The one on the left is the one I posted earlier, it's a present for my som. The one in the middle is a black titanium Cigar pen with IPE wood. IPE is a pain in the butt to turn, it's for a gentleman in Florida in exchange for some wood blanks. The one on the right is a nickle Patriot pen with AFZELIA Burl wood.

 

Nice job!  I really like the flag pen.  I just received some inlay kits today and can't wait to fit and turn them.  Do you have any advice or tips on the process?

John very nice job on those pens. Turning is very good and I like the finish. I like them all but the burl kinda catches my eye. Nice job and thanks for sharing them.

Thanks!

Just read and re-read the instructions that come with the blank kit. Take your time and don't rush. For the stars and stripes kit, locate a plastic lid like a tupperware container and arrange the stars in the lid with the white of the stars facing up. The stars come on a wood card like you used to get for wood model airplanes, sand the non dyed side with 220 grit sand paper but dont take off too much just enough to release any stars that arent cut all the way through, this will make it easier to get the stars out of the card. DONT sand the white dyed side. The dye doesn't penetrate that deep. The reason for the plastic lid is that you will be picking up the stars with the sharp point of an exacto knife and when you push lightly down on the star and then lift the star out the lid won't spring back shooting the remaining stars out of the lid. Metal lids like masson jar lids or a metal tuna can will spring back. These stars are hard to find, trust me I've looked. Also make sure you use the handle of the xacto nife to fully seat the stars flush with outside of the barrel, you will be filing or sanding the inside  untill the brass tube fits in snugly but not too tight. The instructions that come with the kit have faily decent instructions but the manufacture of the kit has better instructions on their website.

I got the best price on these kits at:  http://www.arizonasilhouette.com/

Good luck and enjoy!

Thanks for the tips.  I got 2 rose kits and 3 ribbon kits from Lazerlinez. The pieces are not a small as the stars thank goodness.  Looking at mine, it looks as if the dye goes all the way through.  I hope so.  I bought kits to fit Sierras.  The blanks are long and oversize. 

Did you use CA or epoxy to glue in the tubes?

I used thin CA glue for the blank pieces and then 5 minute epoxy when I glue in the tube. I then wait at lest 1 hour before turning.