Purple Imperial Stone Sierra X-Cut

**timberbits** · 14th February 2009, 10:24 PM

Sierra Chrome/Gun metal. No finish - sanded to 2,000 grit, Brasso then corn flour slurry.

Got some Purple Imperial Stone block which I am cutting into pen blanks. This stone is similar to malachite but purple in color.

Planned the cuts to produce as little waste as possible. I ended up with a piece which I could cut 4 X-cuts from.

Cracked the first 2 in the drilling process, through a process of elimination, it seemed that my drill bits weren't sharp enough so I bit the bullet and purchased a drill doctor - what a difference that makes.

I love the purple color and the X-cut makes such a difference in appearance.

I showed a pen that I made to an old cranky banana farmer who does a lot of acrylic car restoration. He said I had a good finish with my CA, finishing off with Brasso. He suggested that I take the finish to the next level and use "corn flour slurry". I thought he was mad! but he made me promise him that I would try it. What a difference it makes. Corn flour slurry works a treat. I could definitely see the difference in shine, and it is a cheap polish as well.

Thanks for the comments in advance.

Timberbits.

**gawdelpus** · 14th February 2009, 11:04 PM

Nice pen and color ,purples seem very popular with the ladies it seems

. With all the wealth of knowledge and information available to us all, we still manage to find ways to make "messups" of our own ! . Are any of these "cutoffs" going to find their way to your website ? hehe .

**dj_pnevans** · 15th February 2009, 12:22 AM

TB my daughter would love that pen big fan of purple, it is a cool pen.
David

**Simomatra** · 15th February 2009, 03:08 AM

Very nice David, that one will be a real hit. Lets see the straight cut as well please.

**swedenturner** · 15th February 2009, 08:26 AM

Very nice pen David!! Really cool color!!

**BoomerangInfo** · 15th February 2009, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by timberbits

I showed a pen that I made to an old cranky banana farmer who does a lot of acrylic car restoration. He said I had a good finish with my CA, finishing off with Brasso. He suggested that I take the finish to the next level and use "corn flour slurry".

OK, now let me get this right. We're talking about normal, everyday cooking cornflour, the stuff you make gravy out of, mixed with water to a probably running paste?

I can see the theory as a polishing, just not something I'd have thought of. Will have to give it a try - certainly I doubt there'd be anything cheaper except dirt!

Rusell.

**handyrn** · 15th February 2009, 09:33 AM

Do you mean corn flour or corn meal? I am confused by this slurry component. Can you explain more?

**BoomerangInfo** · 15th February 2009, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by handyrn

Do you mean corn flour or corn meal? I am confused by this slurry component. Can you explain more?

I believe what we in Australia call Corn Flour is a little different to Corn meal/Corn Flour in the states, and maybe you know it more as Corn Starch? (Assuming Timberbits and I are using the same definition).

An interesting fact about Corn Flour/Corn Starch, is that when mixed with water, it becomes a non-Newtonian fluid, where the viscosity changes depending on certain forces applied to it. It makes for some interesting experiments where you can turn a temporarily runny fluid into something more solid by, in this case, applying a sudden force to it. I wonder if this has anything to do with it's polishing properties?

Russell.

**Simomatra** · 15th February 2009, 10:56 AM

Cindy

You are looking for the white corn flower not the yellow corm meal it is available in the southern states.

Just mix a little with water to form a slurry

David you might have to do a tutorial on this one

**poulso** · 15th February 2009, 11:30 AM

What a great looking pen

**Buzz** · 15th February 2009, 11:42 AM

That's an exceptional looking blank, well done

I've started polishing with the Opalec polishing compound which gives great results. About $13 a bottle, but you use so little its going last forever.

**artme** · 15th February 2009, 04:52 PM

Great pen David!!!

Love the colour.

**PenTurner** · 15th February 2009, 05:05 PM

Thanks for posting that pen, please tell me if this is Trustone or Acrylic with the name"Imperial Stone" Amos

**munruben** · 15th February 2009, 05:13 PM

That is one great looking pen.

**timberbits** · 15th February 2009, 05:36 PM

Hello - Thanks for all the comments.

Amos - Its similar to Tru Stone, extremely hard and brittle. I got it from a factory in China. I don't know if it is what others classify as "Tru Stone" but it is made from reconstituted stone. The resins may be different or the ratio between stone and resin may be different as well. This is why I am calling it Imperial Stone. Also I don't know if the name Tru Stone is a trademark, so I am playing it safe.

Russell - Corn flour slurry is made from the stuff that my Mother In Law adds to make soup thick. Its really cheap and I believe that every household that cooks has half a packet in the cupboard. I think its also know as corn starch used in the ingredients for fish and chips batter. "stuff you make gravy out off" mmm!!!! gravy!!! I have never made gravy before so I don't know if its the same stuff (I am not much of a cook).

You mix it up similar to the way you thicken soup. Put a bit in a bottle, add a bit of water and shake like crazy. Apply the slurry with the toilet paper underneath the blank on the lathe. Drop the slurry on the blank and the toilet paper will quickly take away most of the water, leaving a clay/playdo bit between the blank and the toilet paper which is used in the polishing.

Note - this is not a Brasso substitute. Its the next level after Brasso to bring a shiny finish to a sparkling finish. You have to start with a really good finish to bring it to an absolutely great finish.

Sam - I will try to take some photos and a more detail explanation later. I got Uni for the next 3 days so I won't have time to get into the workshop.

Straight cut has been drilled and glued without any cracking or explosions. I will try to turn the pen by Friday if I can find enough time.

Got to run. Wife getting cranky with me.

Timberbits.

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