Pens for a couple of Friends

[ragswl4]

I don't think I have seen more beautiful pens. If a pen can be art, then those surely are.

[chopnhack]

I too have never turned anything but I know art when I see it! Great job Hank! Beauts.

[leehljp]

That's a gorgeous pen , I like the combo of all the different woods and metals . How was it drilling for and setting those small pieces of solder?

Thanks fellows for the recent comments. I don't consider myself an artist. What is that term - even a blind hog (squirrel?) finds a nut once in a while?

In all honesty, I needed to make a couple of pens for two co-workers, and that general idea had been on my mind for some time. I didn't experiment, and threw them together without a lot of planning or experimenting. The only experimenting was with how to get the solder smooth without using sandpaper. Solder smears like pencil lead when smoothed with sandpaper.

Basically I am saying for the most part, it just happened to come out well; I didn't plan it to be that nice. In fact, I "almost" didn't take a picture of it. I didn't think it was exceptional until LOML and the two recipients went on and on about it. I didn't think the photo was either.

As I said, I made them in kind of a hurry because I was VERY pre-occupied with more work and meetings than I had time for over a three week span of non stop work and no off days. I needed a couple of gifts, so I didn't take time to evaluate things. Bottom line - it wasn't by design by me - I just lucked out. I probably need to do that more often!

TO THE QUESTION: The holes that I drilled - the hard part was trying to make 30 spots on a small place - look random. It would have been easier to look more orderly. It wasn't difficult as I imagined and it only took a couple of minutes; drilling the holes required that I keep count and where I was on the pen. IOW - I knew that I had to be at 15 half way around and I checked for that.

I tapped each piece lightly with a small tack hammer into the hole. They stuck well enough to hold until all were in. Then I put thin CA glue all over the Solder/Wood area. Next I turned at high speed and with a very sharp scraper. I lost a couple of pieces, but it was easy enough to put two new pieces in the holes and re-glue, and re-turn. I eased the scraper into it very very gently and slowly, almost slow motion like.

[lebomike]

These pens are beautiful, I wish I was one of the friends receiving them. I have collected pens over the years made by manufactures of pens like Cross,Verde,etc. None compare to these, again they are beautiful. If you were to sell a pen like this, what would you charge me? (PM me)I may be interested in purchasing one for my collection.

Thanks
Mike

[dbhost]

Thanks fellows for the recent comments. I don't consider myself an artist. What is that term - even a blind hog (squirrel?) finds a nut once in a while?

Eh, the way I see it, you underrate yourself...

[leehljp]

These pens are beautiful, I wish I was one of the friends receiving them. I have collected pens over the years made by manufactures of pens like Cross,Verde,etc. None compare to these, again they are beautiful. If you were to sell a pen like this, what would you charge me? (PM me)I may be interested in purchasing one for my collection.

Thanks
Mike

Mike, PM sent.

Short answer: I am talking with my daughter in the Dallas TX general area about selling a limited number through her husbands ceramic arts web site.

[drumpriest]

Hank, those are fantastic, excellent work quality and attention to detail. I don't know that I have the patience to put that much effort into a pen, but well done!

[ironhat]

I've never seen anything like those, Hank. Really unique and elegant!

[pelligrini]

It is a very nice design.

I am a very grateful recipient of one. Thank you Hank. Quite a few people have commented on my new pen too. I just need to find a rollerball cartridge that writes as smoothly as my Cross' and it would be absolutely perfect, rather than just perfect.

[BerniePA]

I'm speechless -- absolutely beautiful!!!

[Ed62]

Wow, Hank! Those are absolutely beautiful!!

Ed

[leehljp]

It is a very nice design.

I am a very grateful recipient of one. Thank you Hank. Quite a few people have commented on my new pen too. I just need to find a rollerball cartridge that writes as smoothly as my Cross' and it would be absolutely perfect, rather than just perfect.

I appreciate your help. I forgot to let you know that my daughter received the package from you early last week.

Thanks!

[SARGE..g-47]

I just recently started viewing in the Turning Talk section as I seem to stay in a hurry and busy. I notice these pens and thread was from awhile back before I took time time to look at the Turning section. So.. with that said...

Uncle Cracker mentioned Art.... not only Art but to the point of Eloquent Art as those are the nicest pens I have seen to date and there are indeed some very nice pens posted here and elsewhere.

So.. congratulations on perfection on this set. Now.... down the steps to work on my junk-yard art in progress.

[seabat]

Wow ... very nice. I hate the thought of drilling 30 holes let alone trying to turn solder ... outstanding!

[leehljp]

Wow ... very nice. I hate the thought of drilling 30 holes let alone trying to turn solder ... outstanding!

Drilling the holes was not hard. I drilled a 3 in section of olive wood, 3 inch section of bloodwood and the same for holly. Then on a precision adjustable jig, I cut the sections. That way, they were all square - holes precisely 90° to the section. The real key (and headache) was making the jig and sliding table be so precise and square.