Spalted oak pen

[ron hossack]

Haven't posted in a while. My wife reminds me that last winter all I had in the garage was some 2 x 4 walls and rafters.

This year I insulated and hung drywall so she wants to know why I'm not in their on the lathe.

So I've been in my man cave on the lathe ... tonight it was a nice 27ºF and snowing. With these temps CA is an experience.

Last week I did a Tutorial for a Rod Building site about using CA as a finish.

I started with a really punky piece of Spalted Oak that had a lot of fissures and cracks and holes where the spalting had fallen out.


http://s1.bild.me/bilder/6274983SORS-CA_001-800.jpg


I cut off the good end and made a reels seat and the plain looking oak jumped to life

http://s1.bild.me/bilder/5729575SORS-CA_002-800.jpg
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What was left over was the small piece of worthless wood that was just right for a Wallstreet Click Pen.

I had the fortunate pleasure of having to go to Micheal's numerous last week as my wife saved me a bunch of money by using some 50% off coupons.

I got some Polymer Clay for $1.00

I cleaned out the spalting and packed the hole full of Polymer Clay and baked it for one hour.

Wasn't sure how the PC would adhere to the wood but it was no problem.

http://s1.bild.me/bilder/4634375SOPC_002-800.jpg

Turned it on the lathe and this is the results and I think this has some promise.

(http://s1.bild.me/bilder/6274983SORS-CA_001-800.jpg%5B/img)http://s1.bild.me/bilder/2702519SOPC_004-800.jpg


http://s1.bild.me/bilder/9402972SOPC_005-800.jpg


[URL="http://s1.bild.me/bilder/9402972SOPC_005-800.jpg"]http://s1.bild.me/bilder/4564133SOPC_03A-800.jpg (http://s1.bild.me/bilder/6274983SORS-CA_001-800.jpg%5B/img)

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Ron....Beautiful pen!

At what temp and for how long did you bake the PC? I agree ...it could have some potential!

[Richard Madison]

Nice work Ron. And useful info. Been wondering for a long time about using polymer clay. Did you see any shrinkage from the baking?

[Bernie Weishapl]

Really nice pieces. Thanks for sharing.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Great looking pen! Really like the color of the clay and how it impacts the overall look of the pen. As mentioned - really shows some promise and may work in other turnings as well.

[Baxter Smith]

I like the reel seat!

[Billy Tallant]

Great looking pen! Now I've got to read up on that clay...

[ron hossack]

Ron....Beautiful pen!
Thanks Ken ...

At what temp and for how long did you bake the PC? I agree ...it could have some potential!
The package said 275º for 30 minutes for every 1/4".

Since this was a triangle shaped wedge I was filling and not knowing at what temp wood (especially spalted) flashed I did it at 250º for 60 minutes.

Since PC is non-toxic I used our counter-top Convection Oven (wife was gone shopping).

[ron hossack]

Nice work Ron. And useful info. Been wondering for a long time about using polymer clay. Did you see any shrinkage from the baking?
No noticeable shrinkage at all ... and it turned nice.

[ron hossack]

Great looking pen!
Steve and Bernie thanks for the kind words.

Really like the color of the clay and how it impacts the overall look of the pen. As mentioned - really shows some promise and may work in other turnings as well.[/QUOTE]
Now this is funny ... when the wife walked into the kitchen the kitchen the first thing here radar nose detected was that I used the oven ... "What for?"

I show her the pen and she doesn't like it ... though I should have used multiple colors in it <G>

Told her it was just an experiment to see if the PC would adhere to wood.

[ron hossack]

I like the reel seat!
Thanks ... it's destined for one of the many blanks I need to finish this winter ...

Made another one from Spalted Hackberry

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