#355

NOW SOLD

Purple/Bronze Polycarbonate Resin and Chrome Fountain Pen

Whenever I start to make a pen from a poly resin or acrylic blank I always remember the negative points. Acrylic turning is messy (poly is more likely to shatter) I really try to clear every last scrap of it up; it can also be smelly; the sharp little chips get everywhere and it can blunt the turning chisels really quickly. By the time the pen shape is turned and I start the messier job of wet sanding through about fifteen different grades I'm usually trying to convince myself that maybe its better to just concentrate on turning wooden pens.

Then the final grades of sanding and polishing start to reveal something special and I really like acrylic again... until the next time.

We had a lovely evening in the New Inn (and later back on the boat) at the top of Buckby Locks with friends but the next day the Buckby flight beckoned. The flight (properly called the Whilton Lock Flight) is not that long being only seven in number and they are well spaced out through pretty countryside, but a few of them are really tough. Big heavy balance beams on sticking gates can make the going very tough.

It didn't take long to get through them and we had timed our run to coincide with boaters leaving the visitor moorings at the bottom. There is only a few hundred yards of suitable mooring before you are well and truly sandwiched between the railway the other side of Whilton Marina and the busy M1.

We had a relaxing couple of days catching up on chores, bumping into boaters (not literally) that we hadn't seen for ages and even managed a stroll around the marina to see what boats were on offer for sale. Back on the boat it was time to take advantage of the lovely sunshine charging the batteries via the solar array and get some turning done.

Pen #355  was turned on the 31st July at the bottom of Whilton Locks.