Thread: Time to retire.

Its a nice pen Pete,also a nice reminder that he has the time on his hands to fill the days in as he now so pleases.

Cheers

Very well executed pen and a very appropriate gift, well done.

Wow!!, that is a beauty Pete, very thoughtful, a beautiful retirement gift,Amos

A magnificent pen Pete. I bet he was extatic with your gift.

Very nice pen Love the clock set at knock off time. Great Idea.

I'm very keen to learn how to make this kind of pen blank...

In order for me to fully get a grip on the process of making one of these; it's a blue painted tube, is that right? Then the parts are all bent somehow (with pliers?) and glued to the tube, then it is cast in clear resin?

Sorry if I sound dumb, but I don't get how when the pen is photographed from the side, the blue seems to come right to the edge, rather than a clear boundary to be seen at both sides... Sorry if that's not too clear.

I also don't get how when you turn it on the lathe that you can be sure that one or more of the cogs or the watch face doesn't break through to the outside and ruin the whole thing?

One more question... you use a pressure pot to cast this?

I look forward to being informed by anyone caring to enlighten me... I just wanna learn.

Cheers, Chrome

A Timely gift hehe, and one which will still be around long after any cash may have been spent A beautiful example of recycling and art combined with skills that can produce such a beauty , cheers ~ John

Originally Posted by John Saxton

Its a nice pen Pete,also a nice reminder that he has the time on his hands to fill the days in as he now so pleases.

Cheers

Oh that is a good one. I wish I had thought of it.

Pete

Glad you all like it. He was very happy and had to get his son to translate (Polish) his thoughts and questions.

Chrome you have the process correct.

As far as the picture thing goes I just equate it to looking into perfectly clear water and the bottom looks close enough to touch. Optical stuff.
Actually there were 4 pieces that broke the surface, 2 brass and 2 steel, when I turned the cap. In the last picture the shaft of the little brass gear at the top corner of the clip was one of the pieces that I cut. Taking very light cuts with a sharp bowl gouge doesn't rip them out and after the sanding to 400 grit I put a CA finish of about 8 or so (medium) coats, sanded with 400, steel wool, and then polished it on the buffer. It is no more difficult to turn than a segmented blank with brass or aluminium in it.

The PR pen was cast without a pressure pot.

Pete

Beautiful work by both of you and a very fitting gift for a retiree, love it

I did tell you how lucky you were, she does casting, turns pens, and makes stuff for you....

Originally Posted by QC Inspector

Glad you all like it. He was very happy and had to get his son to translate (Polish) his thoughts and questions.

Chrome you have the process correct.

As far as the picture thing goes I just equate it to looking into perfectly clear water and the bottom looks close enough to touch. Optical stuff.
Actually there were 4 pieces that broke the surface, 2 brass and 2 steel, when I turned the cap. In the last picture the shaft of the little brass gear at the top corner of the clip was one of the pieces that I cut. Taking very light cuts with a sharp bowl gouge doesn't rip them out and after the sanding to 400 grit I put a CA finish of about 8 or so (medium) coats, sanded with 400, steel wool, and then polished it on the buffer. It is no more difficult to turn than a segmented blank with brass or aluminium in it.

The PR pen was cast without a pressure pot.

Pete

A superb creation. I just love it. Congratulations!!!!

Beautiful pen and gift, I'm sure it will be treasured for a lifetime.

One of the biggest problems with these watch parts pens is ensuring the kit has enough "meat" on the tubes to support the parts. Unfortunately if you hit a SS part, or titanium as are some of the parts, your HSS chisel will know it (in a bad way). Your "cover up" is not noticeable, so you have also done well from that perspective.