JP's pen

Jean Pierre is out of school for today and tomorrow. I took 2 vacation days so we could spend time together. We had some fun in the workshop. He turned his first pen, walnut, on the lathe. He rounded the parts, then I gave him a little instruction on shaping the barrels. I helped out a little there because curves take some practice. After that he sanded and I helped remove sanding scratches. He polished it and applied the finish and we pressed the parts together. It's a really pretty pen and he is so pleased with it.







The proud lathe man and his creation...yep, he's a lefty.



For myself, I spent a little time looking through some poplar firewood for the whitest of pieces for making more chessmen. So far there are 3 pieces done. I found a piece of wood that should yield 3 more chessmen. So I need to find wood for 10 more chessmen somewhere. Unfortunately my firewood has been laying around a little long so it is deteriorating. But it really is amazing to cut into a hunk of crappy looking firewood and see beautiful, useable wood inside. Like finding a pearl inside an ugly oyster.