Inspired by Dave Winters

[Greg Ketell]

Dave posted (http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=125653) about some really nice cutting boards he made. That inspired me to attempt an idea for a pen I've been wanting to make for a few years. It didn't quite come out like I envisioned it but it is nice none the less.

http://sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=135938&stc=1&d=1261525921

http://sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=135939&stc=1&d=1261525921

http://sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=135940&stc=1&d=1261525936

http://sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=135941&stc=1&d=1261525936

Curly Maple, Cocobolo, Ebony, and construction paper finished with CA mounted on a Black Titanium Sedona kit.

Thanks for the inspiration, Dave!
GK

[David Christopher]

Greg, thats a very nice looking pen, care to show us how it was made

[David E Keller]

Very nice... The combination of woods is beautiful. Haven't turned the Sedona yet, but I love the look of the kit. Thanks for posting.

[Greg Ketell]

Greg, thats a very nice looking pen, care to show us how it was made

In very little detail:

Take two blanks of contrasting color. Cut them square and equal sized. Tape them together. (these were just two random blanks for the picture; they weren't sized or squared)
http://sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=135947&stc=1&d=1261528159

Repeat with two more blanks of contrasting colors. Now draw a curve of your liking on the top of the stack of two blanks and cut them out using your favorite, thin blade saw. (I used a 3/16" blade on my bandsaw because I don't have a good scroll saw.) Take the two pieces you've cut out and glue them into the opposite blank filling the saw kerf with your choice of filling. (I used 5 layers of black construction paper and Titebond2. I wouldn't use it again, it doesn't turn/shine well.) Repeat with the second set of blanks and you will end up with:
http://sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=135946&stc=1&d=1261528159

Now stack these together in a way that makes a pattern you think will look good. I did something like this
http://sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=135949&stc=1&d=1261528171

Tape them together and draw a curve on the stop of the stack
http://sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=135948&stc=1&d=1261528171
and cut out your pattern. Swap pieces and glue your blanks together again. Repeat with the other set of blanks and you should end up with 4 blanks that are "negatives" of each other. (The two sets of blanks you see above are the "negatives" of the set I used to make the pen. I just haven't done this step yet.)


That is how I made this pen. For the next iteration I will probably use 3 blanks rather than 4: the first two stacked and cut and glued like I describe and then stack it with the third and cut, glue. I think having the last segment having two pieces made it a little busier than I wanted.


Was that enough of a hint?

[David Christopher]

that was great Greg, I am going to give that one a try.....thanks

[Jim Kountz]

Looks great, thanks for sharing the how-to also!!

[John Keeton]

Neat concept that could be used in several applications!!

[David Christopher]

Neat concept that could be used in several applications!!

I was thinking of tool handles

[Bernie Weishapl]

That is a great looking pen. Thanks for sharing on how it was done.

[Greg Ketell]

Now THAT would be slick!!


I was thinking of tool handles

[Mitchell Andrus]

In very little detail:

(I used 5 layers of black construction paper and Titebond2. I wouldn't use it again, it doesn't turn/shine well.)

I've used stacked black paper but glued with tinted epoxy (for gap filling help) or CA instead. That does finish nicely. Better yet is stacked dyed veneer.
.

[Greg Ketell]

I've used stacked black paper but glued with tinted epoxy (for gap filling help) or CA instead. That does finish nicely. Better yet is stacked dyed veneer.
.

I've had some construction papers in the past act as catalyst for the CA so I was worried that the CA would set before I got the pieces all clamped up.

And I thought "paper is just lots of pieces of wood so wood glue should work great". It probably would have except for the shallow angles causing the 5 layers of paper to be "spread out" over 1/4" on the pen. That emphasized the joints between the layers (aka the glue) as well.

I'll give tinted epoxy a try on the next one.

Yes, veneer is what I wanted to use but I couldn't find my package of veneers. There is a lot to be said for being organized. Sadly none of it can be said about me and my garage/shop. :D

GK

[Chris Stolicky]

Good job.

I like it.