Worst pen todate

[Morse]

Well this started with my post asking about what wood shouldn't we use for pens.
One moderator, Phil, said Balsa wood.
So up for a challenge I bought a piece of 12mm X 12mm and cut it to fit a slim line kit that I had.
Drilling no problem. First CA glued tube, in, second CA glued tube stuck half way, quick bang , in.
Trimmed off ends using a light touch on the belt sander. Ready for turning.
Tried sharp tools, decided to sand instead.
Sand sealed , Yorkshire gritted, tried a stain to darken wood, wouldn't dry in my refrigerated shed.
Sanded off and finished with micro crystaline wax.
Assembly. Not good seemed to squash the wood.
End result, as Walter says, "photos can hide a multitude of sins" (or near enough).

 

[flexi]

Its 'different' thats for sure.....but you might have just set a challange.....i got to give that a try lol

 

[Morse]

Hi flexi
A challange. That's what I thought when Phil said "not balsa wood" it is a hardwood.

Dave

 

[flexi]

I do like to try different things and have used some strange materials.....leather...denim....corn...pencils...even poo.
Its worth a try....i also want to do a MDF one sometime

 

[Dalboy]

I have a cork blank ready for turning made up from cork tiles it could be a floater

 

[Penpal]

You succeeded to prove that Balsa wood is a problem also using the cheapest Slimline kit available, thanks for sharing.

Peter.

 

[flexi]

Cork....now there's another interesting one!!

 

[KevinMc]

Love it when people just “try” stuff and are not afraid to share the results...

Sometimes it can all be just too perfect what’s shown....

Thanks for sharing

I am busy turning my 2nd ever platter for the Woodturning club show and be critiqued night tomorrow... might put that up later

Kevin

 

[Morse]

I'm sure if I was a bit more careful it "wood" have turned out OK.
Certainly a " light" pen.
One for my pocket.

Dave

 

[yorkshireman]

Well done for trying dave mate. Bring it with you tomorrow I’d like to look at it up close.

 

[Dalboy]

Cork....now there's another interesting one!!

Pulled these out of the draw just now this is as far as I got with them. It would be interesting to see if a pen would float, water may not be any good for the mechanism.
The two cork blanks I have one still in the original glue up and the other turned big enough to be able to drill and make into a pen. You can see the glue lines in the one I have turned to round.
You do need very sharp tools to turn this otherwise it can pull the bits of cork out
They maybe better if they are stabalised

 

[flexi]

Clever.....i did a stacked leather washer pen stacked the other way.....more glueing up so a bit more stable.

 

[Dalboy]

Clever.....i did a stacked leather washer pen stacked the other way.....more glueing up so a bit more stable.

I did it as an experiment I must try to turn them to see how they look on a pen, as well as turn some other pens as I am now in need of topping my box up

 

[Phil Dart]

Ha ha. Love it. I was being flippant when I said balsa wood, but you may have kicked off The Great Balsawood Pen Challenge.
I guess stabilising the wood in a vacuum chamber would have made a difference, but that would make it one heck of an expensive blank as a result. Would drenching in CA have solved the problem I wonder? I suspect that one or two people are going to find out what the options are pretty soon. If I can find some balsawood, I'm up for the challenge. (It's not native to the Highlands I'm afraid, and my nearest modelling shop is a 220 mile round trip - if anyone is buying in and wants to send me a piece, I'm happy to re-imburse)

 

[KevinMc]

Ha ha. Love it. I was being flippant when I said balsa wood, but you may have kicked off The Great Balsawood Pen Challenge.
I guess stabilising the wood in a vacuum chamber would have made a difference, but that would make it one heck of an expensive blank as a result. Would drenching in CA have solved the problem I wonder? I suspect that one or two people are going to find out what the options are pretty soon. If I can find some balsawood, I'm up for the challenge. (It's not native to the Highlands I'm afraid, and my nearest modelling shop is a 220 mile round trip - if anyone is buying in and wants to send me a piece, I'm happy to re-imburse)

Let me know if there are no takers.... and if you explain what you want I can see if I can bring some up.

Kevin

 

[wm460]

Great effort Dave,

Softest pen I have made is from a black boy tail.

I better have a look at my old photos and show a few.

 

[Winemaker]

Well done keep the good work up

 

[Dalboy]

And to think [MENTION=735]Phil Dart[/MENTION] that I gave all of my balsa wood away I had stacks of it

 

[Morse]

Ha ha. Love it. I was being flippant when I said balsa wood, but you may have kicked off The Great Balsawood Pen Challenge.
I guess stabilising the wood in a vacuum chamber would have made a difference, but that would make it one heck of an expensive blank as a result. Would drenching in CA have solved the problem I wonder? I suspect that one or two people are going to find out what the options are pretty soon. If I can find some balsawood, I'm up for the challenge. (It's not native to the Highlands I'm afraid, and my nearest modelling shop is a 220 mile round trip - if anyone is buying in and wants to send me a piece, I'm happy to re-imburse)

Hi Phil.
I just saw it as a challange.
There are apparently three grades of balsa wood. Don't know what I got from the craft shop, but could only use 80 grit and above, so the only turning was the lathe.
Maybe soaking it in sand sealer before turning would help.

Dave

 

[Dalboy]

Why not make the challenge to see what unusual materials a pen can be turned from without using a stabalising system or casting something in resin but allow the use of CA or sander sealer applied on the lathe. The pen must still be fit for use this will also exclude freezing something like food of any kind.

OK I,ll get my coat