Thread: 11 pen blanks in excange for a finished pen!

Hi everyone,

Just a quick update.

7 prepaid bags received by yesterday (Friday), 6 of correct size, 1 a little small.
1 pen already received, from the Gold Coast (details and pics, in due time!). Bullet pen made of fruited Malley burl on a 308 rifle shell (absolutely beautiful!)
This pen was sent with the prepaid bag, firstly to save on postage, second I was given the option to select one of the already made pens (timber species that I don't have), from this forumate. Thanks, mate!

I've got about half of the listed timber species, ready to go, and that is about 500 blanks approx. but, I will reduce to half the number of blanks I was doing out of each species so that I have them all done by weekend's end. Monday, the 9/3, all bags received will be returned with the pen blanks requested (by some). The PO Box will be checked for other bags on Tuesday.

So far, I have 12 expressions of interest, including those already mentioned, and 1 from overseas. I was expecting a lot more interest but I understand that is a lot going on with most of the pen makers, and also the fact that some people aren't sure what sort of blanks they will get, for their effort!
I only can say, these are large pens blanks (11 x 1" x 1" x 5" 1/2 (can make 4 slimline pens out of each one, well most of them!) and there are 24 different timber species to chose from, and I'm selecting some of me most uncommon varieties for the first 11 blanks of this offer.

Anyway, I won't be running out of pen blanks in a hurry...!

Cheers
RBTCO

hehe! well if you do get tempted to make pens after all, you will never have to buy a blank to make them and you should make pens lol. cheap enough to get started and always a great gift or sale item ,as people see them as useful and practical cheers John

I was expecting a lot more interest

Would you like some of the interested to double their interest? Would 2 sets fit into one 3kg bag, the cost of mailing two pens back wouldn't be a lot different to one?

JD

Originally Posted by Touchwood

Would you like some of the interested to double their interest? Would 2 sets fit into one 3kg bag, the cost of mailing two pens back wouldn't be a lot different to one?

JD

Hi JD,

Yeah, good thinking 99...!
But, but, but then, I wouldn't have any room or weight left in the bag for "my other stuff!" It was suppose to be a surprise, you know? bugger!
Didn't people read what I've said a few times about timbers? "Even in a bad day, I'm generous...!"

Oh well, someone will miss out, bad luck...!

Cheers
RBTCO

Hi everyone,

I've just been informed by my wife that tomorrow Monday is a Public Holiday here! apparently is Adelaide Cup day. I had no idea, for many, many years, a week has seven days, and they are all the same to me, mainly if I don't need to buy anything or stay home all day, doing whatever...!

So, what this mean is that, I'm not going to have the Post Office open tomorrow, therefore having one more day to cut some more blanks. There are a few timber species that already have a number (from the species list) but I have a very distinct different pieces from the same tree species. This have to do with different soil conditions and some sort of "mutation" from pollination or other unknown reasons. There is also the fact that with some tree species, the size of the branches, logs or other, and from where that particular piece (timber block) was removed from, will determine how it looks, and with some species, they are "totally" different. So, with a little more time I will be able to brake down some of the tree species with some "variants", for example, if the species number is 15, them I will mark them as 15a - 15b, etc. Samples (pics) of all species and some of the possible "variants" will be provided, as soon as I can find the chance to do it.

PS: Some species will be added to the original list, either as "unconfirmed" species and/or some species that I forgot to mention originally. This is the case of the 2 species that I will confirm as part of the main list;

25 - Knotty (knotted) Pine
26- Platypus Gum (not yet dry)
27- White Wattle (not Silver)

Cheers
RBTCO

Hi everyone,

Just another update, a late one (2:40 AM) but still good!

I had a big day today, trying to go through 7 different timber species that I had prepared with the chain saw on the Sunday. The pics bellow were taken first thing this morning, and is how everything was left from the evening before. Reducing the number of blanks per species (to save time) din't work that well on Sunday morning so, I decided to make at least a plastic container full (sort off) of each one. I only manage to completely finish 5 of them, with the other 2 all sliced but not cut to length, numbered, and waxed. In the process I found another couple of species that I will add to the list soon. The list is now 27 set timber species, without the "variants" (explained on the previous post) not yet done.

I'm also considering to have all the timber species cut in cross-cut and diagonal pen blanks, and they will be recognized, (marked as) #X (example, 23X(cross) or 23Z(diagonal), if is a variant, then will be 23aX or Z or 23bX or Z, if that timber species have more then one variant available.

I will suggest for everyone to either make their own list based on the information I have been providing or wait a little longer and apart from updating/divulging the new specie number and name, as I go, I will make a final list with all the possibilities on it, such as, number, name, possible variant, cross-cut (X) and or diagonal cut (Z). All blanks are cut at 1" x 1" x 5" 1/2, with small variation on some as a result of natural edge end, bark, other! These are all mixed and shouldn't be more than 10% of the blanks total. I am also "light" sending each blank now, not the first half I've done, as some timber a a little "hairy" and the cut ends do keep rough burs, which it become a complete pain in the posterior, after I submerse the ends on the wax, making some of them look like the hair style of some "funky" people, and when need to be stacked on top of each other, on those shelves of mine, went from a simple job to a bloody nightmare!

Here we go, first pics from the beginning of my day set-up, then some pics of the shelves where I'm trying to keep/store the blanks for now (making and extension on one of the shed very soon), as last but not least, some of the bags and bundles of the off-cuts from the pen blanks, ONLY, for Eliza

I reckon, she's going to be a "busy bag" with them, what do you guys & girls thing? What do you call to a already "busy bug"?

Enjoy, seat tight, all bags from those that were already notified, that I got them, will be posted tomorrow.

The madam's 25 kg box will leave on Wednesday, I would say!

Be safe, take care

Cheers
RBTCO

Well you certainly have a large wood collection there. What do you do with it all when you're not cutting up pen blanks??

Russell.

Originally Posted by BoomerangInfo

Well you certainly have a large wood collection there. What do you do with it all when you're not cutting up pen blanks??

Russell.

He turns bowls...

There is a saying that an artist does art to get out of housework (true, by the way)
And a writer does housework to get out of writing.

I'm beinging to think that robutacion cuts wood to get out of turning!!!!

Boy I wish I lived closer!

That is like a marathon of pen cutting, and they are all so NEAT.

Tell me, what is number 16? The two tone one. That's going to be interesting!

When I hit submit I'm going to go have a closer look, see if I can see what's in those bags!!! heehee!!!

Thanks!

Certainly "packed to the rafters" hehe literally ,looks a massive project to me ,you certainly don't do things by halves .Hopefully when some of the finished pens start appearing some of the lethergy will disappear , and you get some more support for your project . Cheers ! John

Originally Posted by BoomerangInfo

Well you certainly have a large wood collection there. What do you do with it all when you're not cutting up pen blanks??

Russell.

Hi Russel,

You obviously haven't seen nothing yet! (have a look on my web site)
Cutting pen blanks is only a very recent thing, I've been using some of the timbers I collect (about 40% or less) on, plates, platers, vases but mainly bowls up to 16" diameter if possible, any bigger and they have to be done on the outrigger on the lathe. I do the best I can to sell the other 60% of my woods, as I keep cutting more and more, like a vicious circle. I over-packed the sheds and any available room in the back yard, and now with a small paddock, a few acres big (near the house) available to me as open storage, timbers are keep getting in as a much faster rate that what they're out. I hope that I'm not asked to remove those timbers out of the paddock, any time soon, and that's the reason why I don't want to over stock. A very small percentage is transformed in firewood, which I use a lot and sell a couple of loads here and there (rare) to recover some fuel money and chainsaw expenses but, that is like patching a big hole, with a coffee spoon. The good thing about it, if I keep it all is that, if something happen and I'm unable to cut any more timbers, I've got enough to turn to last me 100 years! Oh, Oh... that's a problem...I can't take it with me to the other side, as I told no wood-lathes are allowed down there, and the last thing I want to take with me is wood (firewood) "they" reckon, out there, the fire runs hot enough already

Cheers
RBTCO

Originally Posted by ElizaLeahy

He turns bowls...

There is a saying that an artist does art to get out of housework (true, by the way)
And a writer does housework to get out of writing.

I'm beinging to think that robutacion cuts wood to get out of turning!!!!

Boy I wish I lived closer!

That is like a marathon of pen cutting, and they are all so NEAT.

Tell me, what is number 16? The two tone one. That's going to be interesting!

When I hit submit I'm going to go have a closer look, see if I can see what's in those bags!!! heehee!!!

Thanks!

Eliza, madam...! remember... "the list"! (post #1 of this thread + a full other ones added recently)

Is a very good chance that your line of thinking about my timber cuttings, has some truth in it!

Cheers
RBTCO

Hi everyone,

OK, the bags are all re-posted, including one received today!

I know, I know, I was suppose to have post them yesterday, and I'm sorry that I didn't, the reason is a bit of a long story but lets just say, I hope that I will be forgiven, when you open the bag...!

The idea of stacking the pen blanks on that thin metal shelf, didn't work very well, not due the weight but an absolute "pain" to stack then up and then, take one or two without knocking the whole thing down...!
The blanks that I've cut and finish in these last 2 days, never went to the shelf, instead I put them in a heavy duty packing cardboard boxes, making it a lot easier to handle.

So, and after I finish with the prepaid bags, I remove all blanks from the metal shelf and put then in numerical sequential order into these boxes. After finished, I counted 8 boxes left, with the contents of one box already gone. According to my calculations, each box fits 20 pieces in one way and 12 in the other way so 20x12=240 pieces per box, so 8 boxes left + 1 gone = 9 boxes, 9x240= 2,160 pen blanks...! No wonder why it took me a full week's work
Oh, I've got also a couple of very upset neighbors, from noise related issues, and the fact that, according to them, "my tools interfere with their TV's, sure!
I have to admit, these bloody heavy duty circular saws, mounted under a bench (old GMC table saw) are noise as...! and the whistling get's to you after a while. Earmuffs, did helped me a bit, but not the neighbors...! Don't worry, noting that a couple of nice pens wouldn't fix

They are 27 timber species identified so far, 25 of them cut (some more than others) but the other 2 species plus any other that I will find, will have to wait, I had enough of cutting and the saws need service and re-sharpening.

As from today, Thursday the 12 March 2009, 4 names are left in my expressions of interest list, one from overseas, one will pick -up, and the other 2 haven't send the bag yet. These 4 people will get exactly the same as the ones already sent, after that, only the original offer stands, until further notice!

Just one thing I didn't do, (I just though about it, damn!), I didn't mark any blank as the one that would want you to make the pen from (for those that are using my timbers), sorry. There is 2 ways to go about it, one you try to use something of yours, that is not in the bag, or you pick whatever the one you want to use for me, I am OK with it, no problems. If you thing that I've sent plenty, and you decided to make me 2 pens, I'm not going to say no!

Now, the pics...!, well I can't really show all the ones I took today, it would spoil the surprise but, I still can give you an idea what did happen today.

Cheers
RBTCO

Damn! that looks a lot of work and a labour of love, I am sure there are some real "treasures" waiting to be unlocked in that assortment , you could always PM the recipients with your first choice of wood for your return pen , no one would begrudge you that hehe. Although I probably have a few too many blanks already, most likely any one been making pens for a while already has ,I may send you another one and have some nice wood for "swaps" hehe , I have some pretty ordinary stuff as it stands!
cheers John!

Wow! cutting 2160 blanks on a brush motor table saw... No wonder the neighbours were miffed!

Looking forward to the parcel. Then I just gotta make a pen

Cheers,
Dave