The 2nd Gatsby Grande was completed yesterday night.
I started with the Acrylester Crushed Gold blank but made a mess out of it. It didn't drill right, getting heated up very quickly, and chipped every so often. Did some search online and found that for brittle blank, spindle speed has to be kept lower and feed slow. It took me very long to drill through the blank for the brass tube in the lathe, backing out often to clear the powdery substance that clinged into the drill. I think I took almost double the time to drill through this blank than the earlier Aquapearl blank. Sanding and polishing it was as per the first pen, but nice color and "pattern" popped right out. But.... it cracked when I was pressing in the tip coupler. What a waste....
in order not to waste time, I cut up a section of the Dark Cosmic Bronze blank to start over. This one, like the first pen made, was much easier to work with, and quicker too. The only thing that I didn't expect is the color after polishing; instead of bronze, I get some kind of greenish and black swirl. But it is still a very nice color that goes well with the style of the pen.
Enough said, pics time!!!
I started with the Acrylester Crushed Gold blank but made a mess out of it. It didn't drill right, getting heated up very quickly, and chipped every so often. Did some search online and found that for brittle blank, spindle speed has to be kept lower and feed slow. It took me very long to drill through the blank for the brass tube in the lathe, backing out often to clear the powdery substance that clinged into the drill. I think I took almost double the time to drill through this blank than the earlier Aquapearl blank. Sanding and polishing it was as per the first pen, but nice color and "pattern" popped right out. But.... it cracked when I was pressing in the tip coupler. What a waste....
in order not to waste time, I cut up a section of the Dark Cosmic Bronze blank to start over. This one, like the first pen made, was much easier to work with, and quicker too. The only thing that I didn't expect is the color after polishing; instead of bronze, I get some kind of greenish and black swirl. But it is still a very nice color that goes well with the style of the pen.
Enough said, pics time!!!
Acrylester Crushed Gold blank with chrome pen kit
Facing one end square. As the blank's cross section is not really square, I pushed the 3 sides of it against 3 jaws of the 4-jaw scroll chuck. As such, the drill will not be on true center.
Drilling through for the brass tube
Brass tube glued in place and the blank setup in the lathe for turning the profile.
After the last polishing pad. I like it!
Then this... what a pain!!!
Quickly swap in another blank - Dark Cosmic Bronze. I didn't take any pics before reaching this stage. Now ready for sanding and polishing.
After the last 12000 grit polishing pad.
Deciding which set to use with this blank. I'm rather bad at matching things up...
Went with the middle one from previous pic. I love this!!!
This pic was taken this morning while on the way to work. Looking at the pen under sunlight, the color is lighter and it has this "blink blink" powder effect. Really nice to look at.
For the time being when buying more blanks to make more pens, I'll make sure to read the reviews from others and avoid harder to turn materials till I gain enough experience to have another go at it. I'm quite happy with how the 2 pens turn out, they are definitely pens that I would want to have in my shirt pocket. I'll be getting more pen kits and blanks from PSI to make a variety of pens with different styles. Once I see something I really like, I'll ditch my Mont Blanc and use what I made.
Anyone wants to buy a custom made pen which is one of a kind? lol...
Till the next time, be greatly blessed, highly favored, and deeply loved! God bless!
Anyone wants to buy a custom made pen which is one of a kind? lol...
Till the next time, be greatly blessed, highly favored, and deeply loved! God bless!
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