Multiple Personality Pen

[Scott Greaves]

Hi Everybody!

I made a pen last night to illustrate an article I'm writing on loose centerbands. Part of the purpose is to show how versatile a simple slimline pen can be. So here are three pictures of the same pen, the first with no centerband, the second one with a corian centerband, and the third with a red and black colorwood centerband.
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I hope you enjoyed the pictures! A little information on the pen - it is a standard slimline pen kit from Penn State Industries, only in their new black enamel finish. The wood is black Steelwood (a stabilized composite) purchased from Bill Baumbeck. The finish is HUT Crystal Coat, which I've had pretty good luck with. The one centerband is, of course, gray Corian, and is polished to 12000 with Micro Mesh (no finish). The other centerband is red and black colorwood, and is also finished with HUT Crystal Coat. And I always put a coat of Renaissance wax on my pens before they go out. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Scott.

[Todd Burch]

Hi Scott. Great looking pens (variations). I've never seen that red/black composite before. I like the vibrancy of the red, and the richness of the black.

I know nothing about pen turning. How much comes already done and how much is turned by you? The reason I ask is from your reference to the enamel finish that "it" come with. Will a loose centerband spin freely on the finished pen? Is the centerband's purpose purely decorative, or by adding it and making the pen longer, is the pen a better feel?

As they say around these parts, "edu-ma-cate" me!

Oh, and since I'm left handed, I rarely use the "twist" style pens - they retract on me while I use them. It's a pain!

Nice work. Where will your article be published?
Thanks, Todd.

[Scott Greaves]

Hi Todd,

No problem! In that picture the only part that isn't turned by me is the tip and the clip. Those parts are metal, and are usually coated with a plating, or in this case an enamel. I liked this black kit because it went with the black wood. A loose centerband will spin, but if the hole size is right, it won't wiggle or spin freely. It should be a bit snug. As far as I can tell, centerbands on slimline pens are pretty much useless. They are for looks. But a lot of what makes up a pen is "for looks". Having the pen longer by the length of the new centerband does change the look of the pen, and the feel and balance. I don't know if it is better, but it is different.

A loose centerband like this is just one simple way to alter the slimline pen. There are others, such as changing the length of the barrels. A slimline shouldn't retract on you! My Wife is left handed, and they do OK for her. But her Sister is right handed, and the first pen we gave her retracted. Rather than a slimline you might want to try a Parker style double twist pen.

I like to "spread the disease" of woodturning, and especially of penturning. If you work with wood because you just enjoy the activity of working with wood, then penturning is perfect! A pen is quick to make - maybe two hours at the most, and usually a lot less. Pens are small enough that you can afford to use some of the most beautiful woods in the world. And the results, a pen, is something you can use every day. I can come home from work and start to finish, make a pen in about an hour. If I do things in batches so I have a bunch of blanks drilled and glued, then the turning and finishing is more in the range of a few minutes. The process fits nicely in between other more intense turning activities, and even better between flatwork activities. It is a perfect tension releaser! And the real bonus? I can sell a pen, which took me maybe 20 minutes to turn and finish, for as much as a small bowl that takes me a couple of hours to turn. Have I convinced you yet? ;-)

It looks like my articles will be in the American Woodturner magazine. I probably shouldn't say too much about it (I might jinx it!).

Take care!

Scott.