Just some random stuff

For those who think I've given up on blogging ... well, you're pretty much right. So here's some random stuff I've been working on lately:

Caravaggio's Judith Beheading Holophernes

Zebra wood, very nice

Well, duh.

sticks to fridge and catches caps

It's a bird feeder

Pyrography on spoons

Dali's Persistence of Memory

Stash key chain

Japanese camphor

Burmese teak and bloodwood

Glows in the dark

Glows in the dark

Cocobolo

Stash key chain

It's a book safe

It's a book safe

It's a book safe

Japanese book safe

DEEEEEP book safe

Start to Finish for Ghostly, Part V

So here's the final product. I hope you've enjoyed the journey!

Start to finish for Ghostly, Part IV

Now that the oil has set overnight, it's time for the CA coat application.

This part is really a two-handed job, hence no still images and one quick video. You can't fool around with CA. I apply nine layers of CA and again let it rest overnight.

The CA is now wet-sanded to make it shine. The water merely keeps it from getting hot. We'll go up to 12k grit.

Sometimes at this point in the process, it goes too far and the wood gets exposed. That was the case with this pen, and I had to re-apply more coats of CA and let them rest before continuing.

Now after cleaning up the ends it's the for assembly.

And here's a link to the final product!

Start to Finish for Ghostly, Part III

Sorry for the blurry image! It's dark in the workshop and the flash just washes out all the color, so I leave it turned off.

Anyway, here I am fine-tuning the shape with the last gouge I'll use before switching to sand paper. You can see the shape of the pen now.









I start with 100 grit sandpaper, bringing the wood down closer to the bushings. Between sandings, I'll also turn the lathe off and sand with the grain to remove any marks.

I do 100, 220, 320, 400, 600 & 800 grit successively. It's really the most boring part. Tedious, but worth it on the final product.







Now this pen in particular requires that a tenon be cut from the upper portion. Here I am with a parting tool doing that.

And so here's the sanded piece. Yes, that's Guns-N-Roses in the background. You're welcome. Check out the swirls on this burl!

And finally, this pen receives a coat of 100% pure tung oil to bring out the grain. Notice the difference in color when the oil is applied. This will truly be a gorgeous piece.

Here's a link to Part IV.