I made several pens too....

[sachbvn]

Hey guys - been working on gifts and stuff for craft shows. All the gifts are basically done, now just working up supply to do a craft show. Shortly I will be ordering some other types of kits to offer a variety. This is what I have so far in slims.

Oh, the first pic is my first attempt at mixing the wood types - I saw a pen Doug made and it was like a light bulb went off.... when not cut some slices and do a glue up? The thing is - you can be messy and "not square" with the glue/pieces because it will all get turned away - just the center part matters! Yay! The first one is Curly Maple with African Blackwood slices - on a black chrome kit.











The second and third pics show African Blackwood/Satin Pearl, Padauk/Silver, and Camphor Burl/Chrome.... I like the AB, it's got a really nice grain but is tough to see unless "up close"....the Camphor burl is ok - but for the price of it, I much prefer Amboyna Burl.... still - it's something new. Sorry the Camphor Burl pen is hard to see - I gotta get working on some better photos. The Padauk I really enjoyed turning - except it left my fingers looking like a fat kid with his hand in a Cheetos bag, after I sanded it!

The fourth the fifth pictures are Cocobolo/Cobalt Gold, Wenge/Copper, and Bocote/Platinum. I liked the Bocote a lot and will be using it again - the Cocobolo wasn't my first time using it, it turned out well. Wenge - first time using it.... it was ok - the grain looks pretty cool up close, but I was afraid of splitting the blank on the lathe.....


EDIT: Oh yeah - a big thanks to Doug on tips for displaying the pens on tables....this works better for taking pictures than just laying them flat.

Thanks for looking guys!

Zac

[Joe Lyddon]

Really NICE looking pens, Zac!

You're really in the groove... cranking them out like all get out! ;D

[autobodyman]

They look really nice Zac. You'll have to try sectioning the other direction sometime.

Here are a few I did years ago, notice the one on the left, sectioned ebony and redheart, 2 other sectioned ones are purpleheart and maple, the 7th one from the left is sectioned Baltic birch plywood.



~Mike

[tomd]

Look great, they all have teriffic grain and color.

[sachbvn]

Thanks guys - hey Mike, THOSE are very cool - I'm not sure which I like best....that Ebony and Redheart does look pretty dang good though!

Question - the one - second from the far right.... the one with dots going down it.... care to share how you accomplished that? That's pretty neat lookin'!


Zac

[autobodyman]

Dec 14, 2009 4:23:55 GMT -6 sachbvn said:

Thanks guys - hey Mike, THOSE are very cool - I'm not sure which I like best....that Ebony and Redheart does look pretty dang good though!

Question - the one - second from the far right.... the one with dots going down it.... care to share how you accomplished that? That's pretty neat lookin'!


Zac

Thanks Zac,
I actually didn't really like the looks of that one all that much but at the time I was looking to try different things. I just took my cut pen blank and drilled 1/4" holes in it and glued in cherry and walnut dowels.

Thanks ~Mike

[Ruffnek]

Zac, you took to pen turning like a duck takes to water. Those are all great looking pens and I really like the shape you put on them. They look like they would really be comfortable to hold and it also adds a little pizzazz to the slimline kit.

[Doug B]

Wow! You have really progressed quickly Zac! I am impressed.

Nice job on the pens - you have a nice unique style going there that I really like a lot. I have a good feeling that you are going to be very successful at the craftshows.

[sachbvn]

Thanks everyone!! Cody, I personally prefer thinner pens, and while I admire the talents needed to add all the woop dee doos, I also prefer a very usable, and comfortable to hold, pen. Sooo, that is why my pens have some shape, but more limited towards the upper parts of the barrels.

Doug, thanks for the kind words!! You've (and several others) have been extremely helpful in regards to advice on the craft show market....I'm hoping to do well, but this is mostly for me, for fun! I'm prepared to not sell any, those days happen. I am looking at January or February for my first show....actually it is a flee market that is held almost every month, vendors welcome - a little bit of everything kinda deal. I'm workig on getting my inventory built up now, gotta get some cartridge pens but I think they are sold out right now.

Thanks!
Zac

[Doug B]

Zac, they have the chrome ones available but the gold Cartridge pens are back-ordered until January 11th. I like the chrome ones for some things, but for the most part I prefer the gold ones. What is really neat is to switch the nibs on them so you have a contrasting nib, but not everyone likes that.

[woodmangler]

Go Zac go!!

Very nice pens.... really like the shapes on those... jazzes up the slimlines real well.

You are doing great!

[maverick31]

Dec 15, 2009 15:37:12 GMT -6 @woodmangler said:

Go Zac go!!

Very nice pens.... really like the shapes on those... jazzes up the slimlines real well.

You are doing great!

I agree, I really like the top pen the best. great job zac

[sachbvn]

Oh - I got it.... "I shall call this design..... The lamp shade"

Thanks guy - Marc, Mav - to be 100% honest? It's actually easier to work a design like this as opposed to drying to get dead flat across the whole piece - mainly because with a straight bodied slim - you are working with such a small amount of wood.... sanding can go right through to the brass barrel.... so.... while it may be more "work" with putting a design on the pen.... I much prefer it because of the looks, but it also allows room to flub up and rework/fix the problem.


Zac