Father's Day Gift for the Woodworker

It's that time of year again, to think about what to get Dad for Father's day. If your Dad is a woodworker then I am sure a surprise woodworking tool will be in order. One idea could be to go to Woodcraft and get a gift certificate. A gift certificate will allow him to get anything he wants.
As a woodworker, I confess that any tool, even if I already have one, is a great gift. I have 3 drills and 3 routers and I use them all.
A new square is always needed. A set of drill bits, is always useful. Woodworking books are always a favorite for me. A new circular saw by Dewalt or Porter Cable is on my wish list.
A Bosch Colt trim router is a great idea. If your Dad is into carving, Woodcraft has just come out with a new line of Hock Knives, you can't go wrong with a new detail knife from Hock. If your Dad has a lathe, try a new Sorby spindlemaster turning tool, unless of course you want to purchase him a new lathe.
If you are not into buying tools or books, Dad's can always use a new baseball cap.
Please visit my web site http://nokeswoodworks.com/

There is a link to woodcraft in the side bar.

Pen Kit Finish Notes

Notes about pen kit finishes:

24kt Gold Pens with 24k gold plating usually wear very quickly most have a coating of epoxy on them to help extend the wear life of the pen.

10k Gold pens with 10k gold plating wear better because the gold is mixed with hard nickel to form a more durable gold plating with is also cheaper. wears better than 24k gold.

Chrome pens, Chrome is used where there is alot of everyday use such as key rings, very durable and looks great at cheap price. Chrome is very shiny and very good looking. Wears better than 24k or 10 k gold

Black chrome. These are pens plated with a black color plating. The black has a soft sheen which is attractive against light color woods. It is more durable the 24k gold but less durable than 10k gold.

Satin pens get a plating that is a matte finish and gives a satin look to the pens, The finish has a slight texture to the feel of then. This more durable than 24k gold and less then 10k gold slightly more durable than black chrome.

Black Titanium pens are coated with a titanium plating which looks good and is very wear resistance. This finish give one of the most durable finished to pens.

Rhodium plated pens are the top of the line and the best looking pen kits available on the market there durable is equal to or better than Titanium. The appearance is the great.

For more information on pens please visit my web site: http://nokeswoodworks.com

Randy

Pen Making Abalone Kit

This is a Wallstreet II Tropical Isle Abalone Kit from Woodcraft. I did this kit as a Mother's day gift for my wife. The kit came with the hole already drilled and the brass tube inserted. The polyester resin the Abalone is sealed is more difficult to turn than normal acrylic blanks. The polyester resin can easily chip. Sharp tools must be used. During the turning process, the blank on this pen chipped out near the edge. I used a small file while the lathe was on to soften the rough edges before continuing to turn the blank .

I finished turning the pen blank and then completed it in the normal way using sand paper. I buffed the blank to a final shine and assembled the pen using a pen press. For more pictures on this project please visit my web site.

Randy

http://nokeswoodworks.com/