My daughter's favorite color is green.  I have plenty of acrylic in shades of green but she wanted a wooden pen.  This is a piece of figured maple I got from Bob Kloes.  I turned it to size and colored it with green food color mixed with white vinegar.  The color is very vivid now.  Time will tell if it resists fading.  I am pretty sure she will lose it before I get to check though.  It is on a Titanium gold fancy slim with a turned center band.…See More

On another forum I participate in there is a activity called Pen In The Hat (PITH).  Basically it's a pen swap.  I make a pen and send it to a member.  Another member makes a pen and sends it to me.  This spring's theme was construction lumber.  Pine to be exact.  My pen is made from base board removed from my grandparents house during a 2009 remodel by my niece.  She is a great granddaughter.  The house was built in the 20s using locally harvested timber.  My grandparents, my parents, my…See More

Awhile back I bought a 3 HP 3 Phase 220 VAC dust collector at the Delta recondition warehouse.  I didn’t know it was 3 phase when I bought it.  I would like to set it up in my shop, but only have 220 VAC single phase power.  My question to the forum is: Can this thin run using a VFD?  Of course I don’t need variable speed but VFDs are inexpensive. Would a static phase converter be a better option than a VFD? Would a rotary phase converter be better that the VFD or static converter?  I don’t…See More

To this pen.  You see it will leave shortly for Bob Kloes in Wisconsin.  Bob offered some of his spectacular off cut in exchanges for some pens.  Bob then asked if there was any other thing that I might like.  Well I asked for some burl.  Friday a large flat rat box showed up.  I just had to slab some up and this was inside.It is a gold titanium cigar.  4 coats of thin CA 6 coats of medium and a buff with Kiwi.  I'll get a couple more done and send them to badger country.…See More

My sister is the DARE instructor for middle schools in our county.  She has asked me to make a few pens to give as thank yous to her host teachers and the guest speaker.  Here are the results.Maroon and silver polyester resin on a WC Atlas.  MM to 12,000, plastic polish and Kiwi neutral shoe polish.Red and white polyester resin on…See More