Thread: Mk3 Stainless/Ironwood

Beautiful Ironwood... love it.
Can't comment of style etc as I focus on how well the workmanship shows the beauty of the wood and you have certainly done that.
Euge

Thanks Euge. I rate this burl highly for its visual beauty, I would also have to rate it as rare as well, I have never seen anyone else with any of it. ( Except for the blanks I have gifted over the years )
Its difficulty factor is probably higher than any other timber I have turned as well, I have ruined blanks as soon as the drill hits it, the drill bit will wander and cause an oval entry. I have learned to use a centre punch to mark the spot and use a metal working centre drill to start the hole. Sharp carbide is my favoured turning tool.

Come on, Brad - no Mark IV? I like the shortened nib section; most unusual and very effective. And who else would use a hose clamp to make a clip - well done!

Cheers, Gary

Originally Posted by Gary H

Come on, Brad - no Mark IV? I like the shortened nib section; most unusual and very effective. And who else would use a hose clamp to make a clip - well done!

Cheers, Gary

Mk3 is it I’m afraid Gary, this is already further than I intended to take it. All visible parts are custom made by me. Except for the refill tip of course.
I have been using the hose clamp stainless to make clips for a couple of years now for my custom real ammo pens.

That must be uniquely your own pen in more ways than one being dressed in "Ironwood". Very nice piece of burl.
Is there a reason you taper the bottom blank down to go inside the centre band? In my humble opinion I think it would look better if it butted up against the band the same as a standard Slimline. That way the top would be better balanced with the bottom. Apart from that (opinion) I think all your customizations look great.

Thanks for your thoughts Dallas. Yes, that taper is a glaring fault in my design, I do a similar taper on my Cigars, and I like the look, so that’s why I thought I would get away with it here. It is 9.8mm where it enters the centerband, and 11mm at it fattest point. If I was going to do another one that’s the main thing I would address, I would also go slightly fatter for both tubes with less difference between the two. The clip also needs a bit of a tweak. But as I already said, this is the last one of this series.
I have learnt a lot with this project, and will continue with the custom pens, but on a slightly different tack.

That particular blank was destined to be my entry for the Pretty Wood Challenge, over on the IAP, but it didn’t come about in the end.

Morning Brad the timber is magnificent but I agree on design with regards to the entry into the cap and the sizing of the lower half,beautiful timber.

Peter.