Finished turning another of my home brew PR blanks. This time a Pearl White on a Jr Gent II FP in Gold. Initially had planned this as a closed end pen but when I saw how good (IMHO) the Gold looked with the Pearl White I decided to turn another barrel for the gold end trim.

This gold kit comes with a black finial and a black centreband, both of which didn't look good with the Pearl White, so I drilled out the black finial cap (to my surprise that was black plated or painted brass, not plastic as expected) and separated the 2 centrebands, 1 black and 1 gold, from the centre fitting. I followed some instructions on the iAP forum (thanks rherrel, you're a champ!)

Turning a new finial cap in Pearl White was finicky, but doable.

Making a new centreband from the Pearl White was another story altogether, the one you see on the pen is the third attempt. This centreband has an OD of 14.5mm, an ID of 12.5mm and is 2mm wide. Needed all my patience for that job. Next time I will make a special mandrel for this job.

By that time I hope to have the metal lathe set up (picking it up tomorrow), should be easier to control than on the wood lathe.

This is my first Jr Gent II and I must say I am impressed with both the look and quality of this. It is available with both the threaded end for posting the cap and the straight end shown here, which I prefer. Not a fan of the threaded ends on pens, one of the main reasons I have bought the closed end mandrels.This pen is a bit thicker and heavier than the Baron I have been doing, and of a better quality I feel.

Cruelty and agony!

Please tell me you will NOT be at the Dallas Pen Show in October with one or more of those! I cannot be held responsible for my actions if you are there with those!

Are you selling any of those? If I were able to create something so gorgeous, I don't think I could bear to let it go to someone else, so I understand if you are not; however, it is really cruel to show something nobody else can have.

Seriously, that is one GORGEOUS pen! Well done!!!!

Donnie

Ya done real good on that one. BEAUTIFUL!

I think you can rest easy for two reasons. First of all Dallas is a bit far from Bendigo, Victoria, Australia to go to a pen show and secondly I have yet to even think about selling my pens, too busy making them.

I have to say I get a real buzz out of it though.

Thanks for your kind words.

Saved by the distance! Did not know you are in the land of Oz. I spent around five years in and around the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean while in the US Navy, and never got to Australia. One of my few regrets about places I got to visit/never got to visit.

Seriously, if you do decide to sell one of these, I don't know if I want to know about it or not. I have a weakness for white/pearl pens, and that is truly the nicest looking I have seen.

Donnie

Beautiful work!

Extraordinaire and gorgeous pen,

Julio

Bravo! Quite lovely.

Dan

That’s one beautiful pen. I’m just getting started in pen turning. Can you reveal how you make your blanks? What is the source of your JR Gent II pen kit? I like the straight end, but haven’t found a source.

Bill

Very classy pen BigShed !
Just my 2 cents :In my opinion the pen would even be more beautiful when replacing the gold blind cap by a white one on which a small gold ring is installed , as the ones on the cap
By the way :what is the white material ?

Francis

Bill, there are some good articles on resin casting blanks in the library of the IAP forum. The Jr Gent kit comes from CSUSA and is available in both postable and non-postable (straight end).



Francis, the white material is a polyester resin blank, combination of white pigment and Pearlex White Pearl pigment, I mixed and cast the blank myself.

Fred

BigShed,
Tahnks for the info
Bill

G'day Fred

Finally made it here, the pen looks just as good here. You have really done a great job on that one.

Cheers Sam

Stunning!

O!M!G! You've done a truly amazing thing down there in your tin shed. Beautiful!
I could never afford it, but I must ask: Surely you sell the pens you make? Horribly expensive, right?
GOODONYAMITE,
-jon