Alternative material for pen

**rhossack** · 23rd July 2009, 11:22 AM

This is a pic of a pen sold at our local Woodcraft store called a Click Pen.

The body of the pen is made from the bark of a local NW tree called a Red Fir or Douglas Fir.

The bark is pretty interesting as the dark parts are hard and the light is soft like balsa wood.

There were two major blowouts where I had to graft in two new rings and turn down again.

Pen is finished with 2 coats of Med CA and wet polished with Tri-M-Ite polishing paper.
Attachment 111658

Attachment 111657

**gawdelpus** · 23rd July 2009, 11:37 AM

Very striking ! really got a bit of "growl" to that one ,well done

Cheers~ John

**Rum Pig** · 23rd July 2009, 11:44 AM

I like it

what made you think of turning bark?

**PenTurner** · 23rd July 2009, 11:56 AM

Really striking grain, like it very muchly, Amos

**MBUMIK** · 23rd July 2009, 12:35 PM

looks very nice indeed, amazing colors, well done

i hate it when you get blow outs, feels deflating

is the bark stacked or drilled the length of the bark

is it the same as the american douglas fir which is know to us in OZ as oregon

my archery club is surrounded on 3 sides by pine plantations and i was thinking of breaking some thick bark off one of the older trees and trying that

once again well done
MIK

**rhossack** · 23rd July 2009, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by gawdelpus

Very striking ! really got a bit of "growl" to that one ,well done

Cheers~ John

Thanks John

**rhossack** · 23rd July 2009, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by Rum Pig

I like it

what made you think of turning bark?

Thanks ...

I build fly rods and someone had made a handle out of Birch Bark (makes an awesome pen) and I remember it took 83 rings to make the handle. Then I was at a lumber yard where they were milling Red Fir and I noticed the bark and some of it was almost 4" thick.

Brought some home, stuck it into my dishwasher-wood drier. Took a hole saw and cut some rings and trued them up and made a handle.

Now I have pieces of bark all over the property ... lucky SWMBO thinks they are good decorations in the yard

This pic is of a walnut buttom and Birch Bark rings on top.

Attachment 111665

**rhossack** · 23rd July 2009, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by Woodenink

Really striking grain, like it very muchly, Amos

Thank you Amos ...

**rhossack** · 23rd July 2009, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by MBUMIK

looks very nice indeed, amazing colors, well done

Thank you

i hate it when you get blow outs, feels deflating
is the bark stacked or drilled the length of the bark

Stacked rings ...
Attachment 111666

is it the same as the american douglas fir which is know to us in OZ as oregon

Same tree, here in our part of Washington and Idaho it is called Red Fir.

my archery club is surrounded on 3 sides by pine plantations and i was thinking of breaking some thick bark off one of the older trees and trying that

We have what is called Bull Pine and I've used that bark also but it is full of pitch and I let it dry a long time.

**MBUMIK** · 23rd July 2009, 02:17 PM

thanks for the reply, i didn't look to see that you were from the USA, otherwise i would have realised

might have to break me off some of the thicker bits of bark and give it a whirl

**Sawdust Maker** · 23rd July 2009, 03:05 PM

Nice pens Ron

Looks like someone has had a few pot shots at that bark

**artme** · 23rd July 2009, 06:51 PM

Think you might have started something Ron!

They are all lovely and very different. All power to you!!

**dj_pnevans** · 23rd July 2009, 09:44 PM

Good colors in there looks cool.
David

**NewLondon88** · 23rd July 2009, 10:51 PM

Almost didn't recognize the douglas fir without the tinsel and little colored lights.

Great look from an alternate material.

**Ozkaban** · 28th July 2009, 11:41 AM

awesome work. Well done for trying something a bit different, and especially for pulling it off so well!

Bark is usually something I use a roughing gouge on

Cheers,
Dave

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