Gallery, Projects and General > The Design Shop
Present for Dad - suggestions?
rleete:
Okay, a bit of advice. I made three kits in one night (easy if you set up a small production run), and finished the wood according to the instructions on the bottle. It's a wax/oil/shellac finish, and makes for a nice smooth, shiny surface. These kits are so easy to make a good final product.
I left them to sit overnight per advice given on some website, even though they all appeared to be dry enough to handle. It ended up being 2 days, as I got sidetracked. Assembled the first last night, and took it in to work to show it off. Everyone seemed impressed. Still looks as good as when I made it, in spite of quite a bit of handling.
Since it's so nice to be able to start and finish a project in one night, I decided to make more. After assembling the other two, I started the fourth. Got it all done, but rushed it a bit, so the surface isn't quite as nice as I'd like, but otherwise okay. Then the mistake: I proceeded to assemble it without waiting for it to dry overnight. Handling it today has made it look worn already. Two pens. Same type of wood, same finish, and the difference is dramatic. I'm sure I can sand it down and try again, but It's going to be a pain to press it apart without damaging anything. Let the finish set up before assembling, as it is much easier to redo it before you press the parts together!
I'm addicted, though. Ordered a dozen various kits online today, and enough blanks to make twice that many.
Darren:
WE WANT ... :worthless:
tinkerer:
As long as you did not glue in the nib, it is easy to insert a brass round through the transmission and tap out the nib. Then you can press out the transmission. To reiterate :worthless:
Powder Keg:
Did someone say there were pictures? I cant see them? :nrocks:
rleete:
--- Quote from: tinkerer on December 01, 2009, 05:42:09 PM ---As long as you did not glue in the nib...
--- End quote ---
Silly me, I did just that. Got some acetone on it (which further ruined the finish), and got it apart without too much trouble. Swearing doesn't count, of course. Sanding and refinishing worked quite well, and it will sit this time until I am convinced it's dried.
Hard to tell, but it really is fairly shiny. Other two look pretty much the same, and are already wrapped up for gifts.
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