Interesting question??

[flexi]

To finish or not to finish....
I have been asked to make a whisky cask pen and would like to know whether to or not apply a finish. The stave is oak so quite solid,durable and tactile also smelly. If i apply a finish CA it will seal the smell and also cover the grain and loose the apeal the customer wants. If i dont seal it i know the smell will fade and the pen get dirty but will burnish with time and use...
Thoughts please

 

[Jim]

Give him 2 free refurbishments with the pen Mark ..

I know it is a tough one Mark, so why not put the same questions to the customer and see what he says, at least he then has an insight to your thinking ..

 

[Woody]

I have made loads of these and whisky collectors are just interested in the fact of what its made from so I sealed all mine and printed certs to go with them I have cut up so many barrels my workshop smelt like a brewery

 

[brody2123]

I have made loads of these and whisky collectors are just interested in the fact of what its made from so I sealed all mine and printed certs to go with them I have cut up so many barrels my workshop smelt like a brewery

Blimey! Do they make smiffys in casks??:wink:

 

[brody2123]

I'd run it by the customer mate. Then you can explain what that chosen finish will bring to the pen. Then ultimately it's down to them. No point second guessing yourself

 

[Bammer]

I have made loads of these and whisky collectors are just interested in the fact of what its made from so I sealed all mine and printed certs to go with them I have cut up so many barrels my workshop smelt like a brewery

That smell is nothing to do with the whiskey blanks

What would you prefer yourself ?

 

[Phil Dart]

To finish or not to finish....
I have been asked to make a whisky cask pen and would like to know whether to or not apply a finish. The stave is oak so quite solid,durable and tactile also smelly. If i apply a finish CA it will seal the smell and also cover the grain and loose the apeal the customer wants. If i dont seal it i know the smell will fade and the pen get dirty but will burnish with time and use...
Thoughts please

Don't be swayed by the smell - as you say it will fade, and in fact will do so very quickly - probably within a week or two. I would (and do) take the view that it needs to be finished according to your normal practice - just forget the fact that its a bit of cask. I rarely finish with CA so my view is hardly impartial.

 

[Penpal]

To be or not do one of each a finish can be given to the bare one after.

Peter.

 

[silver]

Ask the customer..

I had some of the ones that was smelling woodys shed out..

To me the most important part is either giving the customer what they want, but I found giving them an off-cut so they get to smell it, feel it and see what it was from. They soon bin it once the smell has subsided.

Even more important is to save the shavings and seal them in a plastic bag, when you fire BBQ up soak them in a small amount of water, drain them off and chuck em on the coals. Gives a nice rib eye a superb flavour..

 

[Vic Perrin]

I have made loads of these and whisky collectors are just interested in the fact of what its made from so I sealed all mine and printed certs to go with them I have cut up so many barrels my workshop smelt like a brewery

I bet your Workshop always smells like a brewery SMITHY'S

 

[wm460]

Leave it natural, when smell fades just tip the dregs in your glass over the pen.

 

[glenpen]

I have made one or two pens using this wood and finished them with friction polish. I sold these pens at a craft fare and know one bothered to smell them.

Glen