Thread: Back in the saddle.

The pen is a knockout ! something about the basic black always has an appeal and looks smart. I have tried wenge striped ebony and gaboon ebony and black coral, each is different but always look good.(maybe why some women like basic black) hehe. Not done any horn yet and maybe will wait a while before I do and the skills don't seem to have deserted you in the slightest lol, cheers ~ John

Excellent way back Al. you definitely have not lost your touch.

Welcome back to the saddle

Nice work, I find black blanks to be the greatest test of your finishing skills. It shows up the finest scratches and any flaws in your technique. Can't see any flaws in that one though

Love it. Great pen.

Thank you, fellow turners. Had trouble with this buffalo horn. Blew up the first blank through my own impatience. Took my time with this one. Haven't been turning much lately. Suffered another birthday and it threw me off my stride. Still, I guess the old saying still holds true. "The older the bull, the stiffer the horn."

That sure is a nice looking pen

I do not know that I have seen buff horn turned but I did not think it was black or did you make black by dying it or something??

I hope my skills decline to that level!!

Beautiful pen!!

Originally Posted by Rum Pig

I do not know that I have seen buff horn turned but I did not think it was black or did you make black by dying it or something??

Didn't do a thing to it. It only looks black. In strong sunlight it looks like a very dark gunmetal blue. There is a couple of lighter colored blushes on it, but you really have to look close to see them. There is also a fine white line (visible in the second photo) that appears to be a crack but cannot be felt so I am regarding it as a feature of the horn and not a defect. I bought half a dozen of these blanks at the same time and they are all pretty dark. I took my time with this pen - no longer in the "let's see how many I can make" mode.

Al, a very classy pen, excellent, Amos