Worlds Oldest Pen

[johnny5]

A TM Zeta in chrome and gunmetal twist action pen.
Made using 300 million year old
Petoskey Stone.

 

[AllenN]

Nice pen, just don’t try to find 300 million year old ink!

 

[Les ELm]

Looks great Thomas.

Nice conversation piece.
Well done.

Les

 

[yorkshireman]

Lovely Johnny mate and a great selling point

 

[Penpal]

Hooray for Johnny interesting pens your specialty,this one very interesting history.I am off again today making progress with my Rock Lathe so it is of special interest to me.

Thank you for your diversity in pens.

Peter.

 

[Phil Dart]

Amaxing! What is it like to turn Thomas?

 

[johnny5]

Amaxing! What is it like to turn Thomas?

Cutting & Drilling was fairly easy, used drum sander to get square edge , small hobby Jet bandsaw & 3/8 cobalt drill bit, Turning
I decided to use abranet only as i did not want to get any blowouts using tools.
My decision worked out alright , took a little time but was worth it.
Nearly made the scirocco but blank was only 16mm and cobalt 3/8 worked fine for me. Did not have suitable cobalt drill bit and was close to diameter of blank.

 

[Penpal]

Thanks for the explanation the cutting and drilling I used for the Wooly Mammoth tooth I suspect a much harder stone. Cheap as chips to buy the stone from Michigan . Using an Artu bit sure works for initial drilling.I just read your explanation on the IAP. Once again really well done Johnny.

Peter.

 

[johnny5]

If you google turning petoskey stone it will give you a link to a woodturning forum which says

" Drill at very low speed using coolant and diamond tip drills. "
I made these two pens drilling at high speed , no coolant and using cobalt drill bit.
To finish the pen i used abranet only , no tools, just sanded it to size of pen.
I must have been lucky twice ?????
The quality of stone i had was a high calcium piece, this probably helped in the ease of drilling and sanding.

 

[Penpal]

As I was making progress with my rock I consulted with a local dealer expert who advised me to work dry. I drilled on the lathe using variable speed and the two jaw chuck from Timberbits,the molar had bands of silica that provided a challenge when drilling. With my proposed device in progress I intend to house it near the front door of my long workshop so I can open the door to use it with a strong fan to blow the fine dust away. It weighs heavily so i will ask my friendly Samoan giant to relocate for me,not enough moving room to use my engine lifter where it is in my metal lathe room. It is exciting to go where few have gone.Thanks for the reference.

Peter.

 

[johnny5]

I love trying different materials, it is a challenge.
I wish i had taken your advice regarding dust, i have 300 million year old dust up my nostrils that i have been blowing out all afternoon.
Hope there was no nasty bugs/ bacteria laying dormant in there .
My hair is stiff as i have been working in the dust for 3 hours .
But i am proud of what i have achieved,
Still have one more blank to use, unfortunately it split whilst cutting,
Just hope the epoxy resin will hold during drilling tomorrow ???

 

[Bucks]

Very nice Johnny

 

[Bill Mooney]

That’s turned out a very nice Pen Johnny.

 

[wm460]

Another beauty Johnny.