New to the forum, new to Pen turning! Wondering where to find some wood

[Davince]

Hi all, I'm very new to pen turning, not had much experience turning wood as I'm usually turning metal.

I have made 2 pens so far, a set for my brothers birthday. They went really well and as soon as a my wife saw them made lots of hints about the fact her birthday is coming up...

I am however having considerable difficulty finding stabilized burl walnut (which she loves) in lengths longer than 150mm. The design I have in mind for her isn't "standard" so I need it a bit longer, 175mm minimum really, but 200mm would be ideal.

Anyone know of UK suppliers I could get some from?!

 

[flexi]

Hi, firstly welcome aboard....welcome to the mad house!!
Secondly I too like a bit of Walnut.... I think this one came from TQ blanks...aka Mark Lewin....not sure what lengths he has but I know he did/does his own stabalising....
Good luck, if you need further help ask away

 

[fortress]

Hello and welcome Del, it's nice to have you with us. Sorry can't help you with the wood part, but somebody on here will, Mark has been the first.

 

[Davince]

Hi, firstly welcome aboard....welcome to the mad house!!
Secondly I too like a bit of Walnut....View attachment 42462 I think this one came from TQ blanks...aka Mark Lewin....not sure what lengths he has but I know he did/does his own stabalising....
Good luck, if you need further help ask away

Thank you Flexi!

That's a beautiful pen! Interestingly that appears to feature something that I want to include in the pens I'm looking for blanks for - the nib barrel has no finial. How did you approach machining that? I want this design to taper both ends without a finial, part of the reason that I want it a bit longer - I don't want a blunt end, but a tapered end.

For my first pens I just went with a basic start using all available bits, now I have a better understanding of how it all fits together I want to create my vision rather than someone elses lol. I'm tempted to machine up all the metalwork as well but time is now running low :(

Here's my first, it was made from the branch of a tree we used to climb.

 

[alan morrison]

Welcome to the forum, Del.
Lovely pen, exceptional if it is only your first or second pen.

Alan

 

[Davince]

Welcome to the forum, Del.
Lovely pen, exceptional if it is only your first or second pen.

Alan

Thank you Alan :) It was my second. I made a small cock-up on the first. A real face-palm cock up. After spending 10 minutes making sure the (tapered) accent rings were the right way around before putting in the press, I then knocked it off, put it back on and pressed into place. Upside down.

 

[flexi]

Hi Del, the stopped end turning (where the tube sits in a blind hole) is done with a pin chuck. You can buy these, but a cheaper solution is to use transfer punches (Google on eBay) file a 1mm flat on one side and use a 1mm panel pin. That way you can get whatever size you need, when you need it. Also great for dismantling kits when you put bands on upside down
BTW I don't turn like this.....bring the tail stock up to support the blank

 

[Dalboy]

Hi and welcome Del. I am slowly trying to get a metal working set up so going in the opposite direction to you I will not be giving up on the wood work but just feel I need to make a more adventurous model loco. In other words a live steam maybe a 5" scale

 

[Phil Dart]

Welcome to the forum Del

 

[Neil]

Del,

Welcome to the forum. Forgive me for trying to expunge the over the pond influence from our hobby or business, but they can keep their burls, we call it burrs or burred wood. Regrettably however burred walnut is about as rare as rocking horse poo, snapped up for the veneer industry at exorbitant prices. Your best bet if you’re prepared to forego your pension on a bit is to talk to some instrument makers or suppliers to lutherans, particularly Bob Smith at Timberline in Tonbridge or Andy Fellows at Prime Timber last known whereabouts near Gosport. Best of luck!

 

[Terry Q]

Hello Del, welcome to the forum and a wonderful hobby.

 

[Phil Dart]

Your best..... is to talk to some instrument makers or suppliers to lutherans Best of luck!

He'll need it [MENTION=120]Neil[/MENTION]. The methodists and baptists have apparently both run out, and the lutherans have only got stabilised bibles left. The french catholics have got some reclaimed stuff knocking about, but it's all a bit charred at the ends so I'm told.

 

[Neil]

He'll need it [MENTION=120]Neil[/MENTION]. The methodists and baptists have apparently both run out, and the lutherans have only got stabilised bibles left. The french catholics have got some reclaimed stuff knocking about, but it's all a bit charred at the ends so I'm told.

Hahaha, cant even blame that one on the spell checker can I! I did of course mean luthiers! But there’s a thought, people have turned pens from compressed resin impregnated denim, did the Gideons have a real purpose for us penturners? Perhaps sell the outcome with some registrars ink and a COA something like, “Made from Acts 4, taken from Ipswich Travelodge”

 

[Penpal]

WElcome I have had great success for incredible timber from the arms industry. There are huge quantities of smaller (read pen sizes) from rifle,gun stocks. So many years ago I bought from the USA fabulous pieces.

Good hunting.

Peter.

 

[AllenN]

Welcome Del. Can’t help on the wood front but if you have a metal lathe turning your own pin chucks should be straightforward.

 

[wm460]

G'Day Del,

Welcome to the forum from the chilly centre of Aust.



Cheers,
Mark

 

[Neil]

Mark, So sorry it’s chilly today, what was it, a paltry 28 deg? Watch out the spreaders will be out tonight!

 

[wm460]

Mark, So sorry it’s chilly today, what was it, a paltry 28 deg? Watch out the spreaders will be out tonight!

[MENTION=120]Neil[/MENTION] Why does anyone want a party out side this time of the year. From a Chilly Mark who spent the evening huddled around a fire .

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Penpal]

Now dide by 2 and thats us descending as from now.

Peter.