Oak Burr Pen Blanks

[Vic Perrin]

I managed to get hold of a small but very nice oak burr which I cut up into pen blanks and dried them out using the microwave. My moisture meter gave a reading of about 8% so I made up 2 Bolt Action pens as a gift for a mate.

The following morning to my horror the blanks had shrunk exposing some of the brass tube !

It quite obvious that the blanks were not as dry as I thought they were ( that's a cheapo moisture meter for you).

Does anyone know where I can buy some decent Oak Burr or similar pen blanks from l have looked on the usual sites but not found anything.

Vic

 

[Matt]

Can't help you with the blanks Vic but I've had similar experiences with my cheapo moisture meter think the idea of weighing the blanks until they don't lose any more weight is maybe the way to go

 

[Philly]

What effect does trimming the tube have? (I'm new to this)

 

[Buckeye]

You could always turn down the oak at the ends so that you have a similar amount of brass tube showing and put on a bit of black plastic or pieces of wood to cover the tubes at the ends so it is a bit like segmented.

Peter

 

[Vic Perrin]

What effect does trimming the tube have? (I'm new to this)

Don't really know the answer to this Philly, I like you am relatively new to Penturning although I have been turning the bigger stuff for about 5 years now.

Vic

 

[Buckeye]

You have to be careful about trimming the tube on the bolt actions there is not much leeway.

Peter

 

[Vic Perrin]

You have to be careful about trimming the tube on the bolt actions there is not much leeway.

Peter

Thanks Pete that's answered that question then.

Vic

 

[Buckeye]

Thanks Pete that's answered that question then.

Vic

It really does depend how much brass you have showing, if it's a 1/16th Inch the spring will be able to cope with that. You can probably see better if you look at the nib end when the refill is inside, and see how far back the tip is.

Peter

 

[wm460]

What effect does trimming the tube have? (I'm new to this)

Trim the tube, trim the refill. DAMHIKT