First Pen

[workin for wood]

I finally made my first ever pen. It is not a scrolled pen, but I do plan on tackling "pentarsia" in the future. This is a slimline, Grapefruit and Apricot...so If I was to name it, I'd call it "breakfast of champions". I don't have that many tools and supplies to make pens yet. It is only sanded to 400 grit, the most I have available, and has about 2000 coats of friction finish. I had to use a trigger clamp to squeeze it together since I don't have a press.

[Popeye]

Jeff,
Looks great, what is pentarsia?

Pops

[Marsha]

First pen eh, I really think it's a fine job for the 1st one. I especially like the wood. I can't wait to see a "pentarsia".
Marsha

[Marcel in Longueuil]

Nice work Jeff,

I also like the wood you selected.

Regards,
Marcel

[workin for wood]

pentarsia is similar to tabletarsia, which is not technically different than a scrolled intarsia. Any time you take more than one kind of wood and put it together to form either a design or a picture, it is intarsia. Tabletarsia is done on a tablesaw...ie, my picture "Pocahontas", the frame is tabletarsia..several segments of wood to create a pattern and diamond inlays, all on the tablesaw. Pentarsia is a scrolled pen. It can be simple, like crosses or swirls, or it can get pretty intense, such as the spider pen design that I have instructions for and am excited about building it sometime within the next month or two. It's a spider spinning a web on a pen...made by scrollsaw. I do have an american flag pen that I designed myself and scrolled , but I'm waiting for a pen kit so that I can turn it on the lathe. I am aspiring to design my own pentarsia designs down the road..because a man always needs another hobby...who needs sleep?

I am hoping to sell some pens to help keep my regular intarsias going....that stuff adds up after awhile! But don't read me wrong...I'm not trying to sell pens here on ssw...just to whoever I meet on the street or on the road, or whenever. It's something easy to travel with and affordable to regular people. Not to mention, the redheaded wife gets on my back sometimes about spending too much on wood..not to mention all the wallspace we are running out of...I keep taking down her paintings and putting them in the attic to make more room , hehehe.

[Greenfield_Bob]

Great pen Jeff

Bob

[FRETDUST]

Nice job Jeff. You ever get down Mount Pleasant way stop in and see me.

Steve in Mi.

[tcleckler]

Jeff, good job. I've turned several hundred, good sellers at craft shows too. You'll be suprised how creative you can get in the designs. Don't have a press either, I use BESSIE to press mine, and thats not my wifes name either.

Think outside the wood box for your blanks, I like deer antler and corian isn't bad either.

[PuzzledMoose]

Very nice looking pen there, Jeff.

[bearfretworks]

Great job ofr a first pen, Jeff! Hang on to that one....

[Dragon]

Very nice pen. Nice wood
Diane

[Mackem]

Lovely looking pen Jeff, and credit for the way you've set up the photo shoot, very stylish my friend.

[DukeNukem]

That looks reallt good,One heck of a job very nice.

Jerry

[lucky788scroller]

I use a quick grip clamp as my press as well, and it works fine for me, use your pen press money for more kits! Pen making can be about as addicting as scrolling. Dale