4 pens and 3 stoppers - new

[sachbvn]

Hey guys - been busy!

Three new stoppers - from left to right. Cocobolo - Verawood - Purpleheart.


The Verawood was interesting - it smells pretty good (kinda funky, but good) and is very heavy, seems real dense. It is supposed to turn green, like green-green when exposed to sunlight....I will be trying this. It was much browner in color than I had thought it wood be - Beautiful IMO, very caramel like.




Next is a BOW slimline - nothing fancy here except the upper barrel has some awesome black coloring.



Next is an Amboyna Burl Cigar pen - I had a real hard time deciding on Gun Metal or Chrome for the hardware, I went with Chrome and am glad I did.




Next is a #25 Green Swirl from Woodturningz, it's an Acrylic - Cigar. I LOVE this pen - not a huge fan of acrylics in general but was super pleased when I got this blank in the mail. Reminds me of old flame pin striping on old hot rods. I sanded through 600 and then used the One-Step plastic polish, I think it came out great. I finished with EEE.





Last is the Majestic Jr. roller ball kit - FINALLY had the guts to attempt it. It was a $30 kit I think, but came with the bits, bushings, etc... needed for turning it as a freeby - so.... it wasn't a real bad deal actually. It's Amboyna burl (from Woodturningz) and is probably the most beautiful Amboyna Burl that I have ever gotten - I've bought probably 5-6 blanks of this stuff from them and this is the best, I got one more with this one but not sure what it will look like. This is a beautiful red, IMO. I about chit because one of the rings, I put on backwards - I was able to use a punch and get the pressed part off, reverse the ring, and assemble away. I love the cap-style pens and will be trying more!






Please - comment, critique.


Thanks,
Zac

[imahic]

Very cool, Zac. I am not a turner but I really enjoy seeing the work you guys do. They all look very good. Hard to pic a favorite

[Doug B]

Zac, I'll provide a better reply later when I'm not so tired, but those all look great. Fantastic job! I'm really liking the stopper shapes you are doing.

[boodrow]

Zac Ur gettin better with ever post. I like all of them , on the stoppers im partial to cocobolo , the other two are good lookin but IMHO maybe a bit of overkill with the burn lines. But my wife says im a fashion fugitive , so with that bein said my opion is like an arse , everybodys got one.
The pens , im like u im partial to the wood , but damn thats a good lookin acr pen. Honestly , if I were to pick one im not sure which one it would be. I rate all off um very high in my book.
Boodrow

[sdb777]

Stoppers = Looking good!
The lighter wood pops with the burn lines, but I'm not sure if it did anything to enhance the Purpleheart.....

Pens = WOW!!
I'm sort of like you, arcylic should be used for countertops or something, but the colors don't overwhelm you on that pens kit.
Really like that Rollerball kit, bet you learned some new words when you had noticed the 'ring was put on backwards'! The wood is a nice red and goes well with the hardware.... It'll be awhile before I can do the 'pucker up' for a $30 kit, but that would be the one I'd try.



You must have that Rollerball sold already..... I'm thinking in the $150.00 range, am I close?





Scott (be a nice gift for me though) B

[sachbvn]

Thanks guys - two answer two comments at once about the purpleheart stopper and burn lines... B - maybe a little much, try to visualize that one all by itself....I normally give careful consideration to doing or not doing burn lines because they are so easily over done....I just never got the "ok, time to stop" feeling.....I agree - this could be borderline. Scott - the #1 reason I started putting them on that stopper was to break up the shape of it - it was looking sorta bland.

I appreciate the comments, and always the critiques. I want you to make me better, not kiss my arse!


Zac

[sachbvn]

Oh, forgot to ask, seriously what would y'all look to get on that Majestic Jr. I've got $35 in it, plus whatever case/box I can find.


Zac

[deepsplinter]

Wow Wow Wow

Bottle stoppers--That cocobola is some kinda beautiful wood. The other two would have been simple looking (IMO) if it weren't for the burn lines. Just enough on both of 'em.

Pens--They all look sharp...'cept maybe the acrylic. I'm partial to the wood. I really like the shape of the BOW. And that Majestic Jr is...uhh....well "Majestic"....fit for royalty. The Amboyna and the kit are real eye catchers.

[Ruffnek]

Apr 8, 2010 5:16:31 GMT -6 sachbvn said:

Oh, forgot to ask, seriously what would y'all look to get on that Majestic Jr. I've got $35 in it, plus whatever case/box I can find.
Zac

2 x $35 = $70 + Time $20 = $90 minimum!

That is a very nice display, Zac...both stoppers and pens. I like the burn lines, especially on that center stopper and I like the forms, also.

[Doug B]

Like I said before, I'm really liking the bottle stopper shapes Zac. Especially the middle one. I think Boodrow hit the nail on the head a while back when he said the extreme changes in contour are what makes the stoppers more appealing. And the burn lines are all good. A wood like Purpleheart which does not show much wood grain is going to need something - I have been playing around with pick guard and am really liking it for accomplishing the same thing. However, pick guard worries me on butt joints with wood, so I use a dowel to connect the pieces of wood on either side of pick guard. That makes the whole process take longer, but it really makes a huge difference with the plain woods.

That Cocobolo wood is awesome too. Great choice for a bottle stopper and that piece does not need anything but the wood - no burn lines - you made the correct decision on that one in my opinion.

I have never heard of Verawood, but it is very interesting looking wood - I like it and that shape really appeals to me.

The BOW slimline is fantastic. I really like the shape to use on both the upper and the lower barrels. That is unique and is like a signature design for you, so I really like it. I would encourage you to do more of those. And that wood is great - I really like BOW a lot, and that one has very nice grain.

The Amboyna burl Cigar looks very nice, but the pic must be a little off - you said you used Chrome plating but it looks more like Gunmetal to me. I would have a tough time deciding between those platings for that wood too - probably would work with Gold too.

I guess I'll pile on the bandwagon on the acrylic Cigar and say that I'm usually not too fond of it, preferring wood, but like everyone else, I really like that particular one. Nice job on the pen too - the shape looks great and the finish does too.

All I can say about the Majestic Jr. is WOW! Fantastic! I am not crazy about the "bling" look of the hardware, but man, that is one nice pen. Lots of people are going to like that bling too, so it is probably a very good thing to have in your inventory. I too am interested in the general area of what price you end up putting on it.

Very nice job Zac. About the only negative critique I can come up with for anything is that one picture of the Amboyna Cigar

[boodrow]

Zac I still contend that if u want to know what they really look like , try to find an honest woman(ROFLAMO) at work that will tell u if it looks good or not. I work with one and she is pretty much dead on what will sell and what wont. Again take what I posted with a grain of salt. I wouldnt know what looked good if it hit my upside the head.
Boodrow

[maverick31]

they look great zac. I really like the majestic jr and the cocobolo stopper the best. great job on all of them

[mcbryde]

Zac,

I'v been teetering with wanting to try that jr. kit that you tried, how was it? Were there any special requirements for it? How was the ease of assembly? Etc.? My old man is wanting me to make him that kit mostly, him buying the kit, and the wood, and me turning it, is it a fairly easy endeavour?

Emerson

[sachbvn]

E,

Nah, the Majestic Jr. turned very easily....the biggest issue you need to watch out for is drilling the blanks - they supply two bits, one is a brad point - the larger is not. I split the blank when drilling it and I was being very careful.... well - I cracked the blank, it didn't split - and was repairable..... if you are able to I'd go with a 7/8" blank just to be on the safe side even though they say you only need a 3/4" for that kit.

Also - be careful assembling the parts - you need to press a plastic sleeve into one of the barrels and it is easy to crush it.... I think there is a metal piece that attaches to the sleeve - if you leave it on the sleeve when you press it into the barrel I think it would help protect things from getting smashed up.

Good luck - it's definitely worth the special prices PSI has on the kit and accessories.


Zac

[gomer]

Nice work Zac! I think you got this turning thing down pat. I read lots of talk about burn lines. I like 'em. Gives it a racing stripe, which in my book is always a good thing.

[mcbryde]

Thanks for that tid bit of info Zac, looks like I will have to get one to try it out.

E