Mark Peters Report post Posted November 24, 2019 (edited) 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
3DReefer Report post Posted November 24, 2019 Thats how Barry King makes his maul handles as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RockyAussie Report post Posted November 24, 2019 Looks nice. Well done Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nate1977 Report post Posted November 24, 2019 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Peters Report post Posted November 24, 2019 (edited) 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nate1977 Report post Posted November 24, 2019 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyL1 Report post Posted November 24, 2019 These look great! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clodhead Report post Posted November 24, 2019 Hey Mark, love the finished product! What is CA glue? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nate1977 Report post Posted November 24, 2019 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clodhead Report post Posted November 24, 2019 Good deal. Thank you! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Peters Report post Posted November 25, 2019 CA will stick to wet wood, while white or yellow glue won’t. It’s better for attaching glue blocks on green wood blanks. It also fills cracks/voids and as mentioned above can be used as a finish. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TargetRockLeather Report post Posted November 25, 2019 Very very cool. I especially like the pen. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paloma Report post Posted November 25, 2019 handmade, wellmade ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frodo Report post Posted November 25, 2019 try mixing super glue and baking powder it makes a hard plastic that you can turn in your lathe I make them out of used range brass here is a 8mm x 6.5x55 mm pen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retswerb Report post Posted November 28, 2019 These are very cool - thanks for sharing! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
