I am just wondering if there are any easy woods for first a attempt at pen making, I have seen some zebrano but the read it was quite hard to turn so it got me thinking what wood would be easy to start but still look nice and not to bland?!
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Easy woods or acrylic blanks for a newbie
Bucks
Fellow
I’ve only turned a couple of Zebrano blanks myself probably within my first handful of pens, but as far as I can remember they were pretty easy to turn and as far as I can remember they are very cheap to buy so I would say give them a go. I would advise practicing on a few wooden blanks a little first, before moving on to acrylics as they are a little more difficult to get good finishes.
Bucks
Fellow
Just noticed you live practically in the next town to me Graham, I live in Guisborough.
Lons
Fellow
I would try yew or olive if you want interesting grain and silky smooth to turn but really would advise any beginner to spend some time just turning scrap softwood to practice techniques before making anything, OK it's less fun but once you can get a passable finish straight from the tool of softwood you can be pretty confident of your efforts on more expensive pen blanks.
I don't agree that finishing acrylic is more difficult in fact the opposite. The actual turning is a bit different and you need to have very sharp tools and be careful to take light cuts or scrapes but once at the sanding stage it's dead easy. Run the lathe at slow speed to avoid heat build up, go through the grades and finish off with brasso, chrome polish or plastic polish to get a nice shine. I always give a light coat of micro wax but not essential. It's quicker than getting a good finish on most woods.
Bucks
Fellow
Maybe I didn’t use the right words when I said difficult to get good finishes!
But for a beginner who hasn’t turned anything yet or got the gear or experience in maintaining sharp tools, I still say it best to practice on a few wooden blanks that cost next to nothing rather than practising on costly acrylic blanks.
But for a beginner who hasn’t turned anything yet or got the gear or experience in maintaining sharp tools, I still say it best to practice on a few wooden blanks that cost next to nothing rather than practising on costly acrylic blanks.
Bucks
Fellow
We’re planning on having a lot bigger selection to choose from in the new year, so you should have plenty to choose from
Can't be bad, with you and hopefully Cleveland Woodcraft starting to carry pen stuff it brings supplies a lot closer !!!
Quick question can you cast any coffee beans? As I love coffee and have beans I grind so would love those in a few blanks!!!
Quick question can you cast any coffee beans? As I love coffee and have beans I grind so would love those in a few blanks!!!
Terry Q
Fellow
Cherry is an easy wood to turn. Mahogany is another easy to turn wood. Good luck.
Bucks
Fellow
Yes we can prepare & cast practically any coffee beans. Once you get going, if you want a few doing give us a shout.
wm460
Grand Master
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- Mark
You blokes keep mentioning wood that I cant get here.
Lons
Fellow
Ah ok Paul that's a different aspect entirely to your original post, I would always suggest loads of practice before turning anything important.
if you want to try olive blanks Neil Lawton isn't that far away in York.
if it's just practice wood try looking in the seasoned hardwood firewood piles or befriend a tree surgeon, there are usually figured grain and crotch pieces for free or very little and if you find green wood just cut oversize and dry out at home, doesn't take long in pen blank sizes and at no cost. One of the earlier members here used to turn roots from the garden with spectacular results and some of my nicest blanks came from the hedgerows.
Salerooms can be a good source of seasoned hardwood, look for cheap chairs or fancy dresser tops in elm, quarter sawn oak or sonokeling rosewood which are often sold for very little, also places like tk Max or supermarkets where you'll find chopping boards in various hardwoods, olive and bamboo. You can get a reasonable number of blanks from a board.
That bamboo you gave me Bob was like bloody concrete.
Bucks
Fellow
I always struggle to put anything I want to say into words! that’s the reason I don’t often offer advice much on the forum, it takes me ages to try & wright down what I want to say so it sounds something like.
For example this crap I have just written must have taken me over 10minutes, with all the typing & deleting then retyping & it probably still reads as a load of s#ite.
I’m more of a practical person as long as you don’t ask me to describe or explain it.
Lons
Fellow
My missus regularly tells my I'm talking sh**e but then I don't listen to her Paul. I'm deaf in one ear, just depends which ear she's talking to.
Bucks
Fellow
Graham, if your wanting some firewood as Bob has suggested to practice on, I have plenty of 12-18month air dried hardwood firewood, I’m sure we could spare a few bits & cut it into blanks for you if want some? I’m not sure how dry & suitable it would be though as I’ve never tried any myself, been to busy with the day job, family life & the moulds to do much turning myself.
Penpal
Grand Master
Stay away from Zebrano just now its hairy and strange for beginners,you have lots of offers to buy and receive. Terric guys on the sellers in the forum IMHO. Enjoy Christmas.
Peter.
Peter.
Lons
Fellow
That bamboo you gave me Bob was like bloody concrete.
Only gave you it 'cos I know you can handle the challenge Bill. Did you manage to bugger it up.
Lons
Fellow
Bucks
Fellow