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Pink conkerberry

Penpal

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,342
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
FRom the wilds of the Northern Territory Conkerberry is getting very hard to find. It grows as a bush covered in thorns with others making it difficult to harvest. My mate who gathered some for me ages ago described the event as Bloody. Cutting the buttand dragging it out involves keeping an eye out for some our our most dangerous snakes as well. Termites love the timber as much as I do,to get solids is unusual.

I often say what I do in turning pens (this one a Slimline with the Streamline centre band I buy separately from Timberbits.com in 5 colours.

There were inclusions in one blank,I mostly would practice throwing one of them in the bin. For well over thirty years my go to step drill is used to clean and put a ream in the ends. Squaring off shows how it sands with the step drill alongside.

Had fun,after all it has been a long time favourite of mine. My source is retiring now.

Kind regards Peter.
 

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fortress

fortress

Registered
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Posts
5,178
Location
Astley
First Name
John
That is a beautiful pen Peter, gorgeous wood and lovely turning as usual. It looks like the termites have had a go at your elastic band. lol.
 
Phil Dart

Phil Dart

Moderator
Executive Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Posts
5,491
Location
Colebrooke, Devon
First Name
Phil
Looks great Peter. I do like the little details you put in your streamlines, especially the one for the ball of the clip. I'm not following the step drill part though - does that meaning you are trimming to exact length as a first process?
 
Penpal

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,342
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
This Step Drill was all you could buy (30 dollars AU) in the 1980,s when the only kit was the Slimline. Mostly people used it in a hand drill and they never lasted (HS Steel) See pics I mounted mine and every Slimline pen I have made gets the treatment 1. After gluing to clear the tube and ream the entry (see the grind on the step drill made from a ground end mill.

Using it by hand I have never lost a blank cause you can feel the cutting movement.After gluing I right angle face blanks,clean and ream. The device I made uses pin punches of most all sizes.

Peter.
 

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Penpal

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,342
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
fortress said:
That is a beautiful pen Peter, gorgeous wood and lovely turning as usual. It looks like the termites have had a go at your elastic band. lol.
Click to expand...

I noticed that as well mate. I used to drill 200 blanks in assembly fashion with the drill press running all the time,glue up 100 doubles etc. This one must go way back as you and I observed the elastic band was like me ,tired but still working.Going through old blanks there are many like this tucked away. I used to store a thousand blanks in the lounge plus my blank room full at the end of the workshop. Thrill of the chase. One drill would do hundreds of 7mm holes, I do have a chuckle when turners say those drills you use can not be sharpened,I say tough luck amortise them against the number of holes (peanuts). Used to buy wholesale in the dozens direct from the makers rep in Australia.

How many times have you had a mate where after you buy a set of tyres etc confronts you and says I could have got you these cheaper. Especially I remember when shipping was bulk before Containers where so many items simply never arrived at the port?

Now all this when I have never made a living from making pens even in my 23 yrs retirement, yes I have sold some,I have a saying THE WORTH OF A PEN.

Peter.
 
D

Dibbs

Full Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2018
Posts
47
Location
Leeds
First Name
Ian
Really nice overall shape and I love the detailing. I've never thought to do something like that but it looks really good so I might try it.
 
J

JerseyBill

Full Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2018
Posts
169
Location
Jersey, Channel Isles
First Name
Bill
A beautiful timber I have never heard of before Peter. Thank you for sharing it - and your process - with us. Once again you show us great guidance and innovation Grand Master! :thumbs:
 
Penpal

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,342
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
Terry Q said:
Lovely pen Peter. Will the colour stay or turn darker?
Click to expand...

Colour fast for me,it varies from every piece of this timber I have had. I did notice a long time back the offcuts (big tray of them ) faded on the outside left in the sun for months. This is common with many other timbers. Richard Raffan has always said in symposiums all timbers turn to grey over time.

Peter.
 
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