Pen Blank maker/wanna be engraver

[Seamus Rooney]

Hello all! My name is Seamus Rooney and I am from Wichita Falls, Tx and an aspiring engraver. My hunger for more artistic avenues with my pens continues to grow and two things are on the list of things to learn in order to take my skills to the next level: Metal turning(w/ a metal lathe) and an Air graver.
A little bit about me. Four years ago I began my journey into the woodturning world where i learned how to make a variety of things from bowls, goblets, platters, and most importantly to me, handwriting pens!(Wood Pen photo) Although i use kit pens, I chose to take my work to a different level and create pen blanks that are more personal than just your average block of wood or deer antler. Since i have experience in Scrollsawing, I thought i would thin some state quarters and try my hand at applying them to the construction of pens.(North Dakota flag/quarter pen) Then i realized that i could cut them out and make them look even more intriguing(Texas flag pen). My photography slowly improved as did my desire to fine tune the look of my Tru-Quarter™ blanks. (Flashlight pen Tx flag/quarter)

Anyway, while i enjoy making pens and blanks for other penturners, I feel like it is once again time to delve into more avenues of artistry. Both will allow me to take my skills to the next level as well as keep my mind focused on always improving my work.

I hope at this point i havent bored everyone reading this, but i wanted to share my intentions with becoming a member of this forum. Thank you for reading and I look forward to learning this detailed form of art!

[chujybear]

So you laminate canes that you chop up, then turn?
Looks wild

[SEngraver]

Hi,

Welcome to the Engraving Forum Seamus.
Thank you for the pictures of your lovely work,my compliments to you.
SE

[Seamus Rooney]

Originally Posted by chujybear

So you laminate canes that you chop up, then turn?
Looks wild

did you mean "coins"?

I shave coins really thin, cut them out using a scroll saw, then bend them and wrap them around the pen barrel for casting in resin. Then penturners turn, sand, and polish then assemble.

[chujybear]

No. I meant canes. Or perhaps Kane's.
It's a process of laying strips of different materials together until they form a sort of log. The result is an image on the end of the log (or cane), which can be sliced into medallions. Common practice in the glass industry , I believe.
I was just trying to puzzle out your flags.
A great product btw. That would be only better w a touch of engraving. Way to go

[Seamus Rooney]

Originally Posted by chujybear

No. I meant canes. Or perhaps Kane's.
It's a process of laying strips of different materials together until they form a sort of log. The result is an image on the end of the log (or cane), which can be sliced into medallions. Common practice in the glass industry , I believe.
I was just trying to puzzle out your flags.
A great product btw. That would be only better w a touch of engraving. Way to go

Oh i know what you mean, you are talking about polymer clay canes! No, my process is quite simple. I create the flag design using shipping labels and an ink jet printer. Then I wrap them around the tubes and prep them for casting. The coins are bent and then slid over the tube(typically on the lower barrel). Then into the resin they go, under pressure for 24 hours and then some final prepping before shipping out to the pen maker.

[bildio]

Originally Posted by Seamus Rooney

I shave coins really thin, cut them out using a scroll saw, then bend them and wrap them around the pen barrel for casting in resin.

How, i.e., what tool(s) do you use to "shave" the coins?

[mrthe]

Welcome to the Forum!

[Seamus Rooney]

Originally Posted by bildio

How, i.e., what tool(s) do you use to "shave" the coins?

Fusion Razor and a rotary vise , Just kiddin'......


Carbide tooling and a lathe