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

Davince

Apprentice Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2020
Posts
16
Location
Hampshire
First Name
Del
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

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,159
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
Hi, firstly welcome aboard....welcome to the mad house!!
Secondly I too like a bit of Walnut....IMG_20200606_091128.jpg 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:thumbs:
 

fortress

Registered
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Posts
5,178
Location
Astley
First Name
John
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

Apprentice Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2020
Posts
16
Location
Hampshire
First Name
Del
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:thumbs:

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.2020-03-20 19-20-08 (B,Radius8,Smoothing4).jpg
 

Davince

Apprentice Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2020
Posts
16
Location
Hampshire
First Name
Del
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. :sob:
 

flexi

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,159
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
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:whistling:20180604_145248.jpg
BTW I don't turn like this.....bring the tail stock up to support the blank
 

Dalboy

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Posts
7,679
Location
Kent
First Name
Derek
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
 

Neil

Fellow
Joined
May 21, 2013
Posts
3,132
Location
Hitchin, Hertfordshire
First Name
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!
 

Phil Dart

Moderator
Executive Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Posts
5,455
Location
Colebrooke, Devon
First Name
Phil
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

Fellow
Joined
May 21, 2013
Posts
3,132
Location
Hitchin, Hertfordshire
First Name
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

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,340
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
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

Fellow
Joined
May 20, 2013
Posts
2,242
Location
Lancaster, UK
First Name
Allen
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

Grand Master
Joined
Mar 16, 2013
Posts
23,095
Location
Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia.
First Name
Mark
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 .

bddf51add3e32c37a80f39903ed0833b.jpg



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