Berberis slimline.

[Neil Lawton]

Spent today trying to tidy up the workshop.
My extensive collection of wood shavings has now been filed under B1N.
The place is still a tip but I don't get buried under an avalanche of waste, when I open the door!
Got a little sidetracked though, when I found this blank, and just had to give it a go.



Berberis normally fades to a orange brown colour quite quickly, but the root wood does seem to have a bit more colour fast property to it, though it is an absolute swine to season.
Not the best pic, I know, I like to take pictures of pens in natural light, but we don't seem to have had any of that today.
Regards,
Neil

 

[bellringer]

I like that a lot i don't normal like the black plating but the way you have used it here has really set the wood off

 

[Terry]

Nice one Neil. The black accents mate up nicely with the berberis !!!!

 

[Neil Lawton]

Thanks Alex.
It's actually a gun metal finish, but the crap photo doesn't really show it off.
I'll try and get a better pic tomorrow, if possible.
Regards,
Neil

 

[bellringer]

the picture is fine but only looked quickly

 

[Grump]

Nice pen Neil is that root?
Looks good to me mate.

 

[Neil Lawton]

Nice pen Neil is that root?
Looks good to me mate.

Thanks Grump, Yes it is part of the root, it still fades a little, but not quite as much as the rest of the plant.
I'm told Mahonia is more colour fast, but haven't had the opportunity to try it yet!

 

[paulm]

And yet another thing I've learned from this forum. Thanks Neil I'd never heard of Berberis before. You've made a lovely pen from it, nice and slim and a lovely shine.

 

[Grump]

I haven't turned much root that I am aware of, although my Vipor dug up a Hydrangea a few years back that had a well established woody root and looked very similar to what you show here.
I made a slimline from it which is now a rich yellow in colour but the wood has shrunk away from the nib and cap and is showing the brass tube at the ends.
I never realised it had that much drying to still do after the turning.

 

[Jim]

Never worked with Berberis Neil, this looks very nice indeed with some good looking grain ... Nicely finished pen with good shape ...

 

[Woody]

Very nice Neil that is one nice looking pen

 

[edlea]

Looks great ..I wouldn't have guessed Berberis in a million years.

 

[silver]

Really nice pen Niel. Never had the pleasure of turning berberis. But it looks good.

 

[Neil Lawton]

Thanks guys.
This forum is a little "quick fire" for my crap typing skills, so I'm sorry if I miss any replies or questions.
This will get worse, next week, when I have to return to work.
Grump.
I haven't had a shrink back problem with the Berberis before, but this blank must be 6 years old now. I thought I had used it all, but found this while tidying up.
I did cock up some Laburnum, however, by trying to be clever. I did some blanks as a mixture of heart and sapwood, they were microwaved, then stabilised over 4 years. When turned, the sapwood still shrank back regardless. We live and learn!
I've posted this picture before, on another forum, but here are another couple out of Berberis for comparison.


Regards,
Neil

 

[yorkshireman]

Nice work Neil

 

[Penpal]

Neil,

like your Slims interesting talk about blanks I have only remotely heard of watching the series on the Dales recently I am still open jawed viewing sheep in such high green grass something only seen by me in New Zealand we simply do not have the rainfall so much so if I come into a room with the Tele on and its raining I always say is this an English program? So I gues plants must grow stronger over your way.

Like your pens you will be astounded when you turn some of our Aussie timbers they can be tough.

Kind regards Peter.

 

[rowdyyates115]

Nice bit of turning Neil,
never even heard of Berberis. Another one for the got to try bucket.....

 

[Lons]

Great looking pens.

It would never have crossed my mind to look at plants like berberis, we have some in the garden, does firethorn and blackthorn turn well also? Somehow I can see the garden getting a bit bare before long

I got my hands on some laburnum (from Cragside,house) a while ago and clearly didn't store it properly as it somehow attracted woodworm and had to be burned

Bob

 

[turnaround360]

I like the idea of incorperating a wine stand design as a pen holder well done.

 

[bluntchisel]

That's a nice pen, from an unusual wood, Neil - well done!

Bob.