This Was A First For Me

[William Young]

A member of WWF sent me some corian in an exchange for another type of turning medium. This was my first experience with corian. It was my first look at a piece of it up close except in the corian molded sinks and vanity counter tops.
It was only 1/2" thick so I didn't want to try anything fatter than a Slimline for my first one .
I found it to be a real nice turning material. It drilled good and turned good with a sharp skew and finished beautifully.
I'm sure I would be able to easily use some Comfort kits for that 1/2" x 1/2" material . The comfort pen has a larger diameter and nicer looking center band than the slimline kits. I am out of them at present and will put another dozen or so on my next order.
Now I will be on the lookout for corian in any colors I can get it in because it does add variety to my pen inventory.
W.Y.

[greatdane2]

Hi William, I just wonder why the centre band is so small? I would of thought the pen should be the same width down the main part of the body.

Alan.

[William Young]

Alan.
That is the standard size of the center band on a slimline pen. I have turned them the same diameter from top to bottom in the past but they are very skinny and not as well accepted as the ones with more shape to them.
Then on the other hand, I have seen some slimlines turned really large each side of the center band and they looked to me like a couple Coke bottles joined at the necks. That appearance I did not care for so I try to reach a happy medium with using the slimline kits.
Of course I could also make one of my custom wood bands and make it a modified slimline and toss the brass band that comes with the kit like I have done so often.

That is why I mentioned getting kits with a little bigger diameter band when I turn more corian pens . . . and I surely will.
My wife has claimed this first corian one already but she doesn't like the looks of the skinny ones all the same diameter from top to bottom.

Here is an example of a modified slimline . It has the same diameter at the finial/clip end and the same tip end because it is the same kit but I tossed the skinny center band and made it a modified slimline.


W.Y..

[greatdane2]

As you are not making pens to sell to me, my view is irrelevent but I like the modified on a lot better. Thanks for the answer though.

Alan.

[Doc249HMCS]

William.
Try polishing the corian with some auto polishing compound. It makes a world of difference.

[William Young]

A little update .

Here is the same one as shown above along with one of my modified slimline styles. Both are from 1/2" x 1/2" blanks using slimline kits.

The original picture was poor photography . The coloring and appearance in this picture is exactly the way they look in real life.

My wife likes the one with the narrow band best and I much prefer the modified slimline style . It's just a matter of preference .

W.Y.

[west_jim]

Really good job there William. I dare say I would have to try the pen out before I bought. It is a matter of how the pen fits the hand.
Very interesting to see a different material used.
JIm

[Ramjet]

Looks like cork . Have you tried it yet or would it be too hard to stabalize ? Nice work .
Roger

[William Young]

Roger.
I don't understand what you were referring to.

Have you tried it yet or would it be too hard to stabalize ? Nice work .
Roger

Yes , I have tried it. I made those pens with it. It is hard like rock yet drills and turns and finishes real nice .
Have you seen the hard highly polished bathroom vanity tops with molded sinks built in ? ? That is what that material is. It does not need to be stabilized . It is already excepionally stable .
I ordered 52 blanks on line last night and there are only two each of 26 different colors in the bunch I ordered . I didn't know it came in so many colors . It has been processed and went out in the mail this morning. .
I will be using it for my low end fast selling pens.

W.Y.

[Doc249HMCS]

William,
Very well done!
I have a Corian dealer that donates some of his left over pieces to our scroll saw club. Here is a pen that I made for him, to show our appreciation.Corian for Abusto (480 x 177).jpg

From this pic, it looks like mine needs polishing too!