General Finishes - Pens

Ebony and Amethyst Dip Pen

mercurepens — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 03:41:10 +0000

Ebony and amethyst are a such a natural match, and this curly figure is so well complemented by the rough, natural beauty of the crystal. The warm tones of the wood are brought up so perfectly by General Finishes Waterbased Turners' Finish. I first apply two coats of varnish and allow the grain to rise before sanding that down with the coarsest grit of MicroMesh. I then apply up to 10 coats of varnish until I'm happy with the coating. I then meticulously sand through all grits of MicroMesh to flatten and remove any specks, working up to a fine gloss. I apply one last coat of varnish before polishing with only the two finest MicroMesh grits. The result is an absolutely beautiful high gloss finish that is so durable!

Products Used

GF Waterbased Turners' Finish

Winning Category

1st Place

Tulipwood and Freshwater Pearl Dip Pen

mercurepens — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 03:28:47 +0000

This brilliant piece of tulipwood waited a long time to find its voice, sitting on the shelf, waiting for something special. What was thought to be a small knot turned out to be a hole straight through the wood. A chance for magic. The beautiful grey swirls of the grain contrast with the vivid pink tones, and perfectly complement the silvery purple freshwater pearl that sits atop as a crown. The hole is filled with crushed pearl shell and peeks out like a pair of glistening eyes. The finish is shiny like a calm lake and the depths within. When I use General Finishes Waterbased Turners' Finish I first apply two coats of varnish and allow the grain to rise before sanding that down with the coarsest grit of MicroMesh. I then apply up to 10 coats of varnish until I'm happy with the coating. I then meticulously sand through all grits of MicroMesh to flatten and remove any specks, working up to a fine gloss. I apply one last coat of varnish before polishing with only the two finest MicroMesh grits. The result is an absolutely beautiful high gloss finish that is so durable!

Products Used

GF Waterbased Turners' Finish

Red Mallee Burl and Black Tourmaline Dip Pen

mercurepens — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 03:17:26 +0000

This dainty pen, turned from red mallee burl evokes deep, dark dreams with its black tourmaline, rising like a puff of smoke. It would be easy to get lost in the swirls of the grain of this beautiful wood, made more vivid by General Finishes Waterbased Turners' Finish. I first apply two coats of varnish and allow the grain to rise before sanding that down with the coarsest grit of MicroMesh. I then apply up to 10 coats of varnish until I'm happy with the coating. I then meticulously sand through all grits of MicroMesh to flatten and remove any specks, working up to a fine gloss. I apply one last coat of varnish before polishing with only the two finest MicroMesh grits. The result is an absolutely beautiful high gloss finish that is so durable!

Products Used

GF Waterbased Turners' Finish

Honduran Rosewood and Malachite Ballpoint Pen

mercurepens — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 03:01:37 +0000

This extra long rosewood pen, set with a beautiful small piece of malachite, truly makes a statement. The grain is amazing and simply pops under the many layers of varnish that has been polished to a fine gloss with General Finishes Waterbased Turners' Finish. I first apply two coats of varnish and allow the grain to rise before sanding that down with the coarsest grit of MicroMesh. I then apply up to 10 coats of varnish until I'm happy with the coating. I then meticulously sand through all grits of MicroMesh to flatten and remove any specks, working up to a fine gloss. I apply one last coat of varnish before polishing with only the two finest MicroMesh grits. The result is an absolutely beautiful high gloss finish that is so durable!

Products Used

GF Waterbased Turners' Finish

Woodworkers Toolbox Pencil

Kreg Hamburger — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 01:09:36 +0000

Using a collection of woods donated by a fellow beginning woodworker, I created a toolbox pencil from the various woods she used in her projects. Black wood supporting the base with a combination of scrap maple and Wenge wood for the top portion. When sanding the Black wood sanding dust colored the Maple creating a bone like finish on the Maple. Shellawax was used to finish the pencil.

Products Used

Black Wood
Maple
Wenge
Artisan Toolbox Pencil Kit

Torrefied Maple and Citrine Ballpoint Pen and Business Card Holder

mercurepens — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 20:39:53 +0000

Torrefied maple has been roasted to create the beautiful caramel colour you see here. Both the pen and the card holder have been finished with General Finishes Waterbased Turners' Finish. I first apply two coats of varnish and allow the grain to rise before sanding that down with the coarsest grit of MicroMesh. I then apply up to 10 coats of varnish until I'm happy with the coating. I then meticulously sand through all grits of MicroMesh to flatten and remove any specks, working up to a fine gloss. I apply one last coat of varnish before polishing with only the two finest MicroMesh grits. The result is an absolutely beautiful high gloss finish that is so durable!

Products Used

GF Waterbased Turners' Finish

Redheart and Pearl Nib holder

mercurepens — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 20:23:33 +0000

The straight grain and brilliant colour of this redheart is the perfect canvas to show off General Finishes Waterbased Turners' Finish. I first apply two coats of varnish and allow the grain to rise before sanding that down with the coarsest grit of MicroMesh. I then apply up to 10 coats of varnish until I'm happy with the coating. I then meticulously sand through all grits of MicroMesh to flatten and remove any specks, working up to a fine gloss. I apply one last coat of varnish before polishing with only the two finest MicroMesh grits. The result is an absolutely beautiful high gloss finish that is so durable!

Products Used

GF Waterbased Turners' Finish

Curly Black Walnut and Amethyst Ballpoint Pen

mercurepens — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 19:48:40 +0000

The flashy figure in the piece of black walnut really pops with the high gloss of General Finishes Waterbased Turners' Finish. I first apply two coats of varnish and allow the grain to rise before sanding that down with the coarsest grit of MicroMesh. I then apply up to 10 coats of varnish until I'm happy with the coating. I then meticulously sand through all grits of MicroMesh to flatten and remove any specks, working up to a fine gloss. I apply one last coat of varnish before polishing with only the two finest MicroMesh grits. The result is an absolutely beautiful high gloss finish that is so durable!

Products Used

GF Waterbased Turners' Finish

Black Pen

billooms — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 18:50:03 +0000

The metal components are made by hand from brass on a metal lathe (they are not kit components). The wood is African Blackwood and pieces of sterling silver wire are inserted into both ends. The pattern was cut into the wood of the pen using an ornamental lathe which I built myself. The finish is an oil finish I mix myself from 1/3 Pure Tung Oil, 1/3 Pure Boiled Linseed Oil, and 1/3 Behlen Rock Hard Table Varnish. Size is 5” long x 0.6” diameter.

Products Used

African Blackwood
Brass
Sterling Silver
Custom oil finish (1/3 boiled linseed oil, 1/3 tung oil, 1/3 Behlen Rockhard Table Varnish)