Scrap Pen

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 2:47 pm

As part of my hobby, I make pens for young men earning their eagle scout.

The troop I have worked with off and on has a large oak tree as their symbol, so I make the pens out of oak. I had a stock of Oak that came from a blow down, but it finally ran out. I was made aware of an upcoming eagle scout at last minute notice. (I haven't been as active in the troop as I once was.) I realized, that not only is my stock of live oak depleted, but my selection of kits is pretty much depleted as well. By depleted, I mean nothing left but scraps, and left overs from previous kits. Tubes from on kit, clip from another etc. etc. Also, being short of time, between short notice, and other projects, I really didn't have time to work up a componentless pen.

What to do

I start scrounging around my shop looking for something that should work. I have a couple of piles that I can search through "shorts, and off cuts" and true scrap, you never know when you need a decent piece of true scrap for making a lig, or shims or whatever. Any way in the scrap pile I find some oak that came off a piece of mid grade furniture Particle board with oak trim that was disposed of. I kept the oak and thew it in my scrap pile knowing I could use that in the future. (I never thought I'd use it on a pen.)

Anyways, here's is the finished product. Fat line made from Scrap Oak with a piece of walnut scrap for the center band.

Scrap board was cut on a 50 degree bias to give the grain more character (This really made the rays pop out, I was pleasantly surprised at the results). Finish is CA, Walnut center band was burned with wire to add some detail. Hardware is all left overs from a variety of slimline kits. I did this in less than hour while the finish on a cabinet I was also working on was drying.

I finished this up, applied a second coat of finish to my cabinet, cleaned up and off to his eagle court with 5 minutes to spare.

[ATTACH]17277[/ATTACH]

farley · Post by **farley** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 3:12 pm

nice pen and good for you for doing that for the scouts

easterngray · Post by **easterngray** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:17 pm

That is a real beauty. I'm sure the young man will appreciate it!

joedw00 · Post by **joedw00** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:32 pm

That is a nice looking pen. I really like the walnut band.

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:01 pm

Thanks for all the kind remarks. I found out yesterday, that my pens, are actually becoming a coveted item. I've done 6 including the one in this thread in the last year, and some of the boys about to earn their eagle have already asked. I tell them, "earn your Eagle Scout and you'll get a pen." They are all different except for the fact that I use Oak as the primary barrel covering.

kalynzoo · Post by **kalynzoo** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 1:08 am

Absolutely beautiful. I am sure the Scouts will cherish their award.

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:58 am

Terry, that's a very nice looking pen. That diagonal grain and walnut band give it a special look. Nice CA finish as well. What pen kit did you use?

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:58 am

pennview wrote:Terry, that's a very nice looking pen. That diagonal grain and walnut band give it a special look. Nice CA finish as well. What pen kit did you use?

All Slimline components nose cone from one kit, finial and clip from another, tubes from another, spare twist mechanism (my last one!!) I had laying around. Truly leftovers. I keep kits together and any damaged or bad parts get tossed and leftovers go in the left over box, for just such occasions or other customizations. I'm still out of pen kits. I really need to order some more.

I was very pleased at the rays in the oak. Cutting it on the bias really made the difference on the grain. Fortunately, I can get many more blanks from that board and it has been moved from my scrap pile to my off cuts pile so I can find it easier and I don't accidently throw it out. I may just cut it up for blanks and put those in the blank box.

Terry

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 1:29 pm

terrydowning wrote:All Slimline components nose cone from one kit, finial and clip from another, tubes from another, spare twist mechanism (my last one!!) I had laying around. Truly leftovers. I keep kits together and any damaged or bad parts get tossed and leftovers go in the left over box, Terry

I have a box about like that out in the farm shop but it is left-overs of carburetor kits.

It is a good source for an odd spring or check ball etc.

.

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 1:41 pm

There are 2 main problems with left over boxes, scrap, off-cuts, etc.

1. Keeping them organized, so they are useful.
2. Having enough room for things. I hate throwing out usable items, but sometimes I have to use the 6 or 12 month rule. (If you haven't touched it in 6 months or a year, then get rid of it.) Just too keep the space from getting too cluttered.