Ironwoods Pen Journey

RockyNH_RIP

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
Ironwood said:
Well I didn't realise how long it was since I last posted in this thread :(. I have been very slack.:eek:

Lately I have been using my spare time gearing up ( and learning up ) to cast my own resins.

I have spent a large portion of the money I had saved for the Tamron 150-600 on the gear to do this stuff, oh well, will have to sell a few pens to get it back.:rolleyes:

Here are some of my first castings. I used Sky Blue and Gold because someone wanted a bullet pen in a local football team colors, it didn't quite turn out how I envisaged ( the colours aren't quite right ) , but I am happy with how it all went anyway.

Here are 2 pens I made with the said Resin blanks.

First is a Ballpoint twist pen, then the 30-06 twist ballpoint for the guy who wanted it.

Taken with the Nikon 16-85, because I was in a hurry and that is what was on the camera.
Click to expand...

Brad, may have been a while since you posted but the work (pen) and presentation (photo) is still Excellent!!

Pat in NH
 
G

grandpaw

Senior Member
Ironwood said:
Well I didn't realise how long it was since I last posted in this thread :(. I have been very slack.:eek:

Lately I have been using my spare time gearing up ( and learning up ) to cast my own resins.

I have spent a large portion of the money I had saved for the Tamron 150-600 on the gear to do this stuff, oh well, will have to sell a few pens to get it back.:rolleyes:

Here are some of my first castings. I used Sky Blue and Gold because someone wanted a bullet pen in a local football team colors, it didn't quite turn out how I envisaged ( the colours aren't quite right ) , but I am happy with how it all went anyway.

Here are 2 pens I made with the said Resin blanks.

First is a Ballpoint twist pen, then the 30-06 twist ballpoint for the guy who wanted it.

Taken with the Nikon 16-85, because I was in a hurry and that is what was on the camera.

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Click to expand...

You really put out some fine work!!!
 
I

Ironwood

Senior Member
RockyNH said:
Brad, may have been a while since you posted but the work (pen) and presentation (photo) is still Excellent!!

Pat in NH
Click to expand...

grandpaw said:
You really put out some fine work!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks Pat and Jeff, it means a lot.

I forgot to mention in my post with the photos that I changed the lightbox for these shots. I cut a large piece of the packing foam ( Scott Murray type ) and made a tent inside the original tent to give more diffused/softer light.
I think judging by these photos it worked as I intended. Still room for more tweaks and improvements though.
Oh, for the time to put it all into practice :rolleyes:.
 
B

Bill16

Senior Member
Wow! Awesome looking pen and great shots of it! I love the wood pens like this, though using a cross brand ball point! If I had the money I'd put my name on the list for one of your cool burl maple pens! Beautiful job buddy! :D

Ironwood said:
I finished this one this afternoon. It was commissioned by a guy that bought a similar pen from me that he gave to his brother.

He wanted a light coloured Tasmanian timber, I suggested Huon Pine, he was happy with that.
I have upgraded the nib from the standard one supplied, I have the same nib in my own user, so I know that it should write nicely for him.

I used the 35 f1.8 for these shots. They are all HDR's, not sure if this has improved the look, but I wanted to try it anyway.
​If anyone is interested, I can post the single shots beside the HDR's to compare the difference.

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Ironwood

Senior Member
Bill16 said:
Wow! Awesome looking pen and great shots of it! I love the wood pens like this, though using a cross brand ball point! If I had the money I'd put my name on the list for one of your cool burl maple pens! Beautiful job buddy! :D
Click to expand...

Thanks Bill.
Sorry, but the Cross is not even in the same ballpark.;)

Marilynne said:
Good job creating the resin and the pens. Where are you finding the time?
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Thanks Marilynne.
These sidetracks eat into my sleep time. I keep telling myself I can sleep when I am dead :D.
 
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Ironwood

Senior Member
Been doing some more resin casting.

Here is a Cigar Ballpoint in black titanium fittings with black and blue resin.

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Ironwood

Senior Member
And some casts that my Wife tried, these are her first try.

I turned them on the lathe this afternoon.

I think perhaps they could have looked better on a different background.

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And the second one.....

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Ironwood

Senior Member
I have been doing some more casting, so much of my spare time is taken up with this lately I seem to be neglecting Nikonites :eek:.

This is my latest efforts, been a bit of trial and error, but I am getting there slowly, though hoping to take it up a level or two yet. We shall see :rolleyes:.

She-Oak Seed Pods cast in resin.

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Ironwood

Senior Member
Marilynne said:
Good job Brad, both in casting and presentation.
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Thanks Marilynne.

I think I need to look at varying my backgrounds for my pen photos. I find I have been just getting out the grey card , probably because its a safe bet, its OK for anything, but maybe getting a bit stale.
What do you think ?
 
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Ironwood

Senior Member
This is a ballpoint which I used some Hairy Oak for the barrel.

I am not real happy with this photo because of the light reflection which is hiding the birdseye figure in the timber.
I wonder if I should try to diffuse the light even more ?
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These two don't have the annoying reflection, but the shallow DOF means not enough of the pen is in focus.
I guess focus stacking would be beneficial here.
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While the composition of these two overcomes the DOF problem, I prefer the look of the previous two photos, I think because they fill the frame better.
I would appreciate if you tell me which photo you like more or less, and why. Thanks in advance.
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Marilynne

Marilynne

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
I like the last two. You can see the whole pen and there is no glare on it. Did you try to angle the pen on the rock like you did in the first two? Just a thought.
 
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