Spanish Olive Slimline

[PhillH]

Not sure if it's typical but this was a joy to turn ! First attempt at grain matching as well and I'm pretty chuffed with that.

CA finish and buffed with Colgate

 

[clumsysod]

Olive wood is lovely to turn, can be a touch oily so be careful with the finishing technique ca can bite back after a while.
Keep hold of it for a few months to get some *confidence* in it before departing with it.
It can also be a lot more figured but a lovely pen none the less.

 

[PhillH]

Olive wood is lovely to turn, can be a touch oily so be careful with the finishing technique ca can bite back after a while.
Keep hold of it for a few months to get some *confidence* in it before departing with it.
It can also be a lot more figured but a lovely pen none the less.

Ah now that possibly explains something !

2nd coat of CA and suddenly there was a CA lump appeared near the (to be) nib end. Had to carefully sand it back down and thankfully seem to have got away with it.

I'm gonna get some more of this for sure but may well try friction polish and wax on it next time.

Does the Bethlehem olive turn the same ? I like the look of that.

And thanks for the kind words !

 

[clumsysod]

Bethlehem olive wood can produce stunning results, again can be very oily but turns beautifully.
Again I hear this question time upon time "how does it turn" basically you spin it between centres and hold a sharp instrument against it, the only thing that can go wrong is you. Either not sharp enough or trying to take too much off in one go. Hark at me the expert after less than a year.
Mind you what a year it has been, I have found this forum and spun with 4 very good professionals in that time.
If you want to ca finish it a lateral wipe with meths or turps would be advisable before sealing.
A nice wax or oil finish would give no adverse effects on oily woods using the same product to seal it. A few coats will start to build just as good a shine.

 

[Jim]

Phill, i like to use BLO on Olive wood, then leave it for a few hours or even better over night, then give it a friction polish and a wax finish, the wood comes up very clear and with a good shine ...

The more wood you take off the less grain ... Also just a quick tip, try to round off the ends near the center band, it gives the pen a better feel ...

 

[PhillH]

Phill, i like to use BLO on Olive wood, then leave it for a few hours or even better over night, then give it a friction polish and a wax finish, the wood comes up very clear and with a good shine ...

The more wood you take off the less grain ... Also just a quick tip, try to round off the ends near the center band, it gives the pen a better feel ...

Cheers, I'll try that when I've tracked down some more blanks.

I've been wondering about the middles, I went right down to the bushings but I end up with that stepped look, so how do I lessen that look ?

I'm using the bushings that cam with the Planet mandrel ( I assumed they were slimline bushes)

All tips gratefully received.

 

[Jim]

Phill, all you need to do is round off what you have done, taking off the sharpness. Just roll your skew over the edge ..