Introduction: A 1-of-a-Kind Skateboard Confetti Pen

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About: I like to make things.

As I've mentioned before, my wood club members make wooden pens as a token of appreciation to active and retired military service personnel. We've made many, many thousands of them over the years.

So I was inspired by this ible to trying something new. A pen made by lamenting several skateboard decks into a board that I used to cut thin square slices and then stacked and arranged them in a random design to lathe into a colorful ink pen.

Hope you like the result!

BTW, the wood chips leftover were so colorful, I think I'll make something from them too but I'm not sure yet so if you have ideas, please let me know.

Supplies

Colorful Skateboard Decks or you can buy pre-made blanks

Pen Kits (These guys have thousands of kits)

1/4" Wooden Dowel (8" long)

Glue

Tablesaw & Lathe (You can often get great deals on Craiglist or join a local wood club since members are very helpful.)

Friction Polish (see step 6 for DIY recipe)

Step 1: Skateboard Blank Prep

A. Glue up of skateboard decks to create a plywood like board at least 2" thick, 4" wide and 10" long.

B. Cut this board into 1"x1"x 8-10" blanks.

Step 2: Create Skateboard Slices

A. Cut the skateboard blank into 1"x1"x1/8" square slices, enough to make a stack that is at least 3" tall.

B. It's good to make extra spare slices in case some break.

Step 3: Prep Skateboard Slices (See Tip to Skip This Step)

A. Find and mark the center of each slice.

B. Create a simple jig to help align each slice so you can drill the exact middle.

C. Drill all your slices.

TIP &Lesson Learned: This is when I realized that it would have been much easier if I drilled the center hole into the blank before cutting the slices. That would have been much faster too.

Step 4: Glue Up Skateboard Slices

A. Now take the square slices and glue them up using the dowel rod. Use plenty of glue.

B. I used a random pattern to create a confetti like design. I also tried a rainbow pattern but I liked the confetti style better. Maybe I'll try the rainbow one too if people like this one.

C. I made two blocks to help provide clamping pressure on top of the confetti blank for a tight seal.

Step 5: Shape the Confetti Blank

A. Lathe the Confetti blank to reveal a cylinder of vibrant colors. I loved the wood chips.

B. Drill a center hole through the Confetti cylinder using a drill bit specified in the pen kit (usually 7mm)

Step 6: Lathe , Sand, and Finish

A. Lathe the Confetti cylinder into your desired shape. I make two pens and like to shape them into a torpedo-like style.

B. Sand and apply finish. I usually sand up to 600 grit and apply a homemade shellac using my homemade friction polish of at least 10 coats. (3 at a time and let dry a few hours.) Here is my recipe for friction polish: equal parts shellac, boiled linseed out, and denatured alcohol. I use zinsser sealcoat dewax. So smooth like glass.)

Step 7: Assemble and Admire

A. Follow the instructions of your pen kit to assemble your one-of-a-kind pen!

B. I thought it was nice to present it as a gift with the components that made it.

I showed this pen to a friend to get his opinion and his birthday is coming up and he wanted it.

I said ok the deal is if I get at least 1,000 views on this ible, it's his.

So it's all up to you!.

Step 8: Bonus

You can also make some "Pixel" rings too by laminating exoctic woods and resins.

Check out my other ibles (rainbow ring and a ring made out of car paint.