So I've been doing some experimenting this morning with grip lines in pen barrels.  I put them in before I sanded the barrels how ever learning things the hard way I wound up sanding them mostly all the way back down and had to put them back into the wood.  I'm wondering if there is a much easier way of doing this and I'm also wondering if there is a simpler way of getting the lines equal.  I like the look fortunately these were just test pieces so they wont even get put together into a pen.  Any suggestions on this?  Here is video of exactly what I did.

 

A delicate touch is needed to get them deep enough to look right, but not so deep you get to the brass tube.  To space mine I use a pencil as the lathe is turning and mark the lines.  Then light cuts.  If you sanded them out they were either not deep enough, or you are sanding with too high of grit.

 

Now a easier method that does not require as delicate of a touch is to scribe them as you did, then use a wire and burn them in.  The friction of the wire will sand and darken the wood all in one for you.

 

This is a test piece using tool I made.

 

 

 

This is using 14 gauge wire.  Bit wider but better seen and a nice accent to the stem.

 

 

 

 

 

Several wire burning kits can be had online.  Myself being handicapped with pins in my wrist and arm I made a tool that works around this.  Easy change out of wire, and allows just about any thickness of wire to be used.

 

 

While I do use this method for a variety of turned items I rarely do so for a pen.  For better grip I vary the slope and curves of the lower barrel to better fit fingers while writing.  You can experiment with this by using modeling clay and a pencil.  Put the clay on the pencil and hold it as if trying to write.  Squeeze the clay.  Then look at the shape and duplicate it on the lathe.  Takes practice.  Used this method for disfigured kids at a  home for them.  Took the impressions and made the pens to match.  With a custom pen they were able to write comfortably for the first time.

 

 

 

 

There is this.  Made just for that job.

 

Thanks I'll have to give that a try at some point.... Not sure if I will be buying another HSS  gouge right now though.

There is another option . Learn how to use a skew or detail gouge to make beads. A truly new and rewarding endeavor which you will use again and again in turning.