Wood Choice

It has become apparent, after looking at some wonderful pens on here, that choosing the/a correct bit of wood to turn into a pen is one of (if not the) most important things that a pen turner/maker can do.

That being said where the heck do you all get it from?

I ask this because the only thing I can find in the Dronfield, Chesterfield and Sheffield areas is wood from builders merchants, something other than those must surely exist but for the life of me I can not find them. To be honest I do not even know the terminology to correctly search for them and any advice you guys can give would be a big help.

Many thanks
Gary

Hi Gary,

If you search e bay and the likes you will find pen blanks for sale. That said it’s possibly one of the most expensive ways, but easiest if you don’t have any saws to convert wood stock in to pen blank size.

There is also a few pages on Facebook that sell historical wood, with certificates.

Phill Dart at Beaufortink.co.uk has a selection of blanks.

If you ping me a PM on here I will send you some through for the cost of postage.

I get some off cuts from my box making that I just don’t like to bin or burn �� so I cut them up to blank sized and then there are some “newbies” send them out to get them on their way.

I do sell some of the spalted woods from time to time and use that money to help finance helping charities out with pens/boxes ect. Being retired the hobby and donations need to finance themselves from the hobby ideally.

Kirk Boulton at exotichardwoodsukltd.com, or Bob Smith at Timberline, Snainton timber, turners retreat, outfit near Dover whose name has totally escaped me, g and S, Oliver’s, yandles, and Axminster. And many others.

Stiles and Bates is the one near Dover Neil, I use them and my local saw mill turns up some good bits. Also I use a gun stocker for Walnut and laminated ply blank offcuts. I have a friend who is a tree surgeon, but normally it's very big lumps I then have to process and season...

flexi said:

Also I use a gun stocker for Walnut and laminated ply blank offcuts.

Click to expand...

You know how to make me jelous.

Make friends with more pen turners. We love to share.

Tree surgeons can be a good source of timber,usually fair size pieces though.Joinery companies and window fabricators can also be good.Buying pen blanks can work out pricey,I always prep my own blanks.I just like using my bandsaw!

flexi said:

Stiles and Bates is the one near Dover Neil, I use them and my local saw mill turns up some good bits. Also I use a gun stocker for Walnut and laminated ply blank offcuts. I have a friend who is a tree surgeon, but normally it's very big lumps I then have to process and season...

Click to expand...

Thanks Mark, only been using them for about fifteen years, be it occasionally, had brain failure!