Checkerboard Sierra Pen
This is really a neat pen. The checkerboard body was made by cutting a black walnut and poplar blank lengthwise making 6 1/4″ slices. These were then glued up to make a 3/4″ thick blank of alternating colors. After allowing the glue to cure, this blank was then sliced into 1/4″ slices and each slice was turned 90″ to create a checkerboard pattern on all 4 sides then stacked, glued, and clamped. Once cured, the blank was ready to drill and turn as normal, and the result is what you see here.
I always feel like I am walking on eggshells when I turn a pen like this. While glue is an amazing substance, if it isn’t applied right or allowed to cure (see previous post on the Red Tide pen) you can blow it out and ruin a lot of work. Should the blade catch on a piece that isn’t glued up right, the whole thing hangs in the balance. At any rate, I spent a lot of time and a lot of care making sure this blank was built right before starting this pen.
Till next time -
