10 Minutes To Better Pen Making - Steam Punk Penny Blank - Mark Dreyer

Pen making is more than just pen turning. In this video we look at creating our own blank - a steam punk blank. We look at adding embedded objects like a crushed penny or watch part gears. Different backgrounds can be used - carbon fiber or decals. This is just the start …
In this series of videos, I plan to take individual topics and explore them and discuss them 10 minutes at a time. I will use my 25 years as a pen maker to give tips and tricks on the topic. Each topic will only be 10 minutes. We will explore everything from kit and blank selection, to drilling, to turning and turning tools, finishing, and marketing and sales. If there is a topic you would like to see discussed, please leave me a comment. Thanks.
Here are the links to the things I used. Hope this helps:
Silver Tape -
www.amazon.com...
Copper Tape -
www.amazon.com...
Ebonizing Cream -
www.amazon.com...
Tracing Wheel -
www.amazon.com...
Dapping Block -
Exotic Blanks (www.exoticblan...) is now carrying a block. Check them out.
Sponsor: Exotic Blanks - www.exoticblan...
Music: www.bensound.c...

[@williamkaczmarek3996]

Thanks Mark, on our next trip to Disney it looks like I'll be making pennies!

[@markdreyer2865]

I stood in line one year at ever crushed penny machine with a pocket full of quarters and pennies. The better pennies are pre-1982 - real copper. Thanks for watching.

[@mikeriehle7457]

Great information. Thanks for sharing!

[@davidandyoko]

Awesome, thank you.

[@toolchuck]

Another very informative video Mark. I'm going to try my first tube-in casting today and I'm going to do a steam punk style like you have shown here. I see you applied the rivet holes/dents from underneath, I haven't seen that before, I'll experiment appling it from both sides of the foil tape (Duct tape). Thank you.

[@markdreyer2865]

Sincerely let me know how it goes.....Thanks for watching

[@toolchuck]

@Mark Dreyer Mark, I finally got the chance to make the castings and the two I did turned out great. I turned one and posted it on Instagram under Tool_Chuck. It is the one I was experimenting with and may have went a bit overboard with the amount of copper wire I used. I like the effect but need to find a balance where it doesn't over take the pen. I will turn the more "conventional" steam punk style, (conventional, steam punk, wha...?) anyway, and post it soon. Thanks again for the great videos.

[@markdreyer2865]

@@toolchuck Thanks for watching and letting me know things worked out. I checked you out on Instagram and that pen looks great. Goes well with the component set. Nice job. Glad to help out.

[@OccasionalWoodcraft]

Brilliant video Mark. How are you bending the gears? I tried with a dapping block but they kept snapping.

[@markdreyer2865]

Paul, thanks for watching. I use an arbor press (will be doing a more detailed video on this very soon). If you are simply looking for gears to bend - try Hobby Lobby. Look in the jewelry section where they sell "bags" of pieces. Those gears are very easy to bend and you should have no issue. I use a dapping block and a punch from Harbor Freight. When I do watch parts pens I do use the real gears from the watch parts. They are more of a challenge. I know many people use a little heat before bending.
Hope this helps - if not just let me know what else I can do to help. Once again - thanks for watching.

[@OccasionalWoodcraft]

@@markdreyer2865 thanks for the tips. I'll try a little heat and using my drill press to start with.

[@dj51]

Excellent topic but where is your list of sources?

[@markdreyer2865]

I added the links above - sorry I missed that step. Appreciate the watching.. The block was no longer at the place I picked it up. Exotic Blanks will have a few next week. They will cover this pen and watch parts also. Thanks for watching.

[@arthurbarber4091]

Thanks for a great video! Can you give us the link to the tape you use? Thanks

[@markdreyer2865]

I added the links above. The block was no longer at the place I picked it up. Exotic Blanks will have a few next week. They will cover this pen and watch parts also. Thanks for watching.

[@josephcincotta2557]

Interesting process, I can find most equipment except what I believe you called the jewelers stamping block, where did you get it?

[@markdreyer2865]

Exotic Blanks will have them early next week. I added the rest just now .... Thanks for watching.

[@josephcincotta2557]

@@markdreyer2865 Thanks Mark!

[@johngregg5735]

It might even be called a Jewelry Bending etc...

[@lesliecooke8996]

Do you have a link to the jewelry dab?

[@markdreyer2865]

I added the links above. The block was no longer at the place I picked it up. Exotic Blanks will have a few next week. They will cover this pen and watch parts also. Thanks for watching.

[@OConnor4635]

Great video. I'm not set up todo casting yet but would love to turn a steam punk. Do you ever sell your castings?

[@bigmoose283]

Great video! How do you smash your penny?

[@markdreyer2865]

I get them from "tourist traps" - crushed penny machines. All over the place. Thanks for watching ....