Spalted beech slimline

I made up three sets of blanks from some spalted beech but two of them crumbled at the tips so only one was worth finishing. Any tips on stabilising spalted wood? Sorry about the poor quality of the pic.

Very nice Mick. There are two ways that I can think of that are equally as good to stabilize the wood. First is quite expensive if you haven't already got all the gear such as a vacuum pump and vacuum chamber... in fact its still reasonably expensive if you have and that is to stabilise it with stabilizing fluid such as cactus juice. The second way and in fact I've just done it is...

1. cut the blank
2. put super thin ca on the ends
3. drill the blank
4. coat inside, outside and ends with super thin ca
5. when dry, run the drill through it again
6. glue in your tube and bobs your uncle.

I'll give that a try thanks

Nice pen Mick you have to weigh up the blank before going to too much bother takes the same effort to use a great blank versus ordinary in normal making. Anything sus I belt it in the bin.

Peter.

A very nice pen Mickey
As for stabilising the blanks ....... what Paul said :wink:

paulm said:

6. glue in your tube and bobs your uncle.

Click to expand...

Actually he is.

Great looking pen Mick.

Looks well done from here.

Les

Damn good attempt Mick, not the easiest of woods to make a pen .. Paul's tip works very well, but you could also CA the ends, drill and tube the blank then use the CA as and when needed during the turning .. Though Paul's way would be better and safer for beginners ..

Jim I just received a new blank called Red Beech it has extreme grain and squiggly lines in it just took a pic on the table will post it separate.

Peter.