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Figure 5. The new vail kit.be another column. Most all of them turn nicely andfinish easily. Instructions abound on how to work withacrylics. Check you-tube for videos and you will findseveral. While mentioning you-tube let me also saythat you-tube has become a treasure of woodturningvideos....penturning also.....CA finishes...turning acrylics...Check out you-tube.Now, back to the subject of turning acrylics. I’vejust watched, several times, a new DVD about workingwith acrylics. The name of the DVD is Turning AcrylicMaterials: A Complete Guide to Working with Acrylicsby Barry Gross. On this DVD, master pen maker BarryGross reveals the fun of turning acrylics. He carefullyguides you through each step in creating an elegantcigar ball point pen from an acrylic blank. His uniquestep-by-step method of demonstrating the pen makingprocess will instill confidence so that you will besuccessful when creating your own unique pen. Barrycontinually stresses the Acrylic Golden Rule: “SharpTools-Light Cuts”.Barry discusses drilling techniques for acrylics,tool sharpening skills and techniques, keeping in mindthe golden rule of acrylics. He exhibits how to createyour own pen blank and then cast it in acrylic usinga pen casting kit. Buffing and polishing skills shownwhile demonstrating his own version of a CA finish.When you are finished creating your pen, he discusseshow to best market your one-of-a-kind fine writing instrument.This DVD is a must for everyone who wantsto turn and cast their own acrylic pen blank. I thinkthis DVD contains the most comprehensive informationabout turning acrylics on your lathe. Barry is anexcellent teacher. The quality of the DVD is excellent.Running time is 118 minutes. This DVD needs to be onyour birthday, father’s day or Christmas gift list. Or, justtreat yourself if you want to learn how to make a penfrom acrylics. Check Barry’s website for availability:http://www.bgartfprms.comGoing right along with turning acrylics is finishingacrylics. Barry Gross also has a new acrylic finishingkit available. The kit contains six (6) different colorcoded reusable aluminum oxide pads. The pads workgreat on stabilized wood and all acrylic materials. Thepads range from 600 to 12000 grit. I have about 20homemade acrylic blanks. I’ve been chucking them upand turning one end round, sanding and polishing, toshow what the acrylic will look like. I’m taking themto show during my casting demo in Utah. After half ofthem were completed I started wet sanding them withthese pads from Barry’s finishing kit. I had never beena fan of wet sanding but now I will always wet sandacrylics. The blanks I sanded with these pads look a lotbetter than the ones I dry sanded with micro mesh.I also buffed the last ones I turned with Barry’sAcrylic Pen Buffing System. This buffing system hastwo wheels...one is cotton and the other is flannel. Thecotton wheel is used with a buffing compound thatcomes with the buffing system. The flannel wheel isused with no buffing compound. The 4 inch wheelsare mounted on an 8mm mandrel and separated bywhite plastic bushings and spacers. It has a #2MT foreasy mounting and removal from the lathe. The buffingsystem fits nicely and comfortably on my Jet mini lathe.The last 10 or so blanks I wet sanded and buffed withBarry’s sanding kit and buffing system looks much betterthan the first ones I made. Wet sanding and buffingwill become a regular part of my acrylic pen finishingregiment. Once again, information of these two productsis available on Barry Gross’ website.If I don’t see you in Utah, maybe I’ll get the chancein Chicago in August at Turn on Chicago 2010 or inWaco, TX later in August at the SWAT Symposium. Iwill be doing pen demonstrations at both.As always, comments and emails welcome. Do agood turn daily!Page 13 More Woodturning June 2010