Thread: Fine Grain Ironwood Pen Blanks

Seeing as no-ones chimed in I'll add my 2c, almost anything can be used for a pen blank, but not everything looks good as a pen blank. These would probably come up quite nice as pens as would almost any timbers, but for me I think they are too expensive, and while I'm not speaking for anyone else, probably a bit too plain for my own liking.

The 30mm thickness is a bit awkward, too thin for a lot of things, too thick for pens without a lot of waste. Longer length is always better than cutting them shorter than needed IMHO. Anyone using these for pens will turn most of it away and get down to a final thickness of between 12mm to 18mm max usually, depending on the pen kit used.

If they were cut thicker, I think you would have sold them instantly for salt/pepper shakers, the large size needed would have complimented the grain nicely. In a pen however you're working with quite small sections usually.

To my mind these are the sorts of stuff you buy when cheap and stick them in the shed for a "future project", and every so many years you come across them and say "I must use these one day!" to yourself. ;-)

cheers, Ian

Thanks Ian. Great feedback
It does raise some quick questions
20mm blanks would be preferred for pens?
Would most pen turners have a bandsaw?
What approximate price range would you suggest as a starting point?
Good idea of ripping larger blanks - What size blanks would be appropriate for salt and pepper shaker/grinders WxL?
Cheers

Most pen blanks are around the 19-20mm thickness range, to allow for cutting around sections with figured wood, catering for stuff ups, etc. If it's a troublesome material that may chip out or break easily, they might be a few mm thicker to allow, but it's pretty rare to see normal timber blanks thicker than 22mm, or maybe 25mm for some of the custom hybrid resin/wood ones. Even if they're just used for pen blanks I wouldn't cut the length down unless necessary. Being able to cut to length as needed for multiple style pen kits reduces waste and costs, nothing more annoying than needing that last 75mm piece for a blank, and all you have left is 5 pieces at 60mm left that were cut down early on!

I would think it likely most pen turners would have a bandsaw, or a means to cut larger stock for blanks, as this is also what makes it more economical.

Ideally salt/pepper shaker stock tend to be around 50-75mm thick by perhaps 300-400mm long. The end product for a lot of the shaker kits I've seen usually ends up around 45-50mm diameter by around 250-275mm long so there's some wiggle room there.

Price wise it depends on a lot of factors, a nicely figured wood blank can go for between $3-$15, on average around the $3-$4 mark generally for most burls, etc. Plain timber like blackwood, ash, jacaranda, etc, etc usually go for a few dollars or so at most as they're easily acquired, and most pen turners probably have a few larger pieces they cut as needed.

For these ironwood blanks, as nice as the timber is (and would be great for making tools from), looking at them from a pen blank point of view, you have to envision a 75mm long x 12mm round section turned out of them which doesn't really show the timber too well. If I was after them I probably would pass on these if they were more than $4-$5 or so each, but if they were lower cost I'd want to buy a small bunch to make the postage costs worth buying them.

If I had these, I would probably use them to make marking knives, they'd be lovely for that and long enough that the grain would show nicely, or possibly for the corners on a small wooden box, or handles for a box, etc.

cheers, Ian

Thats fantastic information and most useful.
Your suggestions of using these for marking knife handles or box corners/handles is great.
I might make some marking knives for myself if these dont go
Thanks for your detailed response Ian - legend


With that laid out these lots will be combined into one - all 6 blanks for $40 including post ONO

No problem, and to save money, hacksaw blades ground to shape, given an edge, polished or buffed, and inserted into the wooden handles make mighty fine marking knife blades! ;-)

cheers, Ian

Originally Posted by Fallen Woodwork

Lot 2 - 200mm. May require thin CA glue to stabilise between one or two annual rings.


Lot 3 - 290mm. Option to fill figured end void with epoxy or discard and use the fine grain end




Let me know if these are suitable for pen turning, what you would like to see in the way of grain,

Hi FW.

These look to be off cuts from the end of a board . The grain runs horizontal in those standing lengths.
The only thing they are good for is cutting into cubes and making Dice.

A pen would be to easy to snap in half with this wood .

I'm no pen turner . So maybe some pen turners use wood this way ? I doubt it .

Is there a reason nobody has mentioned this yet ?

Originally Posted by auscab

Hi FW.

These look to be off cuts from the end of a board . The grain runs horizontal in those standing lengths.
The only thing they are good for is cutting into cubes and making Dice.

A pen would be to easy to snap in half with this wood .

I'm no pen turner . So maybe some pen turners use wood this way ? I doubt it .

Is there a reason nobody has mentioned this yet ?

Don't be discouraged by this comment, yes it has a valid point to make. However plenty of pen turners make very attractive pens from cross grained pen blanks, and will often pay a premium for rarer high quality items - Premium Stabilized Spalted Hackberry Cross Grain 5 in. x 7/8 in. x 7/8 in. Pen Blank from Barry Gros at Penn State Industries.

I held back from commenting about you inexperience in pricing the pen blanks. Like any item there is a market to potential customers, finding that match or your market niche with pricing, product, & service is highly dependent upon where you stand against competitors.

Ironwood or Cooktown Ironwood (CKI) is uncommon but not rare as it is now being commercially exploited in FNQ for export sale predominantly to China (no surprise there.)

Best advice I can recommend when selling through the forum, or elsewhere is to do your research into what your competition is asking for their items. There are plenty of sellers on Ebay, Etsy etc and even Forum sponsors such as Carrols, Timberbits etc. offering pen blanks. Their pricing is a guide, then weigh up the potential premium for quality, rarity, service .... etc. However take note that established business have overheads, collect GST etc.

As a pen maker I prefer to source my own materials, however I treasure and value the many forumites who take the time and effort to source, prepare, and offer items that I cannot realistically source myself. Often an item may appear "expensive" until you factor in what it actually costs to produce it.

So thank you, and the many Forumites who offer turning blanks for sale.

Originally Posted by auscab

Hi FW.

These look to be off cuts from the end of a board . The grain runs horizontal in those standing lengths.
The only thing they are good for is cutting into cubes and making Dice.

A pen would be to easy to snap in half with this wood .

I'm no pen turner . So maybe some pen turners use wood this way ? I doubt it .

Is there a reason nobody has mentioned this yet ?

As Mobyturns said above, the grain direction really doesn't matter a great deal for pen turners as you'e working with quite small pieces.

In fact the best way to highlight the grain on what might be fairly ordinary timber, is to cut it between 45 and 90 degrees to the grain to give a much nicer effect.

cheers, Ian

I just learned a snippet of info about Pen making, thanks .

With Cabinet Making Ive read about the angled cutting, 45 degree cutting I think or around that, of branches for use as Oyster veneers in chest and table tops made in England around 1700 . Lignum vitae or Walnut were some of the woods used. For effect and because cutting a branch end leaves the piece more strong as well, for the movement from wet to dry before use. Once prepared and laid down they end up around 2 to 3mm thick on the finished piece.

The strength thing had me thinking of trying to cut a few samples off the next wind fall Gumtree I have to cut up that way and see how a piece drys out. Maybe it would show less splitting than the standard 90 degree cut 3 inch off cut that Ive been playing with the idea of making for an end grain stool seat.

Here's an antique laburnum veneered chest.

oyster veneered antique - Google Search

Originally Posted by auscab

I just learned a snippet of info about Pen making, thanks .

Pen makers have a slight advantage in that the cross grained wood is merely a sleeve around a brass tube which gives it the structural integrity.

The difficult part is ensuring that the glue covers 100% of the tube and blank interface, then turning the cross grain blank without "flicking out" sections of the blank. Somewhat like shooting end grain for flat workers. Its all about very sharp tools and technique.

Originally Posted by auscab

Hi FW.
These look to be off cuts from the end of a board . The grain runs horizontal in those standing lengths.
The only thing they are good for is cutting into cubes and making Dice.

Hi Auscab
Nope - these were cut specifically for pen blanks in mind. Another member suggested that the fine grain or figure may be desirable for pen turners. I spent considerable time selecting and preparing these from some timber I could have turned into bowls but ya live and learn
Missed the mark with this but received great value from the constructive replies
Thanks for the suggestion about dice - gives me an idea for a little project

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

Don't be discouraged by this comment, yes it has a valid point to make. However plenty of pen turners make very attractive pens from cross grained pen blanks, and will often pay a premium for rarer high quality items - Premium Stabilized Spalted Hackberry Cross Grain 5 in. x 7/8 in. x 7/8 in. Pen Blank from Barry Gros at Penn State Industries.

I held back from commenting about you inexperience in pricing the pen blanks. Like any item there is a market to potential customers, finding that match or your market niche with pricing, product, & service is highly dependent upon where you stand against competitors.

Ironwood or Cooktown Ironwood (CKI) is uncommon but not rare as it is now being commercially exploited in FNQ for export sale predominantly to China (no surprise there.)

Best advice I can recommend when selling through the forum, or elsewhere is to do your research into what your competition is asking for their items. There are plenty of sellers on Ebay, Etsy etc and even Forum sponsors such as Carrols, Timberbits etc. offering pen blanks. Their pricing is a guide, then weigh up the potential premium for quality, rarity, service .... etc. However take note that established business have overheads, collect GST etc.

As a pen maker I prefer to source my own materials, however I treasure and value the many forumites who take the time and effort to source, prepare, and offer items that I cannot realistically source myself. Often an item may appear "expensive" until you factor in what it actually costs to produce it.

So thank you, and the many Forumites who offer turning blanks for sale.

Thanks MT
Nah - not discouraged. I slowly but surely get better after learnings from my mistakes including those not of my own making
Its not great that ironwood is getting exported in FNQ - theres buggar all of mature size left in this region
Thats a great link to Barry Gros. I actually started spalting some E. Miniata a couple months ago so will see how that turns out
I'll keep looking as I get through the stock and may even try the 45 deg cut as Ian suggests. It is a lot of work for just a few $ a blank so I'll more likely look out for timber big enough for pepper mills, tool handles, and perhaps knife scales

Originally Posted by Fallen Woodwork

It is a lot of work for just a few $ a blank so I'll more likely look out for timber big enough for pepper mills, tool handles, and perhaps knife scales

Exactly! Then you must account for packing and posting the item/s. That is why I appreciate those who do offer small quantities of wood and blanks for sale.