A Few Knob Sticks And Pens

[Shambam1962]

I recently acquired a secondhand wood lathe a few weeks back and thought I’d try my hand at turning a few walking stick handles.

I have always fancied having a wood lathe, and learning to turn items on a lathe, and I opted for knob style handles which I thought would be a good learning point, as I’ve never used a lathe before.

I turned 2 Oak handles, and a laminated handle, and I remember seeing a post on PW a few years ago posted by Stimo22 showing a stick handle turned from a Banksia nut

I ordered 2 Banksia nuts to try turning handles and was very impressed with the nut I turned, but I wasn’t prepared for the red velvet type material beneath the outer covering of the nut and mess when turning it.

 I have another Banksia nut left which is the larger of the two and a better shape, and plan to use a bit later.

Once I was confident with using the lathe, I started looking at pen making videos on YouTube, and I purchased a few bits to start turning a few pens.

I started making a few hardwood pens to learn and laminated a few others, which are different.

I have just started making a few acrylic pens and waiting on a delivery of items to complete them.

I always remember seeing the different pens and knives made by Miroku Dave , and I always fancied having a try at making a pen from scratch.

The kits supplied are very good and easy to use and follow, and decent results can be had by following the instructions.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Well done, they look very good.    

[Old Boggy]

The sticks and the pens all look really great. I like the way the pens are displayed.

I think that I recognise a couple of those stick collars.

Many thanks for sharing.

OB

[Shambam1962]

Thanks TIGHTCHOKE and Old Boggy for your comments.

Well spotted Chris, and thank you again, for your gift of assorted collars and spacers you sent to me a few weeks ago.

The purple heart laminated striped pen was the most difficult to turn, as I laminated enough pieces to complete 2 full pens.

The problem I encountered was on the final cut of the wood to size before sanding, the laminated end piece would chip off, which was really annoying.

At first I thought maybe the chisel wasn’t sharp enough which was causing the problem , but whilst I kept the chisel razor sharp I still managed to chip 3 pieces, hence the pen in the photo has a solid purple heart top after 4 attempts.

 I haven’t encountered any problems when I’ve turned larger laminated pieces, so maybe I was a little ambitious making the laminate pieces so thin.

It’s all about learning what I can and can’t do at the moment.

 

[oldypigeonpopper]

Hello, they look great 👍 my old school friend is trying some resin on his lathe , when I use to do auctions years ago if you found some old snooker balls pre 1970s ? some were in ivory they make nice stick tops 

Edited September 5, 2023 by oldypigeonpopper

[Old Boggy]

What Kevin (Shambam1962) omitted to say was that he very kindly sent me three laminated crook heads that he had cut out for me to have a go at finishing. All with full instructions how to do so. What a thoughtful guy. Thanks again Kevin.

OB

[Shambam1962]

Not a problem Old Boggy and glad I could help you try something different.

Going off subject a moment, the walking stick far right of the photo is my new dog walking stick and made with a bit of weight to the head.

Around 5 weeks ago whilst doing a bit of training down the field behind my house with my young GWP bitch late one evening, a large dog jumped the fence and attacked the bitch when I sent her to retrieve the dummy.

The dog ran past the 2 spaniels sitting patiently and grabbed the GWP by her rump and tail and proceeded to shake her like a rag doll, until she managed to get free and make it to cover where she was attacked again.

I did manage to beat the dog off with my normal stick, but now have a purpose made stick.

My GWP bitch is not a small dog and was badly bitten and couldn’t raise her tail ( docked) until 2 weeks ago and still has a bit of a kink in her tail.

The dog which attacked my bitch is a Turkish Kangal Shepherd dog and owned and paraded around by the local drug dealer, and is built like a dog on steroids.

The dog was reported and has since attacked another dog lately, but nothing has been done.

It’s only a matter of time before he attacks again, and this time, I’m prepared.

Hence the new knob stick.

 

[Penelope]

3 hours ago, Shambam1962 said:

Not a problem Old Boggy and glad I could help you try something different.

Going off subject a moment, the walking stick far right of the photo is my new dog walking stick and made with a bit of weight to the head.

Around 5 weeks ago whilst doing a bit of training down the field behind my house with my young GWP bitch late one evening, a large dog jumped the fence and attacked the bitch when I sent her to retrieve the dummy.

The dog ran past the 2 spaniels sitting patiently and grabbed the GWP by her rump and tail and proceeded to shake her like a rag doll, until she managed to get free and make it to cover where she was attacked again.

I did manage to beat the dog off with my normal stick, but now have a purpose made stick.

My GWP bitch is not a small dog and was badly bitten and couldn’t raise her tail ( docked) until 2 weeks ago and still has a bit of a kink in her tail.

The dog which attacked my bitch is a Turkish Kangal Shepherd dog and owned and paraded around by the local drug dealer, and is built like a dog on steroids.

The dog was reported and has since attacked another dog lately, but nothing has been done.

It’s only a matter of time before he attacks again, and this time, I’m prepared.

Hence the new knob stick.

 

I'd be wanting a strong, very sharp point on that stick

[Shambam1962]

Funny you should say this, I have fitted alpine spikes to the antler thumb sticks I made a while back.

[smokingdragon]

Perhaps this

 

 

[Shambam1962]

Here’s the laminated pen segments which didn’t make it, which was annoying.

[dogger]

15 hours ago, Shambam1962 said:

Here’s the laminated pen segments which didn’t make it, which was annoying.

theyd make nice light pulls? or wee bumble bees😊

[Shambam1962]

I was thinking more of Devon fishing minnows lures.

[Shambam1962]

Just completed another 2 acrylic pens from the 5 blanks in the earlier photos.

Very pleased how they turned out, but was expecting a brownish tint blank and once turned it was deep reddish colour.

The green pen is finished with chrome metal work, and the reddish one has copper metal work, which I think suits the pen.

Hope to do another 2 blanks pink and blue tomorrow evening, to see the results.

I’m quite impressed how they’re turning out and sand beautifully with micro pads to give good results.

[sandspider]

Very smart

[Shambam1962]

Well I turned the pink pen blank yesterday and as I turned the blank nearer to the finished size, I began to see the brass tube through the blank which has totally spoilt the appearance of the pen.

I have purposely left the pen up on size, which I don’t like, too try and conceal the brass tube insert.

The blue pen blank was even worse to turn and was so translucent when nearer to size that I refused to waste a pen kit on it to complete.

If you look at the photo of the 5 previous pen blanks, they look so well coloured and it’s only once you start turning does the real colour show through and any faults start to show.

The blue and pink ones looks terrible and I contacted the seller, and he apologised for the quality of the blanks and has sent 2 different blanks in exchange.

I can’t fault the seller for his help in the matter, and I will be more choosy on what colours I pick next time.

 It’s all new to me and learning as I go.

Only the mauve blank left, but it’s too hot to stand in the shed turning the pen, so will complete it early tomorrow morning, when cooler.

 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Please save all the odd bits for me.   

[Shambam1962]

Will do Dave, the way I’m going I’ll have a bucket full in no time.

The odd thing is, the wooden ones are so good to make and you don’t incur any problems.

I’ve ordered Black Walnut and Zebrano wood pieces to cut pen blanks next week.

And looking forward to seeing how they turn out.

[Shambam1962]

Just completed the last pen and happy with the results.

Won’t be choosing the lighter colours as pink and pale blue, and disappointed with the result of the 2 colours.

Have attached a before and after photo, but will start making the wooden pens next week and trying different finishes.

[Shambam1962]

Back in my comfort zone this afternoon and made this little batch of wooden pens.

From left to right: 

Pens 1 & 2 are Black Walnut 

Pens 3&4 are Zebrano 

Pens 5 & 6 are Sapele

Its so much easier turning the wooden pens.

 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Very nice, I think Ditchman was after the pink one in your previous post!   

[Shambam1962]

I saw this pen online and thought I would have a go at replicating it.

 I cut the laminate pieces yesterday and glued them, and then cut again with 45 degree angles and glued again.

Drilled and fitted brass barrels inside and turned it this morning on the lathe.

I’m very pleased how it turned out and plan to do multiple cuts to have different patterns.

The wood was offcuts of sapele and the lighter wood is ash.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Absolutely Lovely!  

Slimmer than your earlier efforts.  

[Shambam1962]

Yes,TIGHTCHOKE it is slimmer, and easier to turn pens thinner in wood no problem.

The acrylic either chips or is translucent as you make the pen thinner exposing the brass tubes inside, which is a pain.

With my hands like shovels, I find it hard to hold a narrow pen, but certain pens look nicer slimmer and some people (women) like a thinner pen.

Just making a few different options at the moment, before trying different pen style kits.

Out of choice I prefer making the wooden pens, but they don’t have the wow factor as the acrylic colours do.

I started making them as my eldest daughter attends craft fairs and wanted to know if I could make her a few pens to take along,

Now I’ve started It’s quite enjoyable.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Glad you are enjoying yourself.

What guts do they take?

I like writing with Pilot G-2 Gel Ink Pens and if compatible would be interested in buying a pen body.