| Project by cajunpen | posted 937 days ago | 978 views | 1 time favorited | 18 comments | ![]() |
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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
Sawdust2
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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.
PanamaJack
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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,
Phil Brown
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218 posts in 957 days
posted 936 days ago
Beautiful assortment Bill.
-- Phil Brown, Ontario
Karson
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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 †
Gary
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446 posts in 1223 days
posted 936 days ago
Nice looking pens Bill.
-- Gary, Florida
cajunpen
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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/
woodspar
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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
jockmike2
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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
Steffen
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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
TomFran
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2515 posts in 893 days
posted 886 days ago
Bill, These are beautiful works of art!
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
mot
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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)
cajunpen
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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/
oscorner
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4572 posts in 1210 days
posted 851 days ago
Beautiful pens!
-- Jesus is Lord!
YorkshireStewart
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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
Kerux
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513 posts in 783 days
posted 779 days ago
That Ambrosia Maple pen is precious. Love the look of it.
-- http://inhisgrip1.blogspot.com/
pFunk
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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.
Karen
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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.
jeanmarc
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1751 posts in 615 days
posted 490 days ago
Great looking Pens
-- jeanmarc manosque france