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Easy woods or acrylic blanks for a newbie

DaddyG

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Graham
I am just wondering if there are any easy woods for first a attempt at pen making, I have seen some zebrano but the read it was quite hard to turn so it got me thinking what wood would be easy to start but still look nice and not to bland?!
 

Bucks

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I’ve only turned a couple of Zebrano blanks myself probably within my first handful of pens, but as far as I can remember they were pretty easy to turn and as far as I can remember they are very cheap to buy so I would say give them a go. I would advise practicing on a few wooden blanks a little first, before moving on to acrylics as they are a little more difficult to get good finishes.
 

Lons

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I’ve only turned a couple of Zebrano blanks myself probably within my first handful of pens, but as far as I can remember they were pretty easy to turn and as far as I can remember they are very cheap to buy so I would say give them a go. I would advise practicing on a few wooden blanks a little first, before moving on to acrylics as they are a little more difficult to get good finishes.

I would try yew or olive if you want interesting grain and silky smooth to turn but really would advise any beginner to spend some time just turning scrap softwood to practice techniques before making anything, OK it's less fun but once you can get a passable finish straight from the tool of softwood you can be pretty confident of your efforts on more expensive pen blanks.

I don't agree that finishing acrylic is more difficult in fact the opposite. The actual turning is a bit different and you need to have very sharp tools and be careful to take light cuts or scrapes but once at the sanding stage it's dead easy. Run the lathe at slow speed to avoid heat build up, go through the grades and finish off with brasso, chrome polish or plastic polish to get a nice shine. I always give a light coat of micro wax but not essential. It's quicker than getting a good finish on most woods.
 

Bucks

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Maybe I didn’t use the right words when I said difficult to get good finishes!
But for a beginner who hasn’t turned anything yet or got the gear or experience in maintaining sharp tools, I still say it best to practice on a few wooden blanks that cost next to nothing rather than practising on costly acrylic blanks.
 

DaddyG

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Graham
Bucks i was just looking at your page when I saw where you are, this might be lethal as loved the look of the blanks you have!!!

Going to get started and practice before I would chance one of your blanks.
 

Bucks

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Bucks i was just looking at your page when I saw where you are, this might be lethal as loved the look of the blanks you have!!!

Going to get started and practice before I would chance one of your blanks.

We’re planning on having a lot bigger selection to choose from in the new year, so you should have plenty to choose from :winking:
 

DaddyG

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Graham
Can't be bad, with you and hopefully Cleveland Woodcraft starting to carry pen stuff it brings supplies a lot closer !!!

Quick question can you cast any coffee beans? As I love coffee and have beans I grind so would love those in a few blanks!!!
 

Bucks

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Quick question can you cast any coffee beans? As I love coffee and have beans I grind so would love those in a few blanks!!!

Yes we can prepare & cast practically any coffee beans. Once you get going, if you want a few doing give us a shout.
 

Lons

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Bob
Maybe I didn’t use the right words when I said difficult to get good finishes!
But for a beginner who hasn’t turned anything yet or got the gear or experience in maintaining sharp tools, I still say it best to practice on a few wooden blanks that cost next to nothing rather than practising on costly acrylic blanks.

Ah ok Paul that's a different aspect entirely to your original post, I would always suggest loads of practice before turning anything important.
if you want to try olive blanks Neil Lawton isn't that far away in York.

if it's just practice wood try looking in the seasoned hardwood firewood piles or befriend a tree surgeon, there are usually figured grain and crotch pieces for free or very little and if you find green wood just cut oversize and dry out at home, doesn't take long in pen blank sizes and at no cost. One of the earlier members here used to turn roots from the garden with spectacular results and some of my nicest blanks came from the hedgerows.

Salerooms can be a good source of seasoned hardwood, look for cheap chairs or fancy dresser tops in elm, quarter sawn oak or sonokeling rosewood which are often sold for very little, also places like tk Max or supermarkets where you'll find chopping boards in various hardwoods, olive and bamboo. You can get a reasonable number of blanks from a board.
 

Bucks

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Ah ok Paul that's a different aspect entirely to your original post,

I always struggle to put anything I want to say into words! that’s the reason I don’t often offer advice much on the forum, it takes me ages to try & wright down what I want to say so it sounds something like.

For example this crap I have just written must have taken me over 10minutes, with all the typing & deleting then retyping & it probably still reads as a load of s#ite.

I’m more of a practical person as long as you don’t ask me to describe or explain it.
 

Lons

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I always struggle to put anything I want to say into words! that’s the reason I don’t often offer advice much on the forum, it takes me ages to try & wright down what I want to say so it sounds something like.

For example this crap I have just written must have taken me over 10minutes, with all the typing & deleting then retyping & it probably still reads as a load of s#ite.

I’m more of a practical person as long as you don’t ask me to describe or explain it.

My missus regularly tells my I'm talking sh**e but then I don't listen to her Paul. I'm deaf in one ear, just depends which ear she's talking to. :whistling::ciggrin:
 

Bucks

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Graham, if your wanting some firewood as Bob has suggested to practice on, I have plenty of 12-18month air dried hardwood firewood, I’m sure we could spare a few bits & cut it into blanks for you if want some? I’m not sure how dry & suitable it would be though as I’ve never tried any myself, been to busy with the day job, family life & the moulds to do much turning myself.

E2C6BEF0-481B-4F42-8BDA-4CDC179D5C13.jpg

938B90B3-8A38-4387-9104-B956416A1F43.jpg
 

Penpal

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Stay away from Zebrano just now its hairy and strange for beginners,you have lots of offers to buy and receive. Terric guys on the sellers in the forum IMHO. Enjoy Christmas.

Peter.
 

Lons

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Graham, if your wanting some firewood as Bob has suggested to practice on, I have plenty of 12-18month air dried hardwood firewood, I’m sure we could spare a few bits & cut it into blanks for you if want some? I’m not sure how dry & suitable it would be though as I’ve never tried any myself, been to busy with the day job, family life & the moulds to do much turning myself.

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Don't post your address or that lot will mysteriously disappear overnight Paul. :ciggrin:
 
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