cupboard door pens wip.

**thompy** · 1st July 2012, 12:33 AM

So looking around at the workshop after a hefty cleanup, i spied an old laminated cupboard door that had fallen off the cupboard due to harsh years and possibly some water dammage had got the carcass pretty badly, i salvaged the door and I'd used it last year to cut a faceplate from.

I think it was John (gawdelpus) who said "i go everywhere and see things in terms of potential pen turnings" perhaps it was Neil (dai), that was on my mind when i spotted this cut up door. And i thought perfect, i bought a clik pencil and had a spare slimline kits ready for my own desk set (i can never find a damm pen, go figure..) and the idea got better as i inspected the laminations.

Its got a lovely dark veneer, quite thin on both the inside and outside of the door, so it will hide a glue line well, and the structure of the veneer as is, surprisingly ok. It ripped well on my rusty circular blade and took the drill well with an underblock to stop the thin veneer chipping off.

So here's a wip, i dunno how it'll go, but i'll get cracking on it tomorrow.

I cut a length off, stitch drilled along the length by eye, and sectioned off the small blocks with the bandsaw. Set them up with a spare tube set to see lengths and i get 3 blocks per tube. With a small ammount to trim. So one end of each tube will have a dark line the other wont. I'm not too worried at this point as 1. They'll be my pens win or lose, and 2. i has spare tubes if i blow stuff up.

Things i'll keep in mind, its old laminate, so i will be masking up in case the glue has something odd like mercury or lead or dead fish or asbestos in it, the old blokes liked using odd stuff that kills us (i think even the new stuff is bad to turn though i am unsure). Also that the core laminate is usually 90 degree's to itself, so it'll be quite a mix of endgrain and facegrain to turn, carefully. And finally that CA has little shear strength so turning the blocks as they are in the size they are could potentially cause issues of tearout.

More tomorrow,

Neal.

**thompy** · 1st July 2012, 03:44 PM

Pics today are:

1. Glued up, had to think about what ends went where, to make the wood pattern set right.
2. End milled, i think this is the culprit for my first blowout, its leaving a lip of brass that the bushes are bending into the wood, my own fault really, i knew this and rushed it and didnt use my countersink bit to take the edge off.
3. Ack. first tear/blow out since, forever. thankfully due to the pens overall setup it was not a big deal to make up a new tube with the spares i cut up yesterday, carry spare tubes and carry spare timber if you can !!!

Neal.

**thompy** · 1st July 2012, 03:46 PM

and the finished pen. will do the matching pencil and stand for my desk set during the week. i rushed the finish as its my pen, just sanded to #400, 7 coats thin ca, and wet MM, still came up ok i rekon.

Neal.

**mkypenturner** · 1st July 2012, 05:57 PM

nice work neal

**plantagenon** · 1st July 2012, 06:37 PM

The pen came up really well Neal. I would not have thought about an old door but it works well

Better check with the better half before you start drilling holes in the front door.

**Jack.Tar** · 1st July 2012, 07:10 PM

Very impressive.

**Sawdust Maker** · 3rd July 2012, 10:11 PM

nice pen - lot betterin the one I made out of formply

**thompy** · 3rd July 2012, 10:41 PM

Thanks fella's,

My work has gone mental, and i dont see a reprieve for a while given will be moving premises soon. So i'm gunna dig in and make hay while the sun shines and overtime flows, i'll keep posting on this as the pencil needs doing so does the stand/base, but it might be a while between drinks at the lathe.

Stay tuned more to come.

Neal.

PS: The front one is well off limits mate, when we renovated swmbo chose it, let me put a lock on it and stain it and hang it, then told me in no uncertain terms that i'd done very well but i wasn't to go near it again lol.

**seriola** · 4th July 2012, 09:38 AM

That finished as a nice pen Neal, I do think if you are doing your fingers to match the wood you should polish them up to the same level next time. So it's full marks for the pen but only 75% for the satin sheen fingers

**Simomatra** · 4th July 2012, 03:56 PM

From a humble piece of ply you have made a beautiful set Neal, well done

**Pariss** · 4th July 2012, 07:25 PM

Neal, put RED nail polish on your fingernails first, it will make the pen stand out much better.

Honestly, VERY innovative work mate. That's 'A Keeper'.

**Dorno** · 4th July 2012, 07:36 PM

Nice work Neal it just shows what can be done with some hard work

Cheers Ian

**thompy** · 20th July 2012, 06:09 PM

well time for an update, i just finished the pencil today, i didn't rush but had quite a few problems with it so i'll add a few tips.

Do try to finish ca on nylon/delron/other bushes as you'll learn fast that the original laminations can and will separate.

Do remember what parts you used in your first instance and try to match them, even get the original for reference (now i'll need to swap the pens centreband as the pencil's is non removeable)

all i can think of for now, sanded to 400, 9 coat ca, wet mm, brasso / sg.

pic is of the pair side by side. will work on some design idea's i have for the "case" or holder for them soon.

cheers for all the comments.

Neal.

**Pariss** · 20th July 2012, 06:40 PM

Great work Neal. Turned out terrific !. A perfect pair, one is "La Pen" the other is "Le Pencil". Clearly one is male the other female by the way they have both been turned. I'll have to remember that nifty idea when turning wedding sets. Wonder if anyone else noticed. Excellent mate !!!!

**plantagenon** · 20th July 2012, 07:04 PM

Didn't notice Steve until you pointed it out. Very impressive work Neal. They look great

Wonderful innovation

Greg

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