black palm classic fountain pen

[maverick31]

I figured I better make a few fountain pens, this one is made of black palm. This was a pretty tragic start considering I smashed my friggin finger and ripped half my fingernail off. ca helped stop the bleeding though. Anyhow, this was the first pen I used a skew on exclusivley. did i mention I am terrible with a skew but that is about the only tool that wont destroy the blank on. I had a huge catch and it ripped a chunk out all the way to the brass tube. I used some sawdust and ca to fix it and for a rookie I think my repair is half way decent.

When I pressed the parts together it developed a few cracks. I think I am going to try and repair with brush on laquer, unless you guys have any other suggestions. I don't have a dissassembly tool yet so I am going to tape up metal parts and try to fix by hand. If it looks like crap I will redo once I get a pen dissy tool.









the next pic is where I did the repair. I cant believe you could see the brass tube at one time. I don't think I will be making very many of these pens.

[sachbvn]

I think it looks really good - and the repair looks good too!

I hate Black Palm - I don't ever plan to "offer it" at craft shows....IF and only IF I ever decide to work with it again - it will be for personal use - or gift.

Zac

[maverick31]

I forgot to say, I really don't like gold kit or the black palm as a pen blank but I like the kit a lot. I think on my next order I will get the chrome ones and not use the black palm.

[Doug B]

Mav, I really like the kit too. I actually like the Black finish best, but the Gold finish is OK too. I have not tried the Chrome.

I hate Palm. I am sure that is why it cracked. Very brittle stuff. I think I will eventually make a cross cut Red Palm because I have a big piece of it that was given to me. I think I'll make it using the Oscillating Spindle Sander instead of the lathe to make it...seriously.

Don't give up on the skew! Eventually it will probably be your favorite turning tool. Everyone goes through the hate/love relationship with their skew.

By the way, nice job on the repairs! You made a save there.

[maverick31]

thanks doug, I figure like the other tools I will only get better with practice. I like making the palm bottle stoppers but pens are crap. I wont be making any more of these. I have another fountain pen to make(cocobolo) Since you had so many inquiries at shows about them I figure I better have a few in my aresonal too.

I think sanding a pen out of this crap is really the only way to do it. Turn a 1/4 from bushings then sand away.

[Doug B]

Yeah, I think a few fountain pens are going to be good to have at the craft shows. I've got one coming up at the end of the month, so I'll get to see how they do. If nothing else, they look really cool!