¿Cutting blanks from figured wood?

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underdog

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I noticed somewhere that to make a pen blank more interesting, that you should cut it on a diagonal so that the grain became more prominant.

Does this hold true for figured wood like Tiger Maple?
 
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Rifleman1776

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This is a touch-point subject. Cross and bias cut blanks can be very attractive. But, too often they will blow up on the lathe. And when they don't can be hard to turn. I don't like screwing around with things that have a high chance of creating problems. I think most woods are beautiful as they are and do very few cross/bias cut pens.
 

underdog

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heh... I don't do "rare" unless it's been given to me. I don't "buy" wood when it grows on trees...[:D] Yep. I squeak when I walk....[;)]
I also work in a cabinet shop and figured wood (around knots etc.) big enough for pens is frequently thrown away. (Every day!) I can get lots of Cherry, Maple, Alder, Poplar, Walnut, Hickory, and ocasionally Mahogany.

So no, I'm not going to be making lots of exotics anytime soon....[^]


Good answers guys. It helps me make decisions on the material I have.
 

bob393

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If the wood is free scraps than you should definatly try diagnal/bias cut blanks and turn them.
They do add a differant look to a pen.
And we should all reconfigure a blank occasionally![:D]
 
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