Punky Wood

[paulm]

I wanted to show how I dealt with punky wood that would normally be thrown away. This is a bit of rose root that was falling to bits as I moved it and thought that it would be ideal to show what I do. I thought that the drill would also come through the sides in various places but it didn't which is a shame so that I couldn't show how I dealt with that but good because I didn't have to make up the void.

First of all it was soaked in super thin ca. Do this outside unless you want to spend the next few days on a respirator and upwind too. I cut the blanks and then drilled them. Because they weren't square I had to try and get one side level and as upright as possible and then go for it.

After the tubes are glued in, I then soak the ends in ca to harden them up.

The while turning, I occasionally stop the lathe and ca any soft parts that have appeared and at a few cm from the final diameter I start to fill in any holes with the shavings and ca those in.

Finally a few coats of ca and a polish... hey presto.

Some of the photos aren't so good because I was using a point and click and its difficult to see that it was focusing on something I wasn't. I may try again later with a more twisted and more punky bit to get some better pictures.

 

[paulm]

Oops, the pictures came in the wrong way around...

Finally the finished article, Rose Root in an antique finish

 

[Woody]

Thank you Paul that sure is one great looking pen I would never have thought of turning a rose root the annoying thing is I dug some up and got rid of them 2 years ago

 

[mattyts]

great method Paul,good end result too...is there something wrong with the nib on the pictures? it looks very scratched

 

[bluntchisel]

A lovely pen, Paul, and well worth all that effort!

Bob.

 

[paulm]

great method Paul,good end result too...is there something wrong with the nib on the pictures? it looks very scratched

Thank Matt, the nib is supposed to be antique gold or antique brass and that is what it comes like. I know what you mean from the picture but it looks OK in hand.

 

[paulm]

A lovely pen, Paul, and well worth all that effort!

Bob.

Thanks Bob, the funny thing is that there isn't that much effort required really, similar to a bit of burr something or other and the more I do, the easier it is. From start to finish including messing around because I kept stopping and starting to take photo's it only took about 1/2hr.

 

[wm460]

great pen well worth the effort.

 

[bassethound]

Well that was very interesting and bloody well done mate, looks all good to me!

 

[Terry]

Excellent end result Paul !!!

 

[edlea]

Turned out nice ...I like it .

 

[angelo49]

Nice pen.
Great process.
I also save a lot of my 'spongey' wood this way.
A lot of work but well worth the effort in the end.
Nice!

 

[Goulss]

Blimey, talk about perseverance, that would have been in the bin if it had been me!, but what a result, fabulous

 

[Kardav]

Nice one Paul, the tutorial and the pen, mate.

 

[Jim]

It is pens like this that make our hobby worth the while, put in the effort and get some great results .. Thanks for sharing my friend ..

 

[yorkshireman]

Thanks for the tutorial Paul

 

[billyb_imp]

Great looking pen, very nice finish, a lot of work gone into it

Thanks for sharing

 

[Grump]

Good save on the root and that was worthwhile.
I have the same view as Matty on the kit, it just looks scratched instead of antiqued.
Nice set of pics too init?

 

[chas_41_uk]

Fantastic pen Paul

 

[Matt]

Good description Paul, haven't needed to do anything similar but I now know when the time comes. Nice pen too