Cottonwood bark - newbie pencil

[AuroraWoodworks]

I just got a lathe last week and started turning pens. This one is made from cottonwood bark. It's a favorite of carvers because it is soft. It turned very easily, almost too easily. The finish is several coats of CA glue. The scratches are from dragging the glue tip across the blank. This stuff is soft! Live and learn.

Tony

 

[Jon-wx5nco]

That is SO much better than my first pen. Looks good to me!

 

[glycerine]

I just got a lathe last week and started turning pens. This one is made from cottonwood bark. It's a favorite of carvers because it is soft. It turned very easily, almost too easily. The finish is several coats of CA glue. The scratches are from dragging the glue tip across the blank. This stuff is soft! Live and learn.

Tony

Looks good, but next time, don't do that!

 

[lazyguy]

Regular run of the mill Cottonwood bark?? I have nearly am unlimited free supply of that. Do you need to stabalise it?

Good looking pen (learn from mistakes and move on)

 

[AuroraWoodworks]

Yup, regular cottonwood bark. I did not stabilize it. I think next time I am going to try applying some CA to the ends of the blank after inserting the brass tube. My hope is that will keep the ends crisp when I mill them. Oh, and the other thing I'll do next time is NOT TOUCH THE GLUE BOTTLE TO THE TURNING!

 

[boxerman]

Very nice first pen.

 

[Jgrden]

Very nice, well proportioned.

 

[maxman400]

Great First Step, Save that one so when you reach number 100 you can look back and see how far you have come. You will be amazed :biggrin: at your work and you will be astounded at what it cost you. LOL.. By the way Welcome to the Madness it only gets worse.:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

 

[AuroraWoodworks]

Thanks for all the encouragement. I made the matching pen to the set and it looks good enough to sell.

 

[Rum Pig]

Well done on your first and now second pen. keep them coming

 

[knifecut]

Cool!

I've carved cottonwood bark. Never thought to try and turn it, since it is so soft.

 

[seamus7227]

Great Job, you beat me to it. I have about 5 blanks that I have stabilized and are ready to turn, that really turned out better than i thought!

 

[RHossack]

very nice ...

I'm going to have to go looking for some cottonwood bark ....

I do a lot of 'Red Fir' bark but this looks interesting