Pine Cones Revisited

[Buckeye]

Some of you will remember the pine cone blanks I made a couple of years ago (I think) and sent some to various members. I got fed up of making them as everyone wanted them, these blanks are the ones that have been most requested, I think I did about 40 pens with them on and I couldn't stand the site of them for a long time. I am glad I revisited them, they do look good. I put it on a black chrome streamline.

Peter

 

[Themackay]

Ilike those Peter must have missed them first time round

 

[Buckeye]

Ilike those Peter must have missed them first time round

Thanks, here are the others http://www.penturners.co.uk/wood-turned-items/4438-pine-cone.html?highlight=pine+cones
http://www.penturners.co.uk/wood-turned-items/4365-pine-cone.html?highlight=pine+cones

Peter

 

[flexi]

Yes please i would love some!!
No honestly very nice...they are something different and make a special pen

 

[Buckeye]

Yes please i would love some!!
No honestly very nice...they are something different and make a special pen

I can send you some, but they are easy to make yourself. Soak pine cones in water until closed, drain for a few hours. On the bandsaw cut a flat along the length and then turn and cut another etc until you have a square blank. Cut a 90 deg flat on the bottom of the cone so that it will stand upright and then flood between the petals with CA the more CA you can get in the better, you have to keep those petals closed when it dries out completely. Drill a 5 or 6 mm hole down the centre and again flood with CA, you need to secure the petals from the inside as well. When turning use a skew and only go from the bottom of the cone to the top so that you are using the skew in the same direction the petals are pointing, if you do it the opposite way your skew may go under a petal and undo all your good work.

Peter

 

[angelo49]

Peter, those are amazing **5** pens!!
VERY NICELY DONE!!
Thanks for the explanation.

 

[Buckeye]

Peter, those are amazing **5** pens!!
VERY NICELY DONE!!
Thanks for the explanation.

Thanks, Angelo. I forgot to say you need to keep applying CA when you are turning, just to keep things tight. You will get the seed pods coming out and the holes can be filled with CA as I have done or with some kind of powder to give a contrast.

Peter

 

[fortress]

They are very nice Peter, thanks for the information, most interesting.

 

[Terry]

They look spot on Peter !!!

 

[woodhacker]

sounds like you put an awful lot of time into the blanks but the outcome is startling

 

[edlea]

They bring back memories Peter..it was fun doing them .

 

[Themackay]

Did you get big enough cones to do each section of the pen Peter

 

[Penpal]

Among the great pens ever shown on this forum, brilliant pen Peter.

Peter.

 

[Buckeye]

Did you get big enough cones to do each section of the pen Peter

Yes, each section is one cone.

Peter

 

[Terry Q]

I can see why they are popular. Very dramatic.

 

[Les ELm]

Nicely done.

Les

 

[ataylor]

Cracking pens mate.

 

[Buckeye]

Thanks for all the comments, I hope some of you try these cone blanks, if you drill them slightly off centre they take on a different appearance.

Peter

 

[Bammer]

Excellent work, they look great and thank you for the tips.

Hopefully by the end of the week I'll have something interesting to show

 

[wm460]

That is a beauty peter.