Piratinera Guianensis

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
See more from DCBluesman

DCBluesman

Passed Away Mar 3, 2016
In Memoriam
Joined
Aug 22, 2004
Messages
7,679
Location
WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA
Snakewood on a simple Jr. Gentleman.

attachment.php


attachment.php


Thanks to all who look and particularly to those who comment. I'm still trying to get better!
 

Attachments

  • _DSC0712.jpg
    _DSC0712.jpg
    78.7 KB · Views: 2,107
  • _DSC0713.jpg
    _DSC0713.jpg
    71.8 KB · Views: 1,622
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad

Mark

Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2009
Messages
2,536
Location
Pottstown PA
I recently passed up some Snakewood. I'll need to re-think that one. I love it. Nicely Done..
 

Seer

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
Messages
1,769
Location
Glendale,Arizona
All I have heard of this wood is it will crack. I have read a hundred different ways of getting around that but no one seems to agree on much.
I like the wood and pen it is great looking.
 

PenPal

Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2006
Messages
2,708
Location
Canberra, A.C.T., Australia.
Nothing simple about the Pen, Timber and making. A real credit to you.

And for all the domesayers all lined up with the tough luck stories share someones success for a change and on that note I have success with Snakewood and testify to the degree of difficulty in both drilling turning and finishing. Reminds me of Mountain Climbing this seems to be the Mt Everest of timbers.

Regards Peter.
 

OKLAHOMAN

Member
Joined
May 17, 2006
Messages
10,228
Location
Costa Rica
Yes he makes very "Pretty Wood Pens" and his success with snake-wood is no accident, it all has to do with patience and skill, my hats off to you.
 

bitshird

Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2007
Messages
10,236
Location
Adamsville, TN, USA.
Lou, an outstanding pen, I have always admired your work, and I look at Snakewood like I do Ebony, there is no written law that says the wood must crack! If done carefully and with skill It will last a very long time, and this beauty looks like it will.
 

phillywood

Member
Joined
May 10, 2010
Messages
2,067
Location
San Antonio, TX, 78250, USA
Nothing simple about the Pen, Timber and making. A real credit to you.

And for all the domesayers all lined up with the tough luck stories share someones success for a change and on that note I have success with Snakewood and testify to the degree of difficulty in both drilling turning and finishing. Reminds me of Mountain Climbing this seems to be the Mt Everest of timbers.

Regards Peter.

:confused::confused::confused::confused::confused::confused::confused::confused::confused::confused::confused::eek::eek::rolleyes:
 

phillywood

Member
Joined
May 10, 2010
Messages
2,067
Location
San Antonio, TX, 78250, USA
Lou, Pen looks incredible. You got about 17 posts that all say they had to pass on this wood or turned it down because they had trouble. OK, you know I don' fit that bill, because I am new at this, I like kindly on behalf of all of us ask if you could write a tutorial on the method that you used to achieve success on this particular pen. Seriously, I am sure most of us got jealous it looks like. So, I'll await patiently.
 

tim self

Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2008
Messages
2,150
Location
Atoka, Oklahoma
I've got a couple snakewood blanks and now I think I must turn it. Wonderful execution and I also wanna know what you're trying to get better at? You do awesome work Lou.
 

IPD_Mrs

Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Messages
2,048
Location
Zionsville, Indiana
One of your best photographs yet.

Pen looks pretty good too. :)

Is there a prize for guessing how long it took you to turn and sand the snakewood?
 

ed4copies

Local Chapter Manager
Joined
Mar 25, 2005
Messages
24,527
Location
Racine, WI, USA.
To the newer members:

Lou has often said how he bores the pen to death, do a search and you can find his snippets.

IF he wrote a tutorial, it would emphasize patience, which others would follow, except the patience part.

Then, when THEIR pens crack, Lou would likely be chastized for an inaccurate tutorial.

AND if everybody COULD make a pen like this that would NOT crack, his pen would be less valuable. So, he would be shooting himself in the wallet.

Lou ruined a few snakewood before HE learned. You want to get the same results, follow the same path. IF you are very patient (I am NOT), you MAY succeed.

Just my opinion---of course I welcome other opinions.
 

DCBluesman

Passed Away Mar 3, 2016
In Memoriam
Joined
Aug 22, 2004
Messages
7,679
Location
WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA
Thank you for all of the more than generous comments. Each is genuinely appreciated.

Those who wonder what I'm still trying to get better at…everything. I'm trying to get the thinnest finish possible that will still last for 20 years or more. I'm still trying to get the barrel and cap shape to flow with each component of the hardware, I'm trying to pair the wood to the most attractive of our component finish choices. I'm trying to get better at insuring that my photos accurately depict the pen in person. There's a ton of things I'm still trying to get better at!

Peter – That pinstripe is a result of the wood being flat sawn rather than quarter sawn.

In terms of snakewood cracking, I'm very fortunate. I've sold around 50 snakewood pens over the past few years. I give a 3 year warranty and, knock wood, have never had one returned. I keep a few in inventory all of the time and they all survived the dry, forced air heat of the winter and our current wave of 90-degree 90 percent humidity.

As for a tutorial, I can offer a few tips.

When I selected that particular blank, I noted that it was marked 02/08. Since I acquired it in February of 2008 I am fairly certain that it had reached climatic equilibrium for my shop.

I work snakewood very slowly. As Ed so eloquently put it, I bore the wood into submission. Of course, I think most of my pens would make the same comment.

Again, thanks to each of you for viewing and commenting.
 
Top Bottom