finish on a pen.... here's the pics

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NikNak

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Hi guys

Quick question..... would you consider using varnish (gloss or otherwise) on a pen blank...?? i.e. durable or not..??




Nick
 
Simple answer, No.

More complex answer could go into pages dependant upon your knowledge of the chemistry that is behind the generic term Varnish, which I don't have by the way.

Most "Varnish" types would be too slow in drying to be practical in use I think, and the resultant finish would still need to be burnished once it had dried/cured fully (hours/days)

If my understanding is correct then a Varnish, in its most basic description, is just a blend of oils, waxes and driers, the blend determining the drying times and robustness when 'cured'.

Using something like Chestnuts Hard Wax oil is the nearest I would go to a Varnish I think.

I have never noted any reference to Pen Turners using an "Out of the Tin" product involving chemical cure technology either.


Having broken the 'Duck' in putting my thoughts together on this no doubt there will be someone with more knowledge on the subject along to point out the errors in my reasoning.
 
Hiya,

I have a handful of pdf's on BLO/CA finish techniques i can email you if you like ?
 
No, anything described as varnish is likely to produce a thick and plastic looking finish that will not do justice to even the simplest of pen kits. It will probably not wear well either

I would suggest you take up Loz's offer as CA or CA/BLO are the preferred finishes of most pen turners. I also sometimes use acrylic lacquer sprayed off the lathe, but this requires a degree of skill and a lot of care to produce anything like a decent result.
 
Many thanks for the replies, and yes please i'd like to take Loz up on his offer of the PDF's.

Reason for asking is that i've just finished turning a set of Gentlemen's pens (both a fountain & a roller-ball). The fountain is for a young lady at work as a gift to her husband for getting a post as a consultant in A&E at Basingstoke hospital. The roller-ball.... well it was cheaper if you bought the two together, so i did...... to be honest i'm hoping that when she sees the two she'll have both.

Currently i've finished them with a few coats of sanding sealer and then some Friction polish. But experience (albeit limited) has proved that the shine soon dulls, and was after something a little more lasting.

I've had a quick go with the CA/BLO finish previously, with limited success i hasten to add, and when my nose was telling me to get out of the area i quickly gave up. But perhaps i should give it another go..?

Pics will follow later as all i have at the mo are two pens in a state of disassemblement (is that a genuine word...?) , both made from burr wych elm.

Once again thanks to the guys of this forum for the answers to my questions.



Nick



p.s. sent Loz a pm of my email address
 
could I take you up on the PDF offer as well?

The Ca/BLO thing has always confused me - how people don't end up welded to the pen is very strange :)

Miles
 
One thing to watch out for if you use CA is that the surface finish must not extend beyond the tube length, I.E wood and CA coating must be finished flush with tube.
If not then when you press home the components the finish can delaminate from the wood around the end when the wood substrate compresses and is virtually impossible to repair.
 
If you go the BLO/CA route it pays to have some sort of extraction to take away the fumes as they can effect some people (they do me).

Certainly gives a great finish can also be cut back to take away the very shiny look depending what you want
 
Persevere with the CA method. When you get it, it's a fantastic feeling and looks really professional too.
 
pdf's sent.

Can I just add

"Eye protection, Eye protection, Eye protection"
 
loz":27hrm88h said:
"Eye protection, Eye protection, Eye protection"

Agreed. I've heard the accounts of two turners recently who stuck their eyes together...
 
`


took the finished pens into work today to give to the young lady (for her husband).....




IMG_3578.jpg



IMG_3574.jpg



IMG_3575.jpg



IMG_3572.jpg




Made from Burr Wych Elm, and the 'Gentlemens Pen' kits were from Turners Retreat. The quality of the kits was/is simply amazing (up to now only bought cheaper ones from ebay...).

My missus is an ex executive secretary who's well used to scribbling (sorry... short hand), she had a go with the fountain pen and promptly announced "i want you to make me one please..." said it's one of the best fountain pen's she's ever written with (she said you can write quicker and smoother with any fountain over a roller-ball or 'biro'..... she's one of those that used to take dictation while walking fast behind her boss in the corridor.... you can imagine the scene i'm sure).


I decided to leave these with a friction polish finish. Two reasons, 1 it was too late to try anything else, 2 i quite like the idea of them being not too shiny as they'd then look sort of plasticky and not real wood. Hope i got it right...?


Anyway.... she was speechless..... they were of a far greater quality than she was expecting she said....





What next..? where's that catalogue..?





Nick
 
Two great looking pens. I always finish off with Microcrystalline Wax it helps protect against fingerprints, coat all the pen including the metal parts
 
Wow. Great pens.
I'll confess turned pens have never really done it for me, but these ones have me thinking that maybe I should keep the unused pen turning chisels I recently acquired rather than selling them :)
 
thanks for the comments.


Dalboy... where can i get hold of some Microcrystalline Wax please..? :EDIT: just Googled it and found it..... thanks anyway

Dan-K... i've been reading your post re your buy... jammy so-&-so, dont bother with the pen turning chisels, i haven't got any, everything i make is done using a starter set of Sorby chisels (67H i think), sandpaper and patience.





Nick
 
they look a handsome pair Nick, well done. Must admit i've never done that pen kit before, but i think i will be trying it, i just have a couple of nice blanks for the job.. :lol:
 
stevebuk.... having seen some pf the fabulous pens you've posted here in the past, i can thoroughly recommend you try these too.

They turned out (excuse the pun) so good i really didn't want to let them go. But hey... she was paying for them and i can always make some more... in-fact there's a wedding coming up soon, she's a teacher and he designs and builds hand crafted carbon fibre (model) racing yachts... maybe a his & hers set..??

They were a tad expensive to do as a 'one-off', but now i have all the correct sized drills (strange Imperial sizes), bushings, trimmer sleeves etc. any future ones should be cheaper to produce.




Nick
 

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