Hawthorn - a lovely wood!

[bluntchisel]

Hi, Guys,

Used one of Britain's loveliest woods today.
Had some blanks I cut from a stump back in 2012. These are very brown (not like the fresh hawthorn blanks I have which look like yew.) As this was rock-hard and firm I decided to cross-cut the piece. It turned really well. I used the blank to make a Slimline with a Euro centre band (to give the pen more bulk - I should have waited and used it on a more bespoke kit!) Filled the knots with CA and sawdust, grits to 600, white spirit to pop the grain, then three coats of friction polish.
Usual apologies for my crap scans!

Regards,

Bob.

Ed, On your metal-detecting forays keep your eyes open for this wood. Farmers often cut hedgerows back and there may be useful pieces among the waste.

 

[Woody]

Very nice Bob who needs exotic woods

 

[Terry]

Lovely looking wood Bob certainly not one I would have thought about. Nice looking pen too!!!!!

 

[L200arg]

Very nice bob, looks fantastic

 

[Doug]

Lovely work Bob

Don't think I've ever turned Hawthorn, I`ll have to keep my eyes open for some.

 

[yorkshireman]

Nice wood Bob, and free!

keith

 

[Grump]

WARNING WARNING DANGER WILL ROBINSON CRAP SCAN CRAP SCAN
​

I should have waited and used it on a more bespoke kit!

Bob you know I like to disagree just for the hell of it but this time mate I disagree because I really think you are so very wrong.
You have made this a bespoke pen!!! You did the right thing putting the wider band in, you chose what you knew to be a great looking blank, and you have finished it in a superb and professional manner.
It really is a treat to see your pen making skills and how they have improved so much over the time we have seen your efforts.
Sorry to be so hard on you mate but somebody has to tell you the truth.
I really would love to see your work with a better picture, I know your views your a turner not a photographer but please do try harder for us to enjoy the super stuff we see from you init?

 

[edlea]

Ed, On your metal-detecting forays keep your eyes open for this wood. Farmers often cut hedgerows back and there may be useful pieces among the waste.

I will Bob ...must have walked past tons of it over the years . Any spotted now comes home with me.

 

[Grump]

I will Bob ...must have walked past tons of it over the years . Any spotted now comes home with me.

Sounds stupid I know But I was almost prosecuted for stealing a few fir cones to make a Christmas decoration with my grandchildren by some jobs worth forestry commissioner called the police and I ended up with a bar from the property and a official warning / police caution.
Just be careful what you pick up and where from.

 

[Jim]

I didn't realise Hawthorn looked as good as this Bob, you made a great job of this pen and i like how you have used the band from another kit so that you can show off the wood. Thanks for sharing ...

 

[edlea]

Sounds stupid I know But I was almost prosecuted for stealing a few fir cones to make a Christmas decoration with my grandchildren by some jobs worth forestry commissioner called the police and I ended up with a bar from the property and a official warning / police caution.
Just be careful what you pick up and where from.

Brian thanks for the warning mate, but as a responsible metal detectorist of many years standing I know only too well the dangers of taking things from the countryside without permission. It has been along standing issue between 'us' and many 'organizations' being that detectorists are nothing but robbers, thieves and scum of the earth out to make a quick buck at the expense of the nation....which for the vast majority of thousands of detectorist is totally untrue. All the farmers that I visit to do my detecting have over the years become good friends. They all know that I would never take anything off their land without asking permission first. I'm sure Bob is only too aware also.

 

[Grump]

Sorry if I pressed the wrong button Ed just a warning to people of what can happen in innocence.
You may be fully aware of what you are doing and Bob probably meant well by suggesting the idea.
I am pointing out that that his recommendation could be encouraging people to break the law.
Ignorance is no defence, Chainsaw Epping Forest no names mentioned aye Neil.

 

[edlea]

Sorry if I pressed the wrong button Ed just a warning to people of what can happen in innocence.
You may be fully aware of what you are doing and Bob probably meant well by suggesting the idea.
I am pointing out that that his recommendation could be encouraging people to break the law.
Ignorance is no defence, Chainsaw Epping Forest no names mentioned aye Neil.

Quite right to do so Brian ..I realise I'm not the only one to read these posts .I would think Bob also knows the rule as he's a detectorist too. So anyone who is not aware of the rules ... when in the countryside always ask permission from the Landowner before filling the car boot up with anything.

 

[Grump]

In my case it was sheer stupidity and hot headedness on my part that got me into a situation where a warden ended up hurt lying in ditch and I showed myself up in front of my grandchildren.
It started over literally a few dead cones the kids wanted to take home and make a decoration I think for their school if I remember right.
Certainly taught me a lesson though.

 

[bluntchisel]

Hi, guys,

Many, many thanks for your kind remarks!

A bit more about that hawthorn...like I've said, this came from a hedgerow crossing a field. Sometimes, these hedges get a bit overgrown and start to get in the way of farming machinery (tractors, combines, seeders, etc.) so have to be drastically cut back. However, apart from reducing the foliage, etc. it also encourages fresh growth, which means that by next year these large bushes have recovered. Now, this sort of treatment traditionally goes on for decade after decade and involves only the foliage, twigs, and very occasionally, a bough. Rarely does it mean uprooting an entire hawthorn bush. Some of our hedgerows have been in place for centuries (yes, it's true!) and are only destroyed if the farmer decides to make two fields into one, or something along those lines. This was the case with my wood. He decided to grub out the hedgerow to allow him to plough, fertilise, seed and harvest one large field instead of two smaller ones. Sadly I could only salvage several pieces before they cleared the debris away. Gutted! Anyway, the striking thing about the wood is just how dense it is - easily as dense as mahogany - and although the figuring is visible it's hard to see the grain. A HARD wood! As I said, some hedgerows are ancient, and I've seen an 1820 survey drawing of the farm, (it's what we metal detectorists study in order to ascertain an area's history before we dig) showing the landowner's boundaries, and THIS SAME HEDGEROW WAS IN PLACE THEN! Therefore, it is highly likely that the bits I have stemmed from those originals!
To show the difference I have scanned two of the old hawthorn pieces alongside a stick harvested last month.

Regards,

Bob.

 

[bluntchisel]

To Ed and Brian,

Yes, Brian, it's exactly as Ed says - us detectorists are completely faithful to those great people, the farmers/landowners who allow us to detect on their property. They do so in complete trust and for no reward (although we make sure the odd bottle of scotch, etc. comes their way + prezzies at Xmas) so if/when a detectorist makes an interesting or important find it's the owner we show it to first. If he wishes to keep it, so be it. However, if it's of National Importance (Britain's Heritage) it must be handed in to the Authorities. They decide whether to hand it back to finder/owner, or auction it to a museum. We also know what is useless or useful to a farmer and taking away a few sticks of wood won't harm him. None of us would dream of taking a chainsaw along though!!! LOL!

Ed, Don't bother with the branches unless they are thicker than your wrist. Instead look for rotty old stumps that have broken away from the main growth - unless you're lucky enough to get fresh-cut ancient stuff like this!

Brian, again, Yes, matey, you are quite right about my scanning, and I'm sorry to push these poor quality reproductions on our viewers. However, I have no interest in photography, cameras, light tents, flashbulbs, exposure meters, or light meters. The only time I might become interested (and pretty damned quickly too!) is if my wife was out shopping and the 18-year blonde from up the road wearing a negligee visited me carrying a toothbrush. I would suddenly turn into the most avid photographer since David Bailey - until my heart gave out, that is!

Strewth, this post has turned into a marathon! LOL!

Bob.

 

[Grump]

Your missing the point boys, you may have permission to dig take or do whatever on your farmers premises but as has been pointed out other peoples read these threads.
I am pointing out that it is not OK for Joe public which we all are to pick up a stick and walk off the property with it he doesn't need a chainsaw or a boot full of it.
I believe one of us on our other forum told of a guy walking his dog through a park, said guy was throwing stick for dog to retrieve all was fine until time to go home when dog got in car with stick in gob and all hell let loose for stealing stick.
My circumstance similar but I lost my temper and got arrested not for stealing cones but for bashing warden.

 

[Jim]

Thanks for the write up Bob, i found that very interesting ...

Marvellous how a small bit of wood can make a great looking pen ...

 

[stevenw1963]

Great pen, nice wood, CRAP SCAN AGAIN

 

[mick the pen]

nice pen, well made