I started a couple of pens last night for a couple of friends visiting from BC. The first was a Fountain pen in a “Cinnamon Swirl” acrylic. Unfortunately just as I was closing in on drilling through the blank, it blew out the bottom. Because it was my last Cinnamon Swirl blank, I had to re-think my plan. My friend Ray is a wood carver and so I knew that his pen was going to be a wooden pen. I decided that I would make both of these pens out of Padauk. Well, I started drilling the first blank and the whole blank split beyond repair. I was able to get another blank (padauk) on the lathe but then it blew out just as I was nearing the end of the turning. Having run out of pen blanks and tubes I had to stop for the night. It is the most trouble I have ever had turning pens.
One of the reasons that the last blank blew is that I was trying to do this pen using a skew chisel. Turners seem to either love skews or hate them. I am trying to become one who loves my skew chisels. Unfortunately I am not there yet. I will keep trying though. Perhaps though I won’t try a pen till I am more proficient. I will stick to cheaper stock though until I can hone my skill.
To Everything, Turn...Turn...Turn 