I Save My Wood Shavings

[Les Elm]

While turning wood pen blanks to make future pen blanks.
In this case I saved the lathe wood shavings while turning laminated pen blanks made using Bloodwood, Wenge, Ash and Red Oak.

I cast the shavings using a Sierra tube, Resin Saver mold and Polyester Resin. Finished with 400 grit, buffed with super fine steel wool and polished with Hut Ultra Gloss and dressed up with a Black Titanium/Titanium Gold Elegant Beauty.

Les

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[Richard Madden]

What an excellent idea! And a cool looking pen to boot. Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

[Tim Thiebaut]

Those look fantastic, I havnt done any pens yet, maybe one of these days, still have a lot to learn.

[Bruce Sanders]

Excellent work Les, you waste nothing, excellent photography as well

[Johnny Taylor]

Now thats a clever idea! I like the pictures of the pen section on the shavings,it looks like a see through tube laying on the top of them, great optical illusion!
The pen looks great BTW :)

[Steve Trauthwein]

Hey Les,

How about letting us take a peek at the laminated blank that spawned the shavings. Really like the cast pen.

Regards, Steve

[Donny Lawson]

That's a real great idea,and a great looking pen. I need to learn the casting process. Maybe a good tutorial would help. Looking foward to seeing more from you.

[John Keeton]

It may look different in person (doubt it as the pics are fantastic!) but IMO this looks like an unbelievable piece of burl!! Great idea, great save, and a beautiful pen!

FAUX BURL!! A totally new concept!

[Darren Jamieson]

Les, over the last week you have shown some fantastic work. The picture taking of this work is just as good as the work itself. I have to second Don's thoughts about a tutorial on casting your own blanks. It is something that I really want to do but I have heard that it is very expensive and hard to get into.

[David E Keller]

I've seen one of these before, and I never get tired of looking at them. This is a great looking pen, and the blank is awesome.

[Lee Koepke]

Great .... I started turning because I had flatwork cut-offs that I couldnt use ... then I started 'segmenting' pens with even smaller cutoffs, now you want me to use the shavings too !!!

I am firmly convinced that every lick of a tree can be turned. That really came out beautiful.

[john taliaferro]

I would be proud to own such a fine looking pen .

[Roland Martin]

That's a fantastic looking pen, Les. As John noted, my first impression was that it looked like a burl. You've definitely got a good handle on the casting process and putting out some fine work.

[Brian McInturff]

Hey Les, did you sift the shavings to get the dust/fines out? The pic of the shavings show no dust or fines that I can tell. Sweet looking pen! Phenomenal photos too!

[allen thunem]

can someone explain in detail the process for us newbies on how to cast resin with materials such as what les has done?? the items needed aside from casting resin???

[Paul Douglass]

This is funny, just two days ago I finished turning a bird house. It was blood wood and mulberry. When I started to clean up and saw the mixed wood shavings I had to save some. At the time I thought, I have to try one of Les' wood shavings pens. Now you post one. Thanks it has inspired me further. Mine probably will not be any where near as nice.

[Les Elm]

Hey Les,

How about letting us take a peek at the laminated blank that spawned the shavings. Really like the cast pen.

Regards, Steve


Here's a couple of the laminated pens that I saved the turned blank shavings from.
The first photo shows a Chrome Euro with a Slimline.
The second photo shows a Slimline pen and pencil set.

Les

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[Les Elm]

Hey Les, did you sift the shavings to get the dust/fines out? The pic of the shavings show no dust or fines that I can tell. Sweet looking pen! Phenomenal photos too!

Thanks Brian,
I don't seem to get any wood fines or dust in my turned blank shavings when I use razor sharp chisels and turn at 3200 rpm?

Les

[Dick Wilson]

DAD GUM IT!!!!:mad::mad::mad: Do you have any idea how many pen blanks I have shoveled out of my shop in the last couple of years???? Great idea with marvelous results.