Type of wood Vs the type of Pen kit ??

[TrickinWood]

I just received my first Pen Blanks today. I haven't yet started to turn anything, because I'm not sure as to what Pen kit I will use it for.

I have Australian Red Mallee, as my blanks, and Flat Top Sierra , Fancy Slimline, Streamline and Cigar Pen Kits. (30Cal Bolt Action is still coming)
I do have quite a few other blanks coming, Dead Finish and Anciet Redgum blanks, but I'm lost as to what would work where.
How do you choose the wood for your Pens ??
Should I get a lot of different kits, mix and match ??
What are your favourite pens to make?
Where do you buy them ??

Yes I see the Adverts over =======> But do you have some Local Gem or place you go?? But I would really love t know how you choose your wood for the Pen. Trial and error could get expensive !!!

[TrickinWood]

Well that makes it easy. . . . Trial and error it is then !!!

[dai sensei]

Well that makes it easy. . . . Trial and error it is then !!!

Yep. I have last count, over 200 species at my place, and ~500 kits of all sorts. Plus that doesn't include all the cast and stabilised variations.

I can only say, go for it

[Mobyturns]

Your choices improve with practice .

I purchase plenty of extra pen tubes for the common pen styles as I like to make a range of pen tubes then arrange them by colour gradient, or species. Simply a matter of say taking a Copper & Chrome, or Gunmetal, Rhodium, Titanium kit and seeing which timber compliments it best.

Pays to remember some admirers of pens are more interested in the timber than the pen kit as they may have some connection to the timber i.e. the species of tree grew in their yard or on the farm etc.

[TrickinWood]

Thanks gents. I thought as much, but it doesn't hurt asking.
I thought some might have had a special combo that they use, or knows look good on certain pen kits.

I just bought on ebay a lot of 82 different pen blanks, so I will over time, get to try a lot of different species. This was the main reason why I bought this lot, to get accustomed to all sorts. Now to find a LOT more pen kits

Timber species list:

1- Macrocarpa (trunk timber)

2- Macrocarpa (butt/root timber)

3- Pink/Rose Gum

4- Blue River Gum

5- Yellow Gum

6- Red Gum

7- Spotted Gum

8- Curly/Twisted Gum

9- Ancient/Colonial Red Gum very dark brown

10- Poplar

11- Liquid Amber

12- Willow

13- Radiata Pine

14- She-oak/Bull-oak

15- Bay tree (Bay leaf relative)

16- Black Wattle

17- Silver Wattle

18- Golden Wattle

19- Almond tree

20- Wild olive (brighter yellows, less and light browns)

21- Majestic Olive (good mixed colours)

22- Old Olive Root (burl look a like)

23- Melaleuca

24- Cork tree

25- Knotty (knotted) Pine

26- Platypus Gum

27- White Wattle (not Silver Wattle)

28- Flame wood

29- Lucerne tree

30- Bottle Brush tree

31- Palm tree

32- Orange Acacia (Tulipwood look a like)

33- Tortuosa/Cork-Screw Willow (AKA BT)

34- Toona Tree Australian Cedar (aged wood)

35- ST (Small Tree) not yet identified

36- Cootamundra Wattle

37- Australian Pear Tree (planted in 1890)

38- Australian White Gum

39- Australian Eucalyptus Peninsularis (oil producer)

40- Australian Ash

41- Australian Cherry Plum

42- Camphor Laurel

43- White Ironbark - Eucalyptus leucoxylon

44- Australian VINE - Shiraz Red

45- Banksia "hairy" pods - from my own yard

46- Australian "Lady" Apple wood

47- Stone Acacia

48- Tasmanian Blue Gum

49- Australian Casuarina Tree

50- Australian Apricot tree wood

51- Australian Silky-Oak wood

52- Australian Walnut tree

53- Australian Blackwood tree

54- Australian Peach tree wood

55- Australian Mulberry tree wood

56- Australian Grevillia

57- Australian Pepper-Corn tree

58- Norfolk Pine

59- Australian Cypress (aged)

60- American Oak (from barrels used in a local winery to cure Port)

61- French Oak (from barrels used in a local winery to cure Port)

62- Australian Fig tree wood

63- Earleaf Acacia

64- Acacia Acuminate (Raspberry jam tree)

65- Australian Sugar Gum

66- Car-park tree (not yet identified)

67- Carob tree wood

68- Pine Bark

69- Japanese Flowering Tree

70- Coral Tree

71- Australian Prune tree wood

72- Australian Granny Smith Apple tree wood

73- White wood (not yet identified)

74- Australian McIntosh Apple tree wood

75- Australian Lemon tree wood

76- SA Ironbark (not yet identified)

77- Australian Loquat (locally Grown)

78- Australian Starlet Kanzea

79- Red bunch fruit (not yet identified)

80- Green round small fruit (not yet identified)

81- Eucalyptus Dura

82- Rock-Oak

[Ironwood]

Sounds like you got some of Georges blanks.
I have bought pen blanks off him a few times, I can't complain about any that he has sold me, they have always been good quality blanks.

I don't think you will find any hard and fast formula for matching blanks to kit/pen style. Though burl and highly figured blanks deserve a quality pen kit.

I have a drawer for my favourite blanks, sometimes it takes me a year or two before they make it to the bench to be cut and drilled to begin the journey to become a finished pen. Sometimes they get turned and finished and then put into another drawer without making a pen out of them if I feel they didn't make the grade. I go through a lot of brass tubes at times.
But when it all comes together, it is a great feeling.

I am not sure how many pens you have made, but its always good to practice on the plainer blanks when you are starting out. Save the good blanks until you are confident you will do them justice.

[LeoGunner]

Just to echo what has been said, save those really speccy looking ones for when you get your finishes just right and a higher end pen - it is totally worth it.

Some good practice ones would be to pick up some nice cheap Qld Maple and some streamlines to get you going. Saves you some dollars but you can make yourself a few good everyday pens to keep in the car/top pocket.

Personally, I decide what kit I'd like to make and choose the timber, turn it but leave the plating selection until the end - once the grain has popped and you can see the figure. Sometimes what I have thought I'd go with didn't look as good as a different plating held up beside it, once the finish was on the timber.

Keep us informed how you go mate - would love to see piccys once you get turning!!

[Rum Pig]

I as a general rule use the timber I collect for the cheaper kits like slimline etc and the more special blanks for the higher end.
The main thing is that you are turning something.

[Les in Red Deer]

Trial and error!

Les

[Goggomobile]

George waxes the ends so it is easy to get an good idea what the final colour looks like.

i sell most of mine to friends ... Some people like narley grainy timbers and others just like the timber .... Some want a unique pen which is theirs and not like others ....

I started with cigar pens because they were chunky .. Great to show different timbers ... They are a bit harder to make because of the many parts and the bushes have different sizes for most parts so you have to be careful how to assemble .. I've made many a mistake and had to disassemble.... Im glad I started with them because I learnt a lot ..

Perhaps another post for different kits would be the go ?

Randal

[Dalboy]

I have my wood blanks set in two categories those that I see as plain looking but still good enough for pens, which I keep for the cheaper end pen kits and those that have special or interesting grains for the higher end pen kits. As for which blank to put with which plating finish on the pen kit or even style of pen kit is a case of getting the blank and holding it next to the kit if it looks good then it is matched. In other words as some have already stated trial and error.
Another thing to remember is once the finish is on it can really bring out the grain, as you have pointed out the ends ar waxed giving a basic idea of the finished wood

[wm460]

I have a simple formula to match the blank to the plating ask the wife.

[maddog 62]

like everyone has said before learing is all part of the fun apart from using the cheaper end pens
ie slimlines etc (even tho there are people who prefer them ) the only other thing i can suggest is buy extra tubes, because you will stuff up, everyone does, and i just find it easier to put the offending blank in my stuff up jar as a reminder and start all over again

Like wm460 to get the right match i also ask the wife for a second opinion

happy turning

[Gabriel]

and i just find it easier to put the offending blank in my stuff up jar as a reminder and start all over again

Just a stuff up jar? Now I feel bad with my drawer full !!