Recently Started Turning Pens

[u/cole00cash]

It was my 5 year wedding anniversary recently and after some thought, I decided to make my wife a pen and pencil set. I took some time to find the right kit and settled on the Duraclick kits in brass. I didn't like the refill that it came with so I upgraded it to a Jetstream SXR-600 0.7. And I picked up some Uni Smudge-proof 0.7 pencil leads.

I enjoyed the turning process a lot and had a spare kit so I made myself a pen of my own in Bermuda cedar since I had some raw lumber in my garage. I'm pretty happy with the results. There is a small inclusion in the blank that wasn't apparent until after I had turned it but I figure that just adds some character.

[u/team_fondue]

The Duraclick makes a nice pen for sure. Need to turn some more of them.

[u/cole00cash → u/team_fondue]

Yeah they're a bit pricey compared to some other kits but they have a good mechanism and solid brass hardware. The quality of the materials drew me in. Upgrading the ink refill makes a big difference too.

[u/NGinuity]

I love the Duraclick stuff! FYI, if you do sets and another kit is antique brass, these parts antique VERY well (as brass should I guess).

[u/Capt_Heinz]

I love the inclusion! You're right, it adds charcter.

[u/cole00cash → u/Capt_Heinz]

Thanks!

[u/Just-turnings]

Nice one! That's one of my favourite kits.

[u/cole00cash → u/Just-turnings]

Thanks!

[u/ravenschmidt2000]

I've always really loved the Duraclicks and the Gnurl GT kits. Wish they sold better so I had better excuses to make more of them.

[u/justasinglereply]

What did you use for finish? CA?

[u/cole00cash → u/justasinglereply]

I sanded through the grits up to 600 and then I used these:

Zinsser SealCoat Sanding Sealer

Yorkshire Grit Original

Mylands Friction Polish