Am I wierd?

[zapdafish]

I get more enjoyment turning the blanks and seeing the grain or pattern pop during the final stages of micro mesh polishing than actually putting them into pen kits. :tongue:

I am planning on making some decaled wall street II pens to give out at work and it's been alot of fun trying different types of wood to see what the final result is with a decal on it. Maybe because I am so new to pen turning and am seeing these beautiful swirls and grains for the first time. :redface:

So far I have made 3 pens out of about 15 blanks of various woods and acrylics.

Super curly hickory and lignum vitae have been my favorites.

 

[Rangertrek]

NO, not weird, its always nice to see what is on the inside of the blanks. I appreciate seeing the grain come out while finishing. My favorites are desert iron wood, amboyna, curly koa, etc. The finished pen is still the best part! The acrylics also surprise me with what waits inside.

 

[thewishman]

I've got some wood that I keep around, just because it is pretty. There are so many beautiful things - wait 'til you start turning burls.

Soon, you may find that making the parts into pens will make it much easier to show them off to other people. When a person has to use a pen, it might as well be something nice.

 

[bensoelberg]

No, you're not weird at all, you're just a turner! Have you made any turned boxes or bowls yet? If you are enjoying turning pen barrels, you absolutely love turning other things as well.

 

[zapdafish]

so far about 6-7 bowls. last 2 were segmented. I am liking that more than turning a chunk since I don't have to turn, wait for it to dry then work at it again.

 

[Drstrangefart]

Nothing wierd going on there. I have a mountain of stuff I intend to make a pen out of just to see what it looks like on the inside.

 

[scroller99]

You never know what you'll find in that nasty looking piece of wood and if the pen doesn't thrill me I turn it off the tubes and try it again.

 

[BSea]

Your not weird at all. I've turned several blanks round. Sometimes I do it to see what's inside. Other times I do it just because I can't decide what to make, and I have to make them round anyway. It beats sitting in front of the tube. . . . . . . . . ummm . . . . . Does anybody have a tube anymore? I should say "It beats sitting in front of the screen.

And speaking of that, the 2nd half is about to start.

 

[crabcreekind]

lignum vitae used to be my fav turning wood too!

 

[rizaydog]

Absolutely not weird. Or, at least no more weirder then the rest of us:bulgy-eyes:
That is usually how everyone feels.

 

[rkimery]

I'm sort of new and a self taught pen turner turner. I have made pens from 92 different woods thus far, a whole bunch of different acrylics and Corian or other solid surface types of materials. I still get that kick of seeing the grain of the finished woods, or pattern inside acrylics or what the solid surface materials might bare. If you can see, in your mind's eye, this pattern or grain beforehand.... the pen kit "ornamentation" just makes that grain or pattern "Pop" some more!