Three new pens!!

[sachbvn]

Hey Guys,

The first one is a Gun Metal "fancy" slimline from woodturningz, the wood is Bethlehem Olive Wood. This is for a gift exchange for a family member at work - the boss will really appreciate the idea of the BOW.


The second and third are a pen/pencil set. They are both Cocobolo and will be giving at a family gift exchange thing where people can "trade" gifts or "steal" gifts, etc... Not a big fan myself, but people seem to enjoy that sort of thing. The pen/pencil came out nicely - they are both Chrome "fancy" slimlines from woodturningz. I was a little disappointed that the wood didn't come out matching better - but.... that sometimes happens when they aren't from the same board. I tried to pick two blanks that looked like they'd match - but I guess deep down....they didn't

I used HUT Crystal Coat for all of the pens/pencil - two coats. Then Beall buffed them.











Thanks!
Zac

[Joe Lyddon]

My, how Fancy we are getting!

A real Certificate of Authenticity! ;D

Nice touch!

Also, I think this is the first time I've seen a piece of cardboard used for the back-drop in photography... Cool texture...

If you can, just work with natural light (no flash)... I think you'll get better quality... if you see shadows, etc., take a white piece of paper (even a white towel... anything light colored) & clip it so it will reflect light into the shadow area... but NOT reflecting directly into the camera.

To me, pens always look better when positioned Diagonally in the picture.

Nice work!

[sachbvn]

Thanks Joe - that photo advice really does help.... I plan to make an area to take the pictures....just haven't done so yet. Oh - btw - that isn't cardboard.... that is an ottoman cushion!!!! lol haha - It's that.... corduroy fabric....really nice looking when you aren't right up on it.

Zac

[Joe Lyddon]

LOL ;D

Well, you might try and cut the side out of large good box sometime... and try it! We may have stumbled on something new! ;D ;D Might be too shiny... though... You do NOT want a shiny backdrop...

Yep, for small stuff like pens, you could make a nice photo stage out of a large cardboard box... Take a look at some commercially made ones... simple to make...

[sawduster]

Nice job, Zac. Bet I know what all of your friends and relatives are getting for Christmas.

[sachbvn]

Thanks Jerry - actually - I'm making a few for Christmas, but only as "bonus" gifts - I honestly didn't know if I'd have time to make ANYTHING due to scrapping and painting the basement (still working on it) - I had no idea what the learning curve would be for me and the lathe - so.... I didn't count on any "hand made" gifts this year - but yeah - I'm making a few

Zac

[sawduster]

Looks like you got it down pretty good. Hopefully you're getting is some practice with the skew on the pens. The skew is a great tool but takes some getting used to and pens, being of a smaller diameter are excellent for getting the technique down. Nothing better for getting a nice smooth surface.

[Doug B]

Great job on the pens Zac! Those are great. Sometimes it is very hard to match wood for a pen/pencil set, and frankly...you are the only one who will ever give it a second thought if they don't match up as well as you thought they would.

I got a cheap ($29.00) photo tent from Harbor Freight. I use 4 100 watt bulbs with it for my pics, one from either side, one from above and one from directly behind the camera. The photo tent helps prevent the glare. You can make your own tent, but for me the purchased one was about as cheap as I could have made my own.

[sachbvn]

Thanks Doug - I have made a few more pens - but am going to hold off posting until I come up a little better way to take the pictures.... nothing looks as good as holding it - but I'm sure I can do better than taking the picture as it lays on an ottoman or on a bed sheet lol. I like some of the ways that the guys on here have come up with to "hold" the pen up while they are taking the pictures.

Jerry - *hangs head* no... I've not been tinkering with the skew.... after reading some postings on it here - and see some video - I DO feel much more confident that I could carefully start practicing with it - especially on a pen. I need to work on sharpening it - then give it a whirl on the lathe. So far I've just been making sure I'm using sharp gouges and then sanding through 600 grit - apply finish - and buff.


Zac

[Doug B]

Getting pictures that accurately show the beauty of the pens I made was a big frustration for me until I got determined to figure out how to get a good picture. Several guys over at the other forum really helped me figure out what I needed to do. It took a couple of weeks of experimenting and a lot of patience from the guys helping me

One of the first things to do is to read your camera's manual (I know, that is very painful). The most dramatic thing I found was in figuring out how to use the manual feature and control the settings, especially the "white balance". The good thing is that once you get it figured out, it is really pretty easy to get consistently good pictures.

[boodrow]

Zac looks like u have the fever bad for turning , lol . I also enjoyed the post on takin photos!
The pic is a short tool rest that allows u to get close to the work without movin the tool rest about to get close. I bought a remnit of 5/8 cold roll steel at a weldin shop for a dollar. cut to length , measure the post cut to length and wire welded. Since my vision is not what it used to be the weld looks more like a turkey chit on it than a true weld. Hope this helps u , I know I use mine now ever time I turn a pen.
Boodrow

[boodrow]

By the way Zac I forgot to mention in the above post , some more great lookin pens !
Boodrow

[sachbvn]

Thanks Boodrow - you been at this a while so I appreciate yours (along with everyone elses too!!) input.

That is a neat idea for a cheap tool rest... I was thinking 'bout getting a smaller one - I can't get my stock one as close as it "should" be - it hits the tail stock and head stock cast iron when I have the mandrel in cuz the two are so close together.

Zac

[maxwellsmart007]

I have the same problem, Zac...

I just tilt the rest so that it gets close to one side of hte blank, and then do the same on the other....gets old quickly!

(no machine shops around here, otherwise I'd be running to try Boo's trick!)

Andrew

[boodrow]

Zac that is the reason I made this lil tool rest , Ive also made one for Cody and his lathe has a 1 inch post, not much to it if u can get ur hands on a welder. I dont have one but have access to one. I dont know what size the hole is in urs or Andrews tool rest holder , but I do have enough 5/8 to do one more, if I can help either of yall out let me know.
Boodrow

[maxwellsmart007]

Thanks anyway, Boo, but my lathe banjo has a 25mm hole - which is close enough to 1 inch to be identical...so I don't think 5/8 would work...(I think that Zac has the same lathe)

Would be a wonderful idea otherwise - I'd really like a smaller one!

Thanks very much for the offer, though!

[sachbvn]

Let me go check..... ah crap - yep, mine is real close to 1" so - I think 5/8" would be pushing it a little much.

Thanks for the offer though Boodrow - I'll keep my eye open for some remnants of cold rolled steel or something similar. Actually - I may check into seeing if there is a small machine shop that'd help me out.

Honestly - even at 20 bucks - I'd be worth it, to have a real small tool rest w/o having to change my whole banjo.

Thanks!
Zac

[Doug B]

For just a little more you can get one of these monster-lathe-tools.com/cart.php?target=product&product_id=261&category_id=66
from Randy. He made the trip over from WW.com too, so he is one of us.

For a little more than that one, I got the monster version monster-lathe-tools.com/cart.php?target=product&product_id=268&category_id=66 in 6 inch length and it is really a great rest. Makes a lot of difference for pen turning. Of course now that I'm turning a single barrel at a time, I wish I had an even shorter one...got it on the wish list.

[sachbvn]

I like that first link you posted a lot - and they say they will make it to your specs - so I can tell them the post diameter and they will make it happen.... I may look into that!

Thanks Doug - I bookmarked the thread.

Zac

[boodrow]

Zac I would stay away from the machine shops and go to a welding shop. Lots o the machine shops have a 50 or 75 dollar min. Guys at the weldin shop arent near as proud of there labor and are most likely to have cut offs that u can use.
Boodrow