Freedom Pens

Another FINE & Beautiful batch of Freedom Pens!

Thank you!

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?ppuser=1389&cat=500"

Great project, great cause

-- Mother Nature created it, I just assemble it. - It's not ability that we often lack, but the patience to use our ability

Nice work on the pens. I was wondering how you make the groves look the same on all the pens. In the group photo they all look perfectly symmetrical. I have trouble making the lines look good in one pen. Did you make a special tool for this? Thank you
Dale

Dale … After I get done rounding the blank (to just under 1/2” in diameter), I use a little gauge on an index card and use it to strike a single pencil line in the center of the blank.

Then with the lathe running at 4000 RPM, I use the point of the skew to make a thin groove on the center line. Then I move approx 1/16” on either side and do the other lines.

They don’t always turn out equally spaced, but I get them close. The wire I use for a burner is actually wider than the groove the toe of the skew makes, so I can adjust the burn a bit by drawing it toward or away from the center line.

Then I taper the ends down to the bushings, sand and finish. Takes some practice, but it seems to work pretty well for me.

—Gerry

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

I appreciate you willingness to help Gerry. I’m going to give that a try but probably on some scrap wood to start.
Your help with whimsical pens has kept me busy for some time.

Dale