A long day - 5 cartridge pens

[Doug B]

I got in one of those moods where I just did not want to stop turning today and managed to get 5 cartridge pens done. I am really liking the burn lines, and probably went a little overboard on them, but they are a lot easier and faster to do than using pick guard

I also turned 2 more barrels - a Sagebrush and a Zebrawood, but I'm getting low on kits have some others blanks ready to turn so I will have to decide on which ones will actually get assembled into pens. I'll see which ones I like best once they are all turned.

First - 3 Antler pens - 2 with burn lines, one without.







This one is Elk antler and I really like the "bark" on it.



Next is a Rattle Snake pen. This was a very gratifying pen to make - I really like the Prairie Rattler skin.


Finally, a bias cut Zebrawood with Bloodwood and some more burn lines

[deepsplinter]

Nice work, Doug!


Uhh, rattlesnake pen? I need to know more (in flatwork terms).

Overboard on burn lines? Nope, I like 'em. I think they're a nice little accent.

Number 2, and the rattlesnake are my favorites.

[Ruffnek]

Good looking pens, Doug. I like the burn lines and I really like the grain showing on those antlers.

[carlcivi]

Looks great, you really came a long way with those cartridge pens, i remember when we 1st started making them. Carl

[rdabpenman]

Nicely done Doug.
Great looking Caps.

Les

[Doug B]

Thanks for all the comments everyone. I appreciate it. I am going to be setting up at a gun show this weekend and wanted to get as many cartridge pens made as possible. Hopefully they will be appealing to those folks that go to gun shows.

From Deepsplinter:

Uhh, rattlesnake pen? I need to know more (in flatwork terms).

[/i]

I buy pre-made rattlesnake pen blanks like these: www.pennstateind.com/store/WXSS8.html

All I have to do is cut to length, trim, and turn them from square into round. I do not do the hard part of catching the rattle snake, preparing the skin, gluing it onto a brass tube and casting it in resin
But, it costs quite a bit more than other pen blanks - I guess hazard pay is built into the price

Because the skin is glued directly onto the tube, they are pretty delicate and require a light touch and a very sharp skew chisel to keep them from coming apart on the lathe. But the cost and extra time it takes to make them is well worth it to me because they are so unique and very attractive. And I think they go real well with the cartridge pens.

[maverick31]

those look great doug. I never thought of putting burn lines in antler pens but it looks cool. I also like the bark on em too