I have finished the video on how to make the Stretcher Bond Pen Blanks. I had to break it down to 3 videos because is goes over 27mins and youtube will only take up to 10mins. I don't know how other videos on youtube has videos that run for hours, my account will only allow... Continue Reading →
New alternative accelerator for 20 coats of thin CA
As you may be aware that I have discontinued the Mitrefix product. Part of the reason why I discontinued the product was because I have found a good substitute for the accelerator. I have experimented with about 8 different cans and have found Glen 20 to be the best. You can get Glen 20 at... Continue Reading →
How I assemble my pens
The final step of making a pen is the assembly process. Most people simply press the parts together and leave it at that. I prefer to use a bit of 2 part epoxy to hold the pieces together. All the commercial high end pens are held together this way and we should be no different.... Continue Reading →
Final buff before the assembly process.
After applying the 20 thin coats of CA. I use the micromesh buffing pads to get the satin finish to bright high gloss finish. The Micromesh pads is a great system for the final buff. These pads last a long time, I get over 50 pens for each set of pads. I generally spend a... Continue Reading →
How I apply 20 thin coats of CA as a finish
I use ordinary paper towels to apply the CA onto the blanks. With 4 squares of the paper towel I am able to complete the process. I fold the towel like demonstrated in the video. I cut them into 14 individual pieces. 10 of the pieces are used twice each = 20 coats. You need... Continue Reading →
Sanding the Blanks
After turning the blanks down to 0.5mm more than the finished diameter, I start the sanding process. I like pens with straight barrels because I find them more classy, but more importantly over the years, I find that they sell faster than other variants with fatter grips or big curves. I start the sanding process... Continue Reading →
rough turning a pen
Once I have squared up the cheeks on the disc sander, to clean out the inside of the blank is quite easy. I use a sharp pointed tool and press on where the CA meets the brass tube. A bit of pressure will separate the two. Using a disk sander to square the cheeks of... Continue Reading →
The importance of grain matched pens
I know I yap on a bit about how important it is about matching the grain on your hand made pens. Above is a photo of a Red Cedar pencil kit. It is of the one pen with the grain lined up in two different positions. The bottom picture is of what a grained matched... Continue Reading →
How I glue up and square the cheeks of the pen blanks
When gluing up, I set myself up over a rubbish bin – that way all the surplus glue drips into the bin rather than all over the floor. I use thick CA to glue my brass tubes into the pen blanks. Mitre Fix is the actual glue I use. I prepare the tubes by sanding... Continue Reading →
