Great pens, mate.
The finish on the wood surfaces looks flawless, well done...!:wink:
I posted some questions to you on someone else's thread a few weeks back, I didn't check the thread out for some time so I didn't know that you have answered my questions, and you have also asked a few in return so, now that this is your own thread, here is my answer;
Your Post,
Hi George,
I'm located in Caldas da Rainha, near the coast, not far from Lisbon.
Have you been here?
Pen turning is not that popular over here very few people doing it as far as I know, turning in general is only seen as accessory woodworking activity...
You are right, there are great woods here although burls are not that common and mostly discarded before someone gets to them, since most woodworking done is furniture related.
The wood you mention could be an Oak (commonly known as Carvalho here), which has several species, the Cork Tree (Sobreiro) being on and so is Azinheiro which I believe is known as Holly Oak, this may br the one you refer to as it can grow up to 10m tall and be very durable, it is still used to build houses, boats, etc.
It is also the type of wood used for wine/spirits barrels.
Still working on my English being good, though
Me...!:biggrin:
Oh yes, I've been there a few hundreds of times...!
in fact, I was born in Marrazes, lived in Pombal until the age of 18 and then lived in Leiria, right to the age of 30, when I left the country once and for all and come to Australia in 1987. I know/knew that area like the palm of my hands.
In regards to the wood I mention previously, the one that I was referring to, as the one most used in fine furniture and found mostly in the far North of the country is indeed the "Carvalho", I got mixed up with the trees from the Alentejo area such as the Azinheiro and the Sobreiro. One other I remember, they called the Carvalheiro, which I can't remember exactly where it is found mostly. Is even possible that both mean the same thing, and that I'm all confused about it...!:frown:
I would suggest you to have a good look around in your area, for tree species that will produce great wood for pens and other turnings. You have plenty of old Olive trees not far from you, plenty of very nice old fruit trees, an many other species that grow in peoples yards that, sooner or later need trimming or cutting down. There will be also the Council timber guys that will be one of the best sources of cheap wood, sometimes free but, those guys like the carton of beer or a "garafao the vinho" (wine in a gallon glass container with either plastic or laced tough grass/straw type, covering it...!) well, that's not that much different up here, I get surprised how far one can go with a carton of beer with some fellows...!
:biggrin:
I will ask you a favor tough, next time you go trough the Pinhal the Leiria, take your camera with you at take a few pics of the resin pots installed on those magnificent special pine trees for resin collection. I'm particular interested in a couple of close ups of the cut they make in the tree bark to bleed/allow the resin to flow into those pots.
If you can would be great if you can't, no problem...!
There are a few things and places I miss from my birth country but not much else...!
Now, you take care and keep making nice pens...!
Cheers
George
