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  1. 11th November 2012, 05:42 PM #1
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    plantagenon
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    Default Snake wood slimline

    I had a customer ask for a Snake wood pen in a slimline kit with a waisted design to resemble a snake that has just eaten a meal. It is for his daughter's graduation and she keeps snakes for pets

    As I have never turned snakewood before and as it is a real bugger to work with I got some great advice from the Forum.

    Being a slimline I only had to drill with a 7mm bit and didn't have to predrill with a smaller bit. I did about 2cm at a time and then squirted water into the drill hole with a syringe and over the bit to keep it cool. I set the drilled blanks aside and let them dry for 48 hours. As I was running out of time I glued the tube in with CA which was not my preferred choice. I let the CA dry for 6 hours and then started turning it. I used Fred's slimline bushes and put a new R2 blade on my Woodchuck Pro and turned using high speed on the lathe but with very, very light pressure on the Woodchuck to turn the pen. It took me over an hour to turn the pen as I kept wetting the blank, dipping the R2 blade into water to cool it and swapping to a second set of Fred's bushes to reduce heat build up internally in the blank. I gave it a very light sand with 600 grit and then a wet sand with MM. Finally, 20 coats of CA and a wet MM sand followed by Canubra wax with a sheep skin glove. I then squared up the ends of the blanks using dai sensei's method and assembled the pen.
    Longest time it has ever taken me to make a pen but so far no splits in the timber

    I also got keen and made up a keyring pen in Tiger Myrtle to give to the client as a gift.

    Thanks for the advice I received. It is very much appreciated.

    Couple of photos below

    001.jpg002.jpg
    The Pen is mightier than the Sword

    www.artisanpens.com.au
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  3. 11th November 2012, 05:55 PM #2
    dabbler
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    Nice result. It's come up a real treat and I'm sure they will love it.

    Thanks for giving us a detailed description of your process. You must have been holding your breath the whole time. (I know I was by the time I was half way through reading !!)
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  4. 11th November 2012, 06:58 PM #3
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    mkypenturner is offline never can have too much wood
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    congrats at getting it made with no cracks and glad you took heed of all the warnings on this #$*&in pain in the backside amazing timber just hope it doesnt crack later as sometimes it can 6 mths laterfrom what ive read

    it looks very good im sure she will love it
    troy

    tutorial for one piece slimline pen
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  5. 11th November 2012, 10:47 PM #4
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    dai sensei
    dai sensei is offline Wandering in search of timber
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    Looking good to me

    ps NEVER dip your hot tips in water, if hot enough you will cause micro cracks in the steel, that eventually will cause chip outs.
    Neil
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  6. 11th November 2012, 11:52 PM #5
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    Looks great Greg, I will hunt up a piece and try it(again), see if I can succeed, Amos
    Good, better, best, never let it rest;
    Til your good is better, and your
    better, best.
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  7. 12th November 2012, 12:42 AM #6
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    Cool design...that is lovley looking wood, but unlovely to work.
    Glad it turned out for you!
    "That's why I love my computer,,,,,,,, my friends live in it."
    - Colin Greg, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England
    Pen Turner Extraordinary and Accidental Philosopher.
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  8. 12th November 2012, 12:50 AM #7
    minus459
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    WOWWOW

    undies
    Those who can do, those who can't don't.....................I think?
    undies
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  9. 12th November 2012, 03:41 PM #8
    artme
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    Thumbs up

    Great result Brad!!

    A combination of good practice and good luck.
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  10. 12th November 2012, 05:27 PM #9
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    Thanks all for the comments. It was probably more good luck than good management that it didn't crack. I will heed the advice Neil and not dip the tip in water; the tips are more expensive than the wood.
    The Pen is mightier than the Sword

    www.artisanpens.com.au
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  11. 12th November 2012, 09:32 PM #10
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    tdrumnut is offline Keeper of the wood
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    Great effort and result Greg
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  12. 19th November 2012, 05:50 PM #11
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    You were right Neil. I looked at the R2 blade closely since then and it is pitted where I dipped it into the water. Ohh well, live and learn Fortunately there was no damage to the other three sides so I have been able to use them. Time to order some more R2 blades. I have some R4 blades but I have not tried them on a pen blank.

    Greg
    The Pen is mightier than the Sword

    www.artisanpens.com.au
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  13. 19th November 2012, 06:01 PM #12
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    Hi Greg
    I don't have any advice because it looks like you have done a fine job there without my help you certainly took and met the challenge well. Looks like you will have to do something harder next time


    Cheers Ian
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