Thread: April Challenge!

Originally Posted by Ironwood

Well, some very tasty timbers being shown here .

Gabriel, that Gidgee Burl Sierra looks fantastic.
I am interested to hear what you think of the Aussie Oil after the pen has had a lot of use.

Euge, the Brigalow Burl has been showcased perfectly on that Churchill kit, well done to Gab.
The Ancient RRG looks very special, I like that is still has some brown visible .

Yes nice timbers which required skills to show at their best... and it hasn't finished yet. Gab has been busy first focussing on his obligations but he will show more when time allows. These are few he made for me in a trade. I like to support him.

Brigalow burl is like the gidgee burl, and may be the same ie from same source. A friend made a small bowl for me which I may post someday.

Just when you thought enough enough ENOUGH .... there's more

#3 Two subspecies of Mulga (Acacia aneura) the iconic desert tree, sources from opposite sides of the continent, with nice figure.
Again FULL credit to Gab for his fine work and finish. He took all these images, I have only cropped them

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Mulga 1.jpg

Bought some figured Gidgee again last week,cheap as and will put them in the que,love these from the above pictures. Beaut pics.

Peter.

I'm glad this is not a competition, because I would hate to try and pick a winner from Gab's work so far. The timbers are amazing and the kits suit them so well. Great work, Gab, and please keep 'em comin'. And thanks to Euge for putting up these photos for everyone to enjoy.

Gab has been a busy lad hasn't he. Some beautiful wood amongst those and very nicely turned and finished.
I used some Aussie Oil on a pen and gave it to a guy at work to use so I could see how it stands up. It comes up really nice when applied but deteriorates pretty quickly when handled especially if the hand is contaminated with dirt or oil.

Well, I have given myself quite a work load, here are 3/4 of the lot to turn. Most are cut/drilled and just waiting for a date with the epoxy table and pen mill. All bagged and tagged.

2 types of pens in this lot, Sierra's and JB gents, both from the beautiful people at Timberbits. A good mix, of non-rare timbers and acrylics, snake, pc board, lava (looking forward to this one), coffee bean. Some timbers include curly myrtle, tiger myrtle, yellow box burl, Red mallee burl, coolabah burl, figured jacaranda, curly Huon, coconut, African zebra wood, beefwood, olive, she-oak, Northern Silky Oak.

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Ok Gab, I've finished my homework for your April Challenge - here's number 3. As my submissions were all from blanks kindly sent to me by Ironwood I thought it appropriate that number 3 be a Cooktown Ironwood Burl from Brad's collection. Thanks, Brad

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Wow Gary, They are lovely in every way... wood, style, turning and finish. Thanks for sharing the result
This "Challenge" is turning out (deliberate pun) to be a beauty. Please keep it up as it maintains interest and involvement.

Euge

Sorry folks, been a bit busy so haven't had much of a chance to reply/keep up to date with everything.....

Ironwood, I gave had 2 pens that I used Aussie oil on for about 12 months and to me the finish is still acceptable, however I don't use these pens daily (maybe twice or 3 times a week) but they sit on a desk in sunlight all that time. Dallas has obviously done a more rigorous test than mine so I'll follow his thoughts and maybe not use it too much anymore -

Curious though Dallas, how many coats were on there? I have applied 8

Garry, thankyou very much for the kind words - alas I can't take credit for what mother nature actually produces, I'm just lucky enough to play around with it and show off some of the inner beauty.
Your ironwood burl is a bloody ripper!! I'm glad you enjoyed my little challenge and hopefully you continue with the same excitement on every pen! Life is too short to use boring blanks (I say this, but to people making them for market stalls or overseas markets, I retract that comment)

Fumbled, you look like you're playing the guessing game.... I know your pain as I have often mixed up my drilled blanks with pen kits and then bushings so your very organised in my eyes, but I can't wait to see the final results of them.....
My go-to kits these days are sierra and jr gent....I quite like a capped pen - I feel fancy using it...

Peter, I am quite a lot like you (and I'm assuming many here) - see ringed gidgee, buy ringed gidgee....it'll never not be amazing!!

Hopefully I'll have my third submission up soon folks

Ok ok.....so I'm clearly a lier!

Managed a quick bit of time in the shed to finish off this little number....
Ringed dogwood from Euge!
The kit is a Tycoon which is my favourite that is available here in Australia (carbatec or sometimes pops shed - when either if them have stock)

I didn't know where to put the clip on this one as I didn't want to cover anything up! I think I prefer the very beautiful grain running through the timber do had to cover some of the ringed figure.

Finished in CA.....this is probably my favourite timber pen to date....

Yeah, I'm a little excited .... So probably got a little snap happy too... sorry

April challenge done however I do have a couple more tubed up that I'll get to in the next week or so....

Cheers all
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That is a really nice piece of wood you have there. It's so nice when you turn a pen and the grain comes up way better than you expect. Top pen.

Good one, Gab. That timber is spectacular and you have certainly done it justice. I have not been a fan of capped ballpoints but that Tycoon shows a lot of wood so you get a much better look at the grain. You've convinced me to chase up a kit (or two) and give it a try. Lovely work.
And I bet you didn't know what you were starting with this April Challenge. Now showing 40 replies and over 7,600 views! Well done.

Cheers, Gary

Just beautiful Gab, you have done the wood proud and made me happy too. Well done.
This April Challenge is becoming a nice showcase of fine pens, wood turners and woods. Keep it up.
Euge

Cheers for the interest and praise.
You're on the money Gary - just goes to show that if a few of us make a bit if an effort then there are still plenty of folks interested and love looking at pretty pictures....
Only issue with keeping up this challenge Euge, is that April will be over soon (especially with Easter and Anzac Day coming up) so we will have to either switch a may challenge, or cone up with a new theory.

But any new turners out there - don't be bashful. We all start somewhere and I can promise you that without a few words of encouragement, a guiding hand or collective idea to help you through something annoying you, none of us would be able to achieve the works we do. Chances are, there are others having the same issues and haven't had a chance to ask the same questions.....and whilst many questions may have been answered many times, the folks here are extremely patient and love helping people along their journey!

Oooppp.... I'm waffling again

Cheers
Gab

Originally Posted by Gabriel

Cheers for the interest and praise.
You're on the money Gary - just goes to show that if a few of us make a bit if an effort then there are still plenty of folks interested and love looking at pretty pictures....

Only issue with keeping up this challenge Euge, is that April will be over soon (especially with Easter and Anzac Day coming up) so we will have to either switch a may challenge, or cone up with a new theory.

......

Oooppp.... I'm waffling again

Cheers
Gab

Waffling is important sometimes Gab when you are responding & addressing many points and people.

Tell you what, MY CHALLENGE in 2019 is to keep offering new & interesting woods for guys like you, Gary, Peter, Ironbark and any newcomers so that you remain enthused and interested in helping, creating such beauties and sharing their images with us.

Thank you all

Euge