The DIY thread

[Gargamel]

My second pen. First was in the same style with satin nickel metal and rosewood.

This one is made from drift wood found on the beach that day.

[Gargamel]

Pen #4.

Yes, it's a .30 cal bolt action Cross Ink pen, with a turned Tulipwood shaft, C/A finish, sanded down to 15,000 grit (yes, 15,000 grit), and then a light polish.

[Betonov]

I can't make a straight cut on a plank and you're making pens out of driftwood

[Catfish]

Those pens look phantastic, very elegant!
You should open an internet shop, and actively offer such pens to all companies that are in the wood branch

And a teak one to Aktung

[Jimbuna]

I'd be tempted to take orders on those if I had the skills required

[Red October1984]

Originally Posted by Betonov

I heard coca cola does wonders to that.
Not joking, I'll try to link the article after work

Originally Posted by Catfish

^ If you have nothing else, try Cola. If you have WD-40, try this.
Both are better than nothing, but not much.

If you really want to loosen screws effectively, take something like rust-shock or chemical wrench, or mix some acetone with hydraulic fluid. Latter one is cheap, but destroys paint, so use only on unpainted parts..
Never going back to WD-40 again, this stuff is almost useless.

It's been a bit but I did manage to change my rear shocks. Turns out both of them were bad although only one of them was in dire need of replacement. I put Bilstein touring class shocks in and it made a world of difference. First drive felt like the rear end was glued to the road.

Got that bolt loose with a breaker bar and a 18mm impact socket. I made sure to torque it to spec when I put it back in so it wouldn't be too hard to get out in a few months when I upgrade to Bilstein HD's.

EDIT: I did actually use some CLP I had lying around for my guns. That helped a bit.

I did all my work at a friend's tire shop one evening and in turn I agreed to help him with a power steering rack and pinion and brake job he needed done on his Mustang Mach One.

Got the car up on stands and took the wheels off....promptly snapped two bolts because it turns out Ford doesn't know how to use good bolts. Put everything back together and he ended up paying a mechanic to do it all.

Next project is going to be the Clutch Delay Valve delete as soon as I can get a couple tools and a friend willing to help.

[Gargamel]

*Dunno why the first reply didnt post a few hours ago, but here's another*

Yes Jim, the goal is to get good enough to sell these. There's a craft show my girl and I are going to this weekend, hopefully I can sell a few of these.

I ordered a box of 100 exotic wood cutoffs, suitable for pen making:



Made a few pens with those, So now, I'm trying to get a little more creative. I ripped some length wise, and glued them up:



Here's what the cross section looks like:



And the results. Pen #1:



Pen #2:




(And yes, I'm turning this into a gloat thread, sorry. But I'm quite proud of the quality of these so far, but I still have a ways to go. But be ready for more pen pics as they come )

[Catfish]

^ Do you sell some?

If you could make some of Robinia wood (also called yellow locust or bastard acacia) i might have some customers for you
Can you print or engrave logos or letters, on them?

[Reece]

I just had a snoop here and noticed your excellent work Gargamel.
Keep up the good work, love the .30 cal bolt action pen!!

[Gargamel]

Thank you guys!

Yes, I'm planning on selling some.

If I can get the wood, I can make a pen out of it.

We are perfecting the engraving process, we might look into a laser engraver in the future, but for now, she's burning engravings in the pens. We're still working out the process. Sadly to say, Our first engraving venture kinda failed, we ended up with an "antichrist" pen. It's authentic (letter of authenticity authentic) Olivewood from Bethlehem, Isreal. She went to burn a cross onto the pen surface, but misheard which way was up..........

[Reece]

Oh dear, maybe the short end can be extended!!

[Betonov]

Sell it anyway. An antichrist pen would sell for bigger money than a christian one

[Gargamel]

Soooo.... I'm glad I purchased a high end face shield....

This was supposed to be another .30 cal bolt action pen:




But.... as I'm turning it... ZING.... dammit.....




Oh well.... I got enough extra to make a few more.... time for take 2

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Pen #4.

Yes, it's a .30 cal bolt action Cross Ink pen, with a turned Tulipwood shaft, C/A finish, sanded down to 15,000 grit (yes, 15,000 grit), and then a light polish.

You can put me down for one of those if you ever have one to sell

[harag]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

(And yes, I'm turning this into a gloat thread, sorry. But I'm quite proud of the quality of these so far, but I still have a ways to go. But be ready for more pen pics as they come )

There is nothing wrong with a gloating about your work, I for one am always impressed with things made by hand by other people, no matter what it is. Better than machine made.

Have you got an etsy website or something like that to sell the the product? Would love to know how much your selling them for and if you will deliver to the UK

https://www.etsy.com/uk/

Another through - as well as wood - what about Bone, is that do able?