Combining my hobbies

[Mark Peters]

I got into wood turning awhile ago and got to thinking if there was a way to make some leather blanks.   Finally got around to trying the last couple of weeks.  
 

The bottle stopper blank is glued up 2”x2” scraps, clamped, then drilled with a 1” forstner bit so I could glue in a wood dowel.   The dowel was drilled and a threaded insert put in.   
 

The pen was made by cutting 1”x1” squares a punching a 3/8” hole in each    Then it was simply a matter of a ton of CA glue, stacking the squares on a 3/8” brass tube and clamping for a few days.  Same concept as a stacked leather handle.   
 

The leather turns pretty well.    For those that turn I found a really sharp 3/8” bowl gouge did the trick.   Sanded to 400 grit, burnished and finished with CA glue.

 

Also found time to stitch up a quick passport wallet for an upcoming trip.  

 

Edited November 24, 2019 by Mark Peters

[3DReefer]

Thats how Barry King makes his maul handles as well.

 

[RockyAussie]

Looks nice. Well done

[Nate1977]

Sweet stopper nice work, Which pen kit is that? I have tried to cast some leather blanks a couple times, did not fair well, lol

Are you on any of the pen/blank groups? I don't recall seeing your name.

[Mark Peters]

Nate - it’s an Artisan Indigo from Craft Supply USA.    I don’t belong to any of the pen forums.  
 

I thought about casting it, then I stumbled across a video of a guy that did the punch/glue/stack method.    
 

The stopper is glued up with contact cement - it wasn’t as solid as I wanted, thus the dowel.   I don’t think the pen would have held up with contact cement.     The CA glue was a mess, but it really stiffened things up.   Also, I have a bunch of Horween russet strip scrap which I used.   I think that made a big difference.   
 

 

 

Edited November 24, 2019 by Mark Peters

[Nate1977]

Thats why I haven't seen that kit , don't shop that site often , I'll see if exotic has it , need to order a bunch of kits anyways.

CA can make a mess just finishing, lol 

[AndyL1]

These look great!

[clodhead]

Hey Mark, love the finished product!

What is CA glue?

[Nate1977]

1 hour ago, clodhead said:

Hey Mark, love the finished product!

What is CA glue?

CA is short for Cyanoacrylate , or super glue, there a few companies that make it with different properties for turners, mainly used as a finish on pens.

[clodhead]

Good deal. Thank you!