After a long hiatus

[GaryMGg]

For various reasons, I hadn't done any pen making.
Recently had a request for some pens for gifts, so I broke out all the dusty supply.

I had some failures along the way—particularly trying crosscut Massaranduba. It's also called Brazilian Redwood but I'm telling you Redwood is 1,000 times softer than x-cut Massa!
L->R:
Curly ambrosia maple, koa, massaranduba (straight cut), sapele, maple and black cherry, hard maple, and SpectraPly.
All finished with CA and then waxed.

 

[JohnU]

Very nice Gary! Glad to see you back!

 

[Sataro]

That is a nice assortment. Nice job on them!

 

[GaryMGg]

Thanks y'all.

One of the more difficult issues is since having cataract surgery and new lenses, my very near vision isn't as good as it was numerous years ago.
I used to wear progressive lenses and if I looked below the lenses in my past, very small and near items were slightly magnified.
It was great for seeing and splitting the line!

Now, I wear 1.25 and 1.5 readers for the real close, small items so seeing where the edge of the blank meets the TBC bushing is almost impossible. I'm doing a lot of this by feel.
I always used my fingertips to feel the fit as well as checking with calipers but I also used to be able to see it. Now, I almost see it; it's not the same clarity.
I also need more light than before.

Practice, practice and practice. And, moving things around so the turning space is more organized.