Maize Cob pen...

[bluntchisel]

Hi, folks,
During my other hobby, metal detecting, I often pick up maize cobs (grown by farmers as cattle feed, as opposed to sweetcorn which is what we eat) and take them home to dry out. They can be up to a foot long, and quite thick. Takes about a year before putting a chisel on them. I say chisel but, because there's a lot of pith, (which is inclined to bust out, leaving you with a bare tube!) once I reach a certain thinness I change to coarse grit sandpaper to reduce it to the required profile. (Dust mask needed!!!) I finish with 240-grit, and then pick out/dust out the debris from those holes where the maize used to be. Use a cocktail stick or dental pick. Finally, it's a few coats of BLO/CA - I don't believe a polish-only coating is sufficient - the husk needs hardening to become resilient enough for use.
Regards,
Bob.
Usual apologies for poor quality scans!

 

[bellringer]

That looks nixe some thing to try

 

[Terry]

Good idea Bob and well finished. Thanks for posting!!!

 

[justme]

Very nice, I made a few of these a couple of years ago
I bought mine complete and ready dried from Pets at home.
I believe they sell them for budgie nibbles or something, cost about a £1 each

 

[bluntchisel]

Thanks, chaps!
If you can get them large enough (ex USA, nomally) then pine cones also make terrific pens. Once you turn off the sticking-out bits it leaves you with the marks where they were attached - beautiful!
Bob.

 

[stevenw1963]

Like the look of that Bob, very nice - crap scan, again!!! - but nice pen

 

[bluntchisel]

Hi Steve,
Thanks and LOL!
Bob.

 

[Doug]

Really like that, very unusual

 

[Woody]

Now that is thinking outside the box well done Bob looks good mate

 

[rowdyyates115]

Thanks, chaps!
If you can get them large enough (ex USA, nomally) then pine cones also make terrific pens. Once you turn off the sticking-out bits it leaves you with the marks where they were attached - beautiful!
Bob.

Me thinks I'll have a bash at the Pines as soon as I find some....

 

[Jim]

I like this idea Bob, and surprisingly the pen looks very good indeed ...

 

[wm460]

Great looking pen nice thinking.

 

[bluntchisel]

Thankyou, Doug and Woody!

Hi, Rowdy, If you're lucky you might find cones big enough (or two cones, and make two barrels - exact "mark" matching isn't really crucial here) but I suspect you'll end up getting them from the Internet (ie. ex Canada or USA. but the postage makes them expensive).
Good luck!

Bob.

 

[Grump]

Not to my taste Bob but you won't let that stop you will you?
I am sure it is well made and very tasty from what I can see in the crap scan.

A wife says to her husband you're always pushing me around and talking behind my back. He says what do you expect? You're in a wheelchair.

 

[L200arg]

Very smart looking pen bob me thinks I will take a trip to pets at home...