black walnut rollerball pen

[Joe Aliperti]

I made this pen for a gunstock blank dealer who traded me for some gallery-grade black walnut... including some impressive crotch figure and tight curl. This pen was made from some of the stock.

The hardware is a full-sized Statesman from CSUSA in rhodium w/ black titanium accents. CA finish.

Thanks for looking!

- Joe

http://www.silverlakewoodworks.com/images/pens/walnut_statesman3.JPG

http://www.silverlakewoodworks.com/images/pens/walnut_statesman5.JPG

http://www.silverlakewoodworks.com/images/pens/walnut_statesman4.JPG

[Christopher K. Hartley]

Joe, this is very well done. It is a beautiful Pen.:)

[steven carter]

Very nice pen! Great wood and great finish.

Steve

[John Keeton]

Joe, I don't even do pens, but I always look at yours!! Such beautiful work, and your photo quality is absolutely the finest!

[Steve Schlumpf]

Once again - beautiful work! That is some amazing wood and your finish really brings out the best it has to offer! The gun stock dealer is going to be thrilled to get this! Nice work! Thanks fro sharing!

[David E Keller]

Let's see... You get exhibition grade walnut scraps, and he gets an exhibition grade pen... Everybody wins!

[Tim Rinehart]

Nice, very nice. Just curious, perhaps you've shared this before, but what is your finish on most your pens? Any tricks that you can share with us?
I always hear about CA and have tried with mixed results. May be my technique.
Thanks again for sharing a great pen.

[Joe Aliperti]

Sure, I'm happy to share my technique.... it's slow but I am happy with the results. Based mainly from watching Russ Fairfield's videos.

I make little CA applicators out of synthetic quilter's batting backed with masking tape.

For open-grained woods like walnut....

(after every CA application, let dry or use accelerator (sparingly) if you prefer)

- turn to shape, making final cuts with a sharp skew
- apply 1 or 2 coats of thin CA to seal the surface, let dry (skip this step for close-grained woods)
- "wet sand" 1 coat of medium CA to fill pores with 240 grit (skip this step for close-grained woods)
- sand with 240 until you're back to bare wood (but the pores are filled) (skip this step for close-grained woods)
- sand with 320, 400, 600, 2400MM, 3200MM, 3600MM, 4000MM, 6000MM, 8000M, 12000MM, sanding with the lathe off with the grain after each grit.
- apply 6-8 coats of thin CA
- after every other coat sand lightly with 600 grit
- after all coats are applied, sand with 400 grit until all pits/shiny spots are gone
- sand with 600, 2400MM, 3200MM, 3600MM, 4000MM, 6000MM, 8000M, 12000MM
- buff lightly with white diamond compound
- buff lightly with blue compound

[Curt Fuller]

I see a lot of beautiful pens with all the inlays, acrylics, etc. But to me this pen that is just a beautiful piece of wood is just the best they get.

[Michael James]

Very impressive stuff there. I agree with all the comps on your turning and your photography skills. You have a lot of talent - share it as you can!
mj

[Bernie Weishapl]

That is a beauty Joe. A classy pen for sure.

[Doug W Swanson]

Joe,

Your pens are always amazing and this one is no different. The fit and finish are exceptional....

I've tried the CA finish on a few of my pens and they don't come close to yours.....

[Lupe Duncan]

Nice Job Joe, Great piece of Walnut there. Nice Finish and Nice photo, as always....

[Roger Bullock]

That is one nice looking pen. I really like the way you made the walnut pop with your finish.

[Jim Burr]

Nice work Joe. Aren't pens the best?

[Jon Lanier]

Very pretty. And on my favorite pen style.

[John W Dixon]

Another home run Joe! Very, very nice!

John