Madrone burl / bloodwood

[darbytee]

These are a couple of madrone burl/bloodwood pens that I turned. I'm experimenting with some different woods and I have decided that I love the madrone. This was a block that I bought locally, cut into blanks, and stabilized. Both pens were sanded to 1200, EEE waxed, CA/BLO then Myland's friction polish. Also, I realize that my photography is pretty poor right now, but I'm in the process of packing to move and would be visiting a divorce lawyer if I told my wife I was setting up a photo set for my pens in the midst of all of this. Thanks for looking.

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[Bev Polmanteer]

Those are looking mighty good Fred. I don't remember seeing any Madrone on here before, where is it from?

 

[darbytee]

Bev, I know it is native to the Pacific Northwest and to Canada, but not much else. I have one dealer who sells it locally. I bought this burl out of a grab box for $5 a pound.

 

[C_Ludwigsen]

Fred. I really like these. They look sharp. I especially like the bloodwood centerbands.

 

[Scott]

Like Fred says, Madrone is from the Pacific Northwest. In Canada it is Arbutus. It's a bit unstable as it dries, but it is a beautiful wood. It is great stuff!

BTW - great pens, Fred! ;-)

Scott.

 

[jwoodwright]

Very Nice. Accents really stand out. I know about that moving and how it's nice to escape if just for a little bit.[]

 

[melogic]

Fred,
Great looking pens.

 

[ilikewood]

Fred, really nice pens...love the bloodwood centerband.

They are right....madrone is a costal pacific northwest tree. It has large very green oval leaves and a very thin reddish bark that tends to peal off. I used to love to get it for burning in my wood stove. The loggers did not like it, so they left huge piles of it to burn for us scroungers. Like Scott says, it will check at an unbelievable rate when it dries. It's a very beautiful wood though.