LumberJocks
DAILY DEALS Wixey 8'' Digital Protractor  |  Makita Makita Recon LCT203W 10.8 Volt Lithium Ion Impact Driver 2 Pc Kit

A few pens from my lathe

Project by cajunpen posted 937 days ago 978 views 1 time favorited 18 comments Add to Favorites Watch

Here are a few pens that I turned on my lathe. The first is turned from a piece of Aluminum, the second is a Black and White Acrylic, third is Cherry Burl, Fourth is a Black & Orange Swirled Acrylic, fifth is another Cherry Burl, sixth is Ambrosia Maple, seven & eight are more Acrylics.
The wood pens are sanded to 1200 grit and finished with a French Polish while turning on the lathe. The Acrylic pens are sanded, sanded and sanded – then I sand a little more and finally finish with an Acrylic Polish while spinning on the lathe – same with the Aluminum pen. Pictures aren’t the best, sorry.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/


18 comments so far

View Sawdust2's profile

Sawdust2

1188 posts in 986 days


posted 936 days ago

I would never have thought of turning aluminum.

Anything special to consider when I do that?

How does it affect your gouges?

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

View PanamaJack's profile

PanamaJack

4447 posts in 976 days


posted 936 days ago

These are great pens you turned here Bill. How long have you been a turner?

I just finished up refurbishing a Jet Lathe and hope to be doing this and other things things shortly, after I go and take a lesson or two at a nearby Woodcraft store.

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

View Phil Brown's profile

Phil Brown

218 posts in 957 days


posted 936 days ago

Beautiful assortment Bill.

-- Phil Brown, Ontario

View Karson's profile

Karson

25811 posts in 1299 days


posted 936 days ago

Great looking Pens Bill

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View Gary's profile

Gary

446 posts in 1223 days


posted 936 days ago

Nice looking pens Bill.

-- Gary, Florida

View cajunpen's profile

cajunpen

5968 posts in 965 days


posted 936 days ago

Xavier – the Aluminum turns much like the Acrylic,, no problems with your gouges – but they must be sharp at the beginning and sharpened at the end of the turning. The Aluminum comes off in curls, much like wood, but keep in mind that it is metal and can cut you. It is a little messier than wood, but a lot of fun. I think that one of the distributors sell made up Aluminum pen blanks, I did it the hard way :-)).

PanamaJack – I’ve been turning about 15 years, and still learning. I’m afraid that I’m one of those spindle turners, have not practiced as much as I should have. I have turned a goblet in my early days and a couple of boxes – but I did not keep up with it like I should have.

Phil, Karson and Gary – Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate them.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

View woodspar's profile

woodspar

705 posts in 998 days


posted 936 days ago

I am impressed with your work and appreciate your posting these; I hadn’t thought of aluminum or acrylic. Thanks!

-- John

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7356 posts in 1145 days


posted 934 days ago

Beautiful looking pens cajun, just drop a few at my address. lol. mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View Steffen's profile

Steffen

251 posts in 934 days


posted 928 days ago

I see a few guys posting some of their pens…I have a bad camera that won’t take good close up shots. When I upgrade I will post some of the pens I have. These are very nice.

-- Steffen

View TomFran's profile

TomFran

2515 posts in 893 days


posted 886 days ago

Bill, These are beautiful works of art!

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

View mot's profile

mot

4904 posts in 935 days


posted 852 days ago

Great pens! I havn’t tried turning acrylic. Really very nice stuff!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

View cajunpen's profile

cajunpen

5968 posts in 965 days


posted 852 days ago

Tom, the acrylics turn pretty much the same as wood. The difference is in the finishing – Most of the wooden pens only sand to 600 grit – usually I can stop at 400. With the acrylic you need to get into the micro sanding pads, up to about 1200 grit – then you use a special polish (Hut makes a good one) to put the shine on them. The acrylics are available in many many different patterns now. They make fun and interesting looking pens.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

View oscorner's profile

oscorner

4572 posts in 1210 days


posted 851 days ago

Beautiful pens!

-- Jesus is Lord!

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

784 posts in 800 days


posted 796 days ago

Now, I really like those. I’ve only ever done the very basic wooden pens. Never dreamed of turning Aluminium (but then we do have the extra letter ‘i’ in ours!<g>) I must give it a go .

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

View Kerux's profile

Kerux

513 posts in 783 days


posted 779 days ago

That Ambrosia Maple pen is precious. Love the look of it.

-- http://inhisgrip1.blogspot.com/

View pFunk's profile

pFunk

6 posts in 627 days


posted 626 days ago

Nice looking pens, Bill. I particularly like the aluminum in the first group and the segmented one in the second group. Both are methods I have not done much with, but I am getting into segmenting and it is much more involved than I expected. Thanks for sharing.

-- Ben -- Thanks be to God, the original woodworker, whose son gave us all an appreciation for cross-cut wood.

View Karen's profile

Karen

37 posts in 633 days


posted 622 days ago

These are beautiful and exotic looking. Pen collectors must drool around your pens! Long ago I bought and sold Mont Blanc pens and others in an art store. These are so much more interesting to look at. Great color and contrast. Fantastic work.

View jeanmarc's profile

jeanmarc

1751 posts in 615 days


posted 490 days ago

Great looking Pens

-- jeanmarc manosque france

You must be signed in to post the comments.

  • View all advertisers
  • Advertise with us

DISCLAIMER: Any posts on LJ are posted by individuals acting in their own right and do not necessarily reflect the views of LJ. LJ will not be held liable for the actions of any user.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

HomeRefurbers.com

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

GardenTenders.com :: gardening showcase