Turning pens
I’ve been turning more pens today – I shall be visiting some special friends next week and wanted to bring them something connected with Australia. What better gift, then, than a pen hand turned from Western Australian jarrah.
The timber is hard and brittle, but takes a wonderful finish when turned, burnished and polished. I cracked three of the blanks during the turning process and one during the assembly process – so I had to remake the blanks.
I wanted to achieve a design that would sit nicely in the hand – a shape that that would mold itself to the hand. And this is what I came up with – what do you think?
Cheers
Jerry
Comment by Mike DiNapolis
Jerry, very impressive. I didn’t know you could make pens by hand. Is it very difficult to do? Does it take a long time to learn?
Mike DiNapolis (a.k.a. shoptablesaw.usaveauction.net)
Posted on August 12, 2008 at 11:11 am
Comment by Jerry
Not too difficult – took about an hour the first time and after that much easier. I watched a guy turning them at the Canberra Timber and Working with Wood Show and then found a YouTube vid showing the steps. When I’m doing a batch of them it takes about 15 minutes per pen. You buy the insides and you can also buy pre-drilled pen blanks too to make it easier the first few times.
Cheers
Jerry
Posted on August 12, 2008 at 11:11 am
Comment by Dave Stewart
I’m a passionate pen turner too. I really like your work. The double ridge design on the left in your photo is very, very nice! Kuddos.
Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:00 am