Doug B
WoW Member
[b]Rescued Firewood[/b]
Posts: 1,938
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Post by Doug B on Nov 15, 2009 22:04:18 GMT -6
Saturn pen kit with a Gunmetal plating. These small pens take a lot of time to turn down to the bushing...seemed to take forever to get this one done.  The other side is pretty interesting too:  |
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Joe Lyddon
WoW Member
Banned.
Sam Maloof & I Dec. 2, 2005
Posts: 2,507
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Post by Joe Lyddon on Nov 15, 2009 22:44:21 GMT -6
What is it? Really, out of Pine Cones?! Shells in epoxy? Looks AWESOME!!  |
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Post by fredbelknap on Nov 15, 2009 22:49:31 GMT -6
Doug that is really nice. Do you buy the pine cones or just get them off a tree?
Fred
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Post by sachbvn on Nov 15, 2009 23:15:40 GMT -6
Joe - I believe is using CA glue to stabalize it. Crazy method, but looks AWESOME!! Makes you wonder why people are selling those!! I think it's neater than a corn cob.
Looks great - very attractive pen!
Zac
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Doug B
WoW Member
[b]Rescued Firewood[/b]
Posts: 1,938
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Post by Doug B on Nov 16, 2009 2:16:22 GMT -6
Thanks guys! Yes they are really made from Pine Cones and I collect them myself and stabilize with thin CA as I turn them. It is a messy and lengthy process, but half of my craft show sales this year have been for Pine Cone pens, bottle stoppers and even a letter opener. The bookkeeper just informed me of that fact today  I have seen others use Pine Cones cast in resin, but never anything like the ones I do. They are very unique. |
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Post by dicklaxt on Nov 16, 2009 3:17:44 GMT -6
Give us a blow by blow account of how this all goes together,I would think there are a lot of voids that need to be filled but you don't mention the use of a thick CA,how are you doing this part..
Really a nice looking finished product.
dick
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Post by maxwellsmart007 on Nov 16, 2009 11:14:01 GMT -6
Wow - looks amazing with the black-ti kit!!
How much do you charge for those, Doug? Might have to consider buying one someday (I sure don't have the patience to turn one!!)
Andrew
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Post by maxwellsmart007 on Nov 16, 2009 11:14:34 GMT -6
Ever consider trying to cast one in alumilite? Might be a lot easier to turn to a finished product...
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Joe Lyddon
WoW Member
Banned.
Sam Maloof & I Dec. 2, 2005
Posts: 2,507
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Post by Joe Lyddon on Nov 16, 2009 13:03:40 GMT -6
Thanks guys! Yes they are really made from Pine Cones and I collect them myself and stabilize with thin CA as I turn them. It is a messy and lengthy process, but half of my craft show sales this year have been for Pine Cone pens, bottle stoppers and even a letter opener. The bookkeeper just informed me of that fact today I have seen others use Pine Cones cast in resin, but never anything like the ones I do. They are very unique. Doug, do you ONLY collect young pine cones? Not fully opened? I can see how that would work... but NOT with a fully exploded one...  |
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Doug B
WoW Member
[b]Rescued Firewood[/b]
Posts: 1,938
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Post by Doug B on Nov 16, 2009 14:04:00 GMT -6
Give us a blow by blow account of how this all goes together,I would think there are a lot of voids that need to be filled but you don't mention the use of a thick CA,how are you doing this part.. Really a nice looking finished product. dick Thanks Dick! Yes, I use thick CA to fill "holes" from the pine seeds that pop out. I put together a pictorial that goes through the process over at the other place. The pine cones I use are Afghan pine and I can only use ones that are dried and fallen from the tree but are still tightly closed - that is only a small percentage of the ones that are on the ground. In the following link I have a post with some "in progress" pics showing my Pinecone process (down at response number 14). www.woodworking.com/dcforum/dcboard.pl?az=read_count&om=5556&forum=DCForumID13I probably should try to get that put up on this forum so I don't have to refer back to the old place Wow - looks amazing with the black-ti kit!! How much do you charge for those, Doug? Might have to consider buying one someday (I sure don't have the patience to turn one!!) Andrew They are a lot of work and so, they are darned pricey. I get $50.00 for a classic twist and slightly less for a pen like this one because it does not take the Parker refill. I'm trying to decide what I will price this one at. It is tough because it takes more work but the pen kit is not as nice. I had a couple of people who wanted a smaller Pine Cone pen at the craft shows so I wanted to at least have one or two available for the next one. Of course, there is a significant discount for WoW members  But I do charge Canadians double ;D Ever consider trying to cast one in alumilite? Might be a lot easier to turn to a finished product... I got as far as buying the Harbor Freight paint pot to make my own pressure casting set up, but that's as far as I got. I bought some Alumilite cast Pine Cone blanks from a guy at IAP, but they look totally different than mine. They are casting opened up pine cones. I was not all that happy with the Alumilite - it just did not polish up as nice as I would like. Also, you have to paint the pen tubes or they show through...just did not work out the way I hoped. In fact, that is what got me to thinking about doing my own. I still want to try stabilizing my own someday if I ever get a round tuit |
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Doug B
WoW Member
[b]Rescued Firewood[/b]
Posts: 1,938
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Post by Doug B on Nov 16, 2009 14:11:47 GMT -6
Doug, do you ONLY collect young pine cones? Not fully opened? I can see how that would work... but NOT with a fully exploded one... Yes Joe, only certain cones will work for me. I have some pics in the link refered to in my other response that shows the cones. Only about 5 percent of the cones stay intact when they fall from the tree - they are completely dry but for some reason did not open up. Those are the only ones that work for my method. |
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Post by sachbvn on Nov 16, 2009 17:54:27 GMT -6
Hey Doug - I remember your "in progress" pictures from ww.com - one question. From the last coat of CA glue - what is it that you use to "finish" the pine cones? Friction polish? Oil? What?? You know - the step between that dull colored, but completely shaped tree - to that shiny piece of art!
Thanks,
Zac
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Doug B
WoW Member
[b]Rescued Firewood[/b]
Posts: 1,938
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Post by Doug B on Nov 16, 2009 18:29:06 GMT -6
Zac, I am using thin CA throughout the turning process and it soaks in. I would be afraid to use anything other than CA for the finish. After turning to final dimension with the skew, I sand with 240 grit sandpaper, apply one final coat of thin CA. Then I finish the Pine Cone with 3 or 4 coats of medium CA and BLO. Then micromesh 1500 through 12000 and finally a quick EEE as the very last thing.
One thing I probably did not mention is that I only run the skew one direction - the "petals" will catch and peel up if I try to go the other direction. The base of the cone (largest diameter) is pretty stable and I can get away with using the skew as a scraper there without problem, but the rest of the cone has to be turned "downhill" to avoid a catch. That method works perfectly for getting the Christmas tree look. I did turn a bead one time about a third of the way down from the top of the cone on a bottle stopper using the skew, so it can be done if you are careful.
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Joe Lyddon
WoW Member
Banned.
Sam Maloof & I Dec. 2, 2005
Posts: 2,507
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Post by Joe Lyddon on Nov 16, 2009 19:26:42 GMT -6
Doug, do you ONLY collect young pine cones? Not fully opened? I can see how that would work... but NOT with a fully exploded one... Yes Joe, only certain cones will work for me. I have some pics in the link refered to in my other response that shows the cones. Only about 5 percent of the cones stay intact when they fall from the tree - they are completely dry but for some reason did not open up. Those are the only ones that work for my method. Very good Doug! That link shows a lot on how you did it... I have a pine tree... several cones w/o opening up... I just might hold a few out from the fireplace and play around with them... I don't have a lathe, so I'll just have to do something with straight & Flat sides!   ;D Looks SO NICE... can't beat that special Grain! Thank you! |
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Post by Leo Voisine on Nov 16, 2009 21:22:13 GMT -6
Wow - that pine cone stuff is really cool
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Doug B
WoW Member
[b]Rescued Firewood[/b]
Posts: 1,938
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Post by Doug B on Nov 16, 2009 23:24:24 GMT -6
Very good Doug! That link shows a lot on how you did it... I have a pine tree... several cones w/o opening up... I just might hold a few out from the fireplace and play around with them... I don't have a lathe, so I'll just have to do something with straight & Flat sides! ;D Looks SO NICE... can't beat that special Grain! Thank you! My pleasure Joe! And, don't laugh at the idea of one with flat sides...I have a "display" that I take to the craft shows to show the intermediate step in the process. People are just fascinated with that kind of stuff and it really gets a conversation going with folks. But, anyway, one lady wanted to buy my "display" which is nothing more than the cone with a couple thin strips of wood glued to the bottom and the cone has just been cut on the band saw and has a coat of CA on it. LOL, she really liked it better than the turned and polished ones! She said it was "organic". Hey, I'm not going to argue with a customer! But I did not want to sell my conversation piece so she really did not become a customer...just another whacky lookyloo But I have to admit that I took a hard look at the display model and thought about refining it a bit and putting it out there for sale...I am certain I could make something that would look pretty nifty without ever putting it on the lathe. A belt sander could easily smooth it up and a couple coats of hand applied CA would still make the Pine Cone colors really pop. It's just a thought at this point that will probably not actually ever get done...but it could! |
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Doug B
WoW Member
[b]Rescued Firewood[/b]
Posts: 1,938
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Post by Doug B on Nov 16, 2009 23:33:19 GMT -6
Wow - that pine cone stuff is really cool Thanks Leo! These Pine Cones are the wildest stuff I have ever come across for turning material. |
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Post by dicklaxt on Nov 17, 2009 17:25:33 GMT -6
Doug,do you mind if I copy the pine cone turnings and show them to a bunch of turners on another forum?
dick
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Doug B
WoW Member
[b]Rescued Firewood[/b]
Posts: 1,938
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Post by Doug B on Nov 17, 2009 22:31:58 GMT -6
No problem Dick. I have learned so much from so many others that have freely shared their knowledge with me that I am more than happy to share my stuff with others.
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Post by bradthenailer on Nov 18, 2009 0:38:56 GMT -6
Man that pine cone looks fantastic!
Are you still pouring the CA on them or did you move to a pressure pot and epoxy?
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But I do charge Canadians double ;D
;D 