and give it a go.
You are sharper than one of our hawks noticing the overhanging ca. I do usually sand it or just use the barrel trimmer to take off the excess but just before I did the CMM came into my cave to tell me that my sons girlfriend had been involved in a head on. She was OK but I needed to sort out her car and insurance so quickly put it together. I've been using a scalpel to get it off since....
As an aside, I was supprised to see her car which was a KA with not too much damage which needs a new bumper, wings, bonnet etc and although a right off, the car she hit was a new BMW. It looks like its been hit with a tank.
You are sharper than one of our hawks noticing the overhanging ca. I do usually sand it or just use the barrel trimmer to take off the excess but just before I did the CMM came into my cave to tell me that my sons girlfriend had been involved in a head on. She was OK but I needed to sort out her car and insurance so quickly put it together. I've been using a scalpel to get it off since....
As an aside, I was supprised to see her car which was a KA with not too much damage which needs a new bumper, wings, bonnet etc and although a right off, the car she hit was a new BMW. It looks like its been hit with a tank.
Neil
Fellow
Paul,
Good news regarding your sons girlfriend, hope that there aren't any whiplash issues in the forthcoming weeks.
On the issue of aerosols, I use Chestnut Acrylic because I always have.
Good news regarding your sons girlfriend, hope that there aren't any whiplash issues in the forthcoming weeks.
On the issue of aerosols, I use Chestnut Acrylic because I always have.
Neil can you copy and paste those kit comments into the poll I have running at the moment, they are so relevant.
Paul glad the girl OK mate, the worry they put you through is untold all through life.
My daughters fella is flying out today to Florida, his mum was took ill while on holiday there, she is in a coma with liver collapse and heart problems.
The hospital are kicking her out because her insurance have spent their limit on her and she is now running up a bill of over $1000 per hour she is in there.
He has to get her home. They will put her on the street if the bill isn't covered, ends there no if's or buts, OUT.
Paul glad the girl OK mate, the worry they put you through is untold all through life.
My daughters fella is flying out today to Florida, his mum was took ill while on holiday there, she is in a coma with liver collapse and heart problems.
The hospital are kicking her out because her insurance have spent their limit on her and she is now running up a bill of over $1000 per hour she is in there.
He has to get her home. They will put her on the street if the bill isn't covered, ends there no if's or buts, OUT.