Thread: pen blank size

I cut most of mine at 20mm square x 130mm, but depends on what I can get out of the piece of timber concerned to make the most of it. On special bits I always try and cut a few select blanks a bit bigger to suit full size pens 22 or 24mm square x 150mm long.

If you are only making slimline pens you can go a bit smaller, say about 16mm square x 120mm.

The greatest majority of pen kits fall under the 3/4" by 130 mm long, Only a few of the larger pens need a bigger blank even then 7/8 " is enough ?) depending on the wood of course hehe ! As a rule of thumb for me I tend to use the better blanks on the better kits , usually the larger ones, its a matter of economics in most cases ,I would not use amboyna burl on a slimline ,at least not for market pens hehe. Cheers ~ John

Agreed John. At the price of amboyna burl it should be reserved for the Rolls Royce.

I agree with the others on the pen size but I am curious to hear what you are cutting up because as Gawdelpus and Ironwood said depending on the type of timber with decide how big I cut the blanks.

Always got to have some nice timber blanks for that special pen.

Cheers Ian