Lacewood Pen

[Bill Mooney]

After reading Peter's post of his London Plane pen I thought i would post my Lacewood pen which I use all the time. I understand that Lacewood is quarter sawn London Plane & shows a different figure in the grain.
I like the ripple in this pen, I hope the photos show it off.
The pen is finished with CA & microcrystalline wax. The reflections off the high gloss killed the grain so I cut it back to a satin finish which brought the grain out.

 

[rayf6604]

Nice wood and graining but the shape isn't for me I'm afraid. I would like to see the shape carried through to the top half, just me. It looks well turned all the same.

 

[Neil]

Bill,

Lacewood is another name for London Plane and several others but it isn't confined to the quatersawn stock. The patterning is indeed very different when cut at right angles and parallel to the grain. Lacewood is also the name given to Sycamore. Bewarned, American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) which is related to the London Plane (Platanus acerifolia) is a different species to that of our Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), which is a member of the maple family. London Plane gets its botanical name from its family, Platanus and the second bit because its got the foliage of the Maple (Acer) - hence acerifolia.

Asleep yet?

 

[Buckeye]

After reading Peter's post of his London Plane pen I thought i would post my Lacewood pen which I use all the time. I understand that Lacewood is quarter sawn London Plane & shows a different figure in the grain.
I like the ripple in this pen, I hope the photos show it off.
The pen is finished with CA & microcrystalline wax. The reflections off the high gloss killed the grain so I cut it back to a satin finish which brought the grain out.

I still can't get over it being London Plane. That's a very different figuring to mine. I understand why you like your pen.

Peter

 

[TK woodman]

Very nice blank and well turned Bill.

 

[Vic Perrin]

Nice pen Bill, but the bit about you use it all the time beggars belief. Are you sure you Geordies can write !

Bloody glad our Aud can't see this post sheed kill me, she originates from Shiney Row!

Vic

 

[Woody]

Very nice Bill love your artistic flare mate

 

[Gilliandrea]

Beautiful grain in the wood
Not sure about the shape, does it feel good in the hand?

 

[Doug]

Unusual, but life would be boring if all pens were the same, nice one Bill.

 

[donwatson]

I like that pen Bill and the grain certainly looks different.
Thanks for showing.

 

[Grump]

Lovely bit o wood on that pen but the shape is not my cuppa.

 

[Jim]

We can see the grain clearly Bill, nice all round pen ..

 

[lignaterrae]

And the reason perfectly described for trying to learn and understand the scientific (Latin) names of timber/trees. A wood can have a babel of common names, sometimes quite contradictory, but one and only one scientific name. All misunderstanding is removed.
The wood in this pen certainly isn't London Plane (aka lacewood) but is a species of maple with a nice ripple figure - and the timber known as Sycamore in the UK is a type of maple, as Neil correctly says. The medullary rays that give the line of flake-like markings down opposite sides of a turned piece are much smaller and more delicate in maples than London Plane.
It's still a lovely piece of timber, though!

Bill,

Lacewood is another name for London Plane and several others but it isn't confined to the quatersawn stock. The patterning is indeed very different when cut at right angles and parallel to the grain. Lacewood is also the name given to Sycamore. Bewarned, American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) which is related to the London Plane (Platanus acerifolia) is a different species to that of our Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), which is a member of the maple family. London Plane gets its botanical name from its family, Platanus and the second bit because its got the foliage of the Maple (Acer) - hence acerifolia.

Asleep yet?

 

[billyb_imp]

Well turned & finished Bill

 

[wm460]

Great pen Bill.

 

[Bill Mooney]

Thanks for your replies, all much appreciated. When I got the blanks they were marked lacewood but having seen some curly maple pens on another post I have to say they are very similar to mine. As for the shape people ask for this shape after trying a pen & I've sold over 400 over the last 4 years so I go with what sells as I donate money to Blind Veterans UK.

 

[paulm]

Very nice Bill.

 

[bluntchisel]

Yet another informative post from our Neil - well done for taking the trouble, matey!

Bill, I like the grain and the lower part but would have preferred to see the upper barrel matching.

Bob.

 

[bassethound]

Nice pen Bill, love the wood mate nicely turned indeed!

 

[chas_41_uk]

A very nicely turned and finished pen