Two firsts. One pen!!

[Pastor of Muppets]

Well here it is my tube in blank care of the awesome [MENTION=1404]Bucks[/MENTION], in my first Beaufort Ink Sirocco.
It’s a gorgeous blank in a gorgeous kit turned by a crack handed idiot!
I’m really happy with it and will be popping it in the post to Australia in the morning and will hopefully hear the squeals of delight from here in a week or so!
Again I would really like to thank all you fine folk for all your help advice and support!

 

[Penpal]

this guy in Australia salutes you. Did the cap cover hand press in, were the components tight to press in the cap and tip? Curious to know I just used my first Sirocco.

Peter.

 

[Cumbrian Craig]

What a great looking pen. Top work, give yourself some credit. I'd be very happy with it

Regards

Craig

 

[Bucks]

I’m glad your happy with the blank Andy, nicly turned by the way

 

[Les ELm]

Nicely done.

Les

 

[Pastor of Muppets]

this guy in Australia salutes you. Did the cap cover hand press in, were the components tight to press in the cap and tip? Curious to know I just used my first Sirocco.

Peter.

Hi Peter the cap cover pressed in pretty easily by hand but i'm not sure its all the way in as there is a small gap between it and the clip. the nib likewise was no bother at all to press in. did you have issues with yours?

 

[Pastor of Muppets]

Hi Craig,
I am happy with it, but there are still little things probably only I see!

 

[Pastor of Muppets]

I’m glad your happy with the blank Andy, nicly turned by the way

Hi Paul it was a joy to turn! What is the casting medium? I have never used anything that was such a joy to turn!
I was ever so gentle in the turning as it was a very new experience to me but it really was a pleasure

 

[silver]

Looks a nice job Andy.

Top marks mate..

 

[Penpal]

Yes mate the top cap held out under extreme pressure to the last squeeze but I will say the cap finish is excellent and withstood it and works fine, the tip part was tight as also. Normally I would check thoroughly before but I was so relieved after the hours of turning all I wanted to do was finish the pen very late at night. I got up 2am and had a long day after analysing the previous days efforts. When I bought the pen kits from the US that was stuffed up and took two months,the first ones never arrived so I waited patiently to no avail. The repeated order came OK. I am guessing the whole exercise got to me. Feel more relaxed now. I must say your pen using the same kit is impressive.

Peter.

 

[Pastor of Muppets]

Yes mate the top cap held out under extreme pressure to the last squeeze but I will say the cap finish is excellent and withstood it and works fine, the tip part was tight as also. Normally I would check thoroughly before but I was so relieved after the hours of turning all I wanted to do was finish the pen very late at night. I got up 2am and had a long day after analysing the previous days efforts. When I bought the pen kits from the US that was stuffed up and took two months,the first ones never arrived so I waited patiently to no avail. The repeated order came OK. I am guessing the whole exercise got to me. Feel more relaxed now. I must say your pen using the same kit is impressive.

Peter.

Morning Peter (or good evening down there)

I bought my pen direct from [MENTION=735]Phil Dart[/MENTION] at Beaufort Ink, does it work out cheaper for you to order from the states?
I know what you mean about the whole process effecting the end experience. I often find that too.
Your right though it is a lovely kit and is going to be my go to for small pens going forwards. Likewise the quality of [MENTION=1404]Bucks[/MENTION] blank was amazing and a real pleasure to turn

 

[Penpal]

Morning Peter (or good evening down there)

I bought my pen direct from [MENTION=735]Phil Dart[/MENTION] at Beaufort Ink, does it work out cheaper for you to order from the states?
I know what you mean about the whole process effecting the end experience. I often find that too.
Your right though it is a lovely kit and is going to be my go to for small pens going forwards. Likewise the quality of [MENTION=1404]Bucks[/MENTION] blank was amazing and a real pleasure to turn

Andy this kit is half the price in US dollars as the UK price from the UK and US numbers then determine the landed price. Now the UK pound is worth far more than our dollar and the US worth more as well. When my daughter last visited Australia I sent her home with the last of my US dollars I have had for many years so I had her order and pay with my dollars and freight as well to me here. The US dealer lost the first shipment to me and sent a second lot so it took nearly two months to receive them.

Peter.

 

[Phil Dart]

Andy this kit is half the price in US dollars as the UK price from the UK and US numbers then determine the landed price. Now the UK pound is worth far more than our dollar and the US worth more as well. When my daughter last visited Australia I sent her home with the last of my US dollars I have had for many years so I had her order and pay with my dollars and freight as well to me here. The US dealer lost the first shipment to me and sent a second lot so it took nearly two months to receive them.

Peter.

Peter, there are currently about 1.25 Aus dollars to the US dollar and about 1.75 Aus dollars to the pound. There is no VAT to pay if the goods are being sent outside of the EU from the UK, so from Australia, if you bought a black Sirocco from the US it would cost you AUD12.43, and if you bought one from the UK it would cost you AUD10.71. The exchanges rates may have been different at the time you bought yours of course.

 

[Penpal]

Peter, there are currently about 1.25 Aus dollars to the US dollar and about 1.75 Aus dollars to the pound. There is no VAT to pay if the goods are being sent outside of the EU from the UK, so from Australia, if you bought a black Sirocco from the US it would cost you AUD12.43, and if you bought one from the UK it would cost you AUD10.71. The exchanges rates may have been different at the time you bought yours of course.

My attempts to send from here involved so many complications ,extra charges I did not realise that coming from the UK was as uncomplicated. Surrendering my US dollars for cash here was hard to figure but certainly a loss in itself then bank charges to buy in pounds also brings its own deficits. THank you for your reply. Bearing in mind the real and ongoing reasons I bought the ten pen kits seemed a quick and easy way at the time with ongoing medical fun and the extremes now of heat 39 today/ I notice our dollar came up to 80c todays paper. Thanks for your explanation Phil.

Peter

 

[Pastor of Muppets]

39C???
Thats gin and sitting in the fridge weather!

 

[Bucks]

Hi Paul it was a joy to turn! What is the casting medium? I have never used anything that was such a joy to turn!
I was ever so gentle in the turning as it was a very new experience to me but it really was a pleasure

It’s Epoxy Resin Andy! it’s just a pitty that we have recently discovered that both myself & my wife are allergic to uncured Epoxy

 

[Pastor of Muppets]

It’s Epoxy Resin Andy! it’s just a pitty that we have recently discovered that both myself & my wife are allergic to uncured Epoxy

That is a blow Paul. Are there alternatives that turn as nicely that you and Mrs Bucks can use without reaction?

 

[Bucks]

That is a blow Paul. Are there alternatives that turn as nicely that you and Mrs Bucks can use without reaction?

Yep it’s quite a blow! I’ve done a couple more casts since, wearing overalls, gloves and a organic vapour respirator then making sure everything is cleaned of any resin and paper towels etc disposed of straight away & staying away from the casts for a good few days for it to cure, this seems to be working ok up to now.

It’s a bit scary though as the first time round (about 10 months ago, when we didn’t realise it was Epoxy we had an allergy too, we thought it was polyurethane) Jackie’s face blew up like Elephant woman, which took 3 weeks of high strength antihistamines & steroids for the swelling to go down,

 

[Bucks]

Hence why your blank took a little longer to sort out Andy! as it was just before Christmas that we discovered it was the Epoxy causing the reaction and we didn’t want to spoil Christmas by us both having nasty itchy rashes or worse.

It’s only tiny amounts of Epoxy resin that we are talking about aswell, as we have hardly used it, that’s why at first we didn’t realise it was the Epoxy!

 

[Pastor of Muppets]

Hence why your blank took a little longer to sort out Andy! as it was just before Christmas that we discovered it was the Epoxy causing the reaction and we didn’t want to spoil Christmas by us both having nasty itchy rashes or worse.

It’s only tiny amounts of Epoxy resin that we are talking about aswell, as we have hardly used it, that’s why at first we didn’t realise it was the Epoxy!

What a nightmare! I still cant stop playing with that pen! I really ought to get it in the post...maybe tomorrow...