Pen Turners.....I need some help.......

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I have turned the normal pen forms and even sold a couple pens.

My youngest son has desires for a pen that I can't seem to find a form/style kit to meet his requests.

He like a bigger, heavier pen with a low center of gravity. In fact, he grasped a European UPSIDE DOWN...and said similar to this....

I need some ideas....styles of pens and turned form. He's a 3rd year dental student and I would like to keep it relatively formal looking.

Some ideas please!

[John Terefenko]

Well Ken we need abit more info. Are you looking for a one piece pen such as a Sierra, a two piece pen such as cigar style or are you looking for a capped pen such as a Baron or Jr gent??? All these are good balanced pens. When using capped pens, sometimes when you post the cap on the pen it makes it top heavy but you can eliminate that by not posting. The danger here is loosing the cap. There are times when shaping a pen barrel can distribute the weight differently. By adding bulges to the bottom half of a pen can make it feel heavier in the bottom and vice versa if you do it to the top.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Ken when I want a little heft I go with a cambridge, a Baron, Cubano Cigar, regular cigar or a nice Sierra. All seem to do well. You will get more answers but check out Bill at Arizona Silhouette.

[dirk martin]

+1 to what Bernie said !

[Ken Fitzgerald]

John,

I really don't care if it's one piece or two. He would not like a capped pen as it is a pain to use as many times a day as he uses it.

He actually held one of the Elegant Sierras I turned for his wife and for his Mom. He liked them but........

Bernie, I'll check out that cubano cigar.

Another possibility.....what material would be heavier....wood types.....or .....acrylics.....

Please keep those ideas coming!

[Bernie Weishapl]

Ken I would use a good wood if it were me. Any wood like cocobolo, bubinga, ironwood, or a nice walnut or mesquite can't hardly be beat in my books. Another thought is a great burl of some kind such as cherry. Bill has some really nice mesquite blanks. For me and a professional look I just think wood is better but that is just me.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Bernie,

Would you use a CA finish or a lacquer finish?

[Ted Calver]

Why not one of these?

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=142883

[Jim Sebring]

Lignum Vitae or Desert ironwood will provide the heft. A CA finish is about the most durable you can come by. It takes a bit of practice to get it on just right.

[Mike Rushing]

If you want some heavy wood I have some IPE I can send you a few blanks if you would like to try them

[Jim Burr]

Something like this? Mesquite Cigar CA finish

[David E Keller]

Here's another option for the kit:
www.pennstateind.com/store/guardian-pen-kits.html

I've not turned them, but I know they are beefy. I also like the look, and click pens are popular among medical/dental folks because they can be operated with one hand.

Stabilized woods tend to be fairly heavy across the board which allows more variety beyond the naturally dense timbers.

Here's another style that I think he might like:www.pennstateind.com/store/PKFP4000.html

[Bob Noles]

One of my latest cigars. Real heft and a smart looker.

[Clint Baxter]

The click type pens do work well for one who uses them a lot and they aren't just lying on a desk in the meantime. I've found the Wall Street II Click pen from Woodcraft to be a good choice. (Easy to turn and assemble as well.

Good Luck

Clint

[David Warkentin]

I've got some Mexican ebony I could send you if you want to try that... David

[Kenneth Hertzog]

Ken
that guardian pen that PSI has is really large in size
probably the biggest i've ever seen
haven't made one yet tho.
with a nice dense wood it should make it hard to lift:D
ken

[Michael James]

[QUOTE=David E Keller;1567648]Here's another option for the kit:
www.pennstateind.com/store/guardian-pen-kits.html (http://www.pennstateind.com/store/guardian-pen-kits.html)
I've not turned them, but I know they are beefy. I also like the look, and click pens are popular among medical/dental folks because they can be operated with one hand. Stabilized woods tend to be fairly heavy across the board which allows more variety beyond the naturally dense timbers.
QUOTE]


I've turned the guardian and it a very large pen, I like the guardian jr better, and the rubber grip is great cuz I hate (sorry Keller) the metal at the writing end....too slipperey for me. It does not have that "prestigious" look as the others do, but it's a workhorse.

[Jim McFarland]

If you want heavy...Tru-stone is more dense than the woods I've done. Similarly shaped Jr Statesman II: 52 grams in desert ironwood with CA finish versus 56 grams in banded malachite Tru-stone. Several of the Tru-stones turn as easily as acrylics -- randbcrafts.com has a good selection of Tru-stone blanks and Richard's turning ease descriptions are accurate in my experience. Also, much easier to get a nice polish on Tru-stone than CA if you don't have a fair amount of experience applying/polishing CA.

Edit to add: David had a good point re stabilized wood -- a stabilized Amboyna burl JSII similar to the others weighs 54 grams.

[Lee Koepke]

I have some Ironwood too if you'd like to try. I havent used any yet, but would be happy to send a piece to you ..

[John Terefenko]

If you want heavy...Tru-stone is more dense than the woods I've done. Similarly shaped Jr Statesman II: 52 grams in desert ironwood with CA finish versus 56 grams in banded malachite Tru-stone. Several of the Tru-stones turn as easily as acrylics -- randbcrafts.com has a good selection of Tru-stone blanks and Richard's turning ease descriptions are accurate in my experience. Also, much easier to get a nice polish on Tru-stone than CA if you don't have a fair amount of experience applying/polishing CA.

Edit to add: David had a good point re stabilized wood -- a stabilized Amboyna burl JSII similar to the others weighs 54 grams.



Here is a truestone I recenty completed and yes it does some heft to the kit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/JTTHECLOCKMAN/GreenCambridge1piece.jpg

You could always go to metals to add heft.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/JTTHECLOCKMAN/IMGP0368-2.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/JTTHECLOCKMAN/IMGP0622.jpg

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Thanks everyone for your generous offers......advice and suggestions.

I placed several orders today....it's electron Friday isn't it?

When I finish turning the numerous pen kits I ordered, I'll sort out the ones for him, and the other kids and grandkids will get Christmans presents.

My two sons are so different and I love them both.

My oldest son, a deputy sheriff, throws in some serious dart leagues. When he was over helping work on my roof last weekend, he requested I turn some darts for him. He wants something lighter than he could find online.....10 grams IIRC. So, I ordered dart kits and they are out for delivery right now. The "light" blanks I ordered for them arrived earlier this morning....

Now I'm waiting for these orders to turn a HEAVIER pen for the youngest son.

Thanks again for everyone's generous offers and suggestions!

[Ken Garlock]

Hi Ken.

I made a "Churchill" pen from a kit I got from Rockler. It is a good heavy pen with a screw-on cap. I just bought a couple more Churchill kits at a new Rockler store that just opened in North Dallas. You can take a look-see here (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17461&filter=churchill%20pen). While I haven't made any of the other large pens for comparison, I regard the Churchill as a Man's Pen.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Folks,

Yesterday I ordered a lot of kits, thick CA, plastic polish, blanks and a steel 60º live center as my aluminum one is suspect.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their offered generosity of blanks and blank materials and suggestons! Your offered generosity is certainly appreciated!

Thanks again!

[Peter Hay in Aus]

Ken,

An Idea for your Dart throwing son, I made a pen using a Slimline kit and three knurled brass darts that went down real well over here. The need to use three cause the hardened steel point is set in deep.

I drilled out the dart bodies ,glued in the brass slleves making an easy to use and refil pen. see post Three Darts Modified 24th June this year or as you say over there 6/24/10. For a rugged appearence make a pen from ReBar same method.

Regards Peter.