Blank Numbering System

[NavyDiver]

We now have over 20 different types of blanks (which I know is small compared to some of you ) and are trying to get better organized. When we order blanks, they frequently come numbered. Is there a standard numbering system for the different woods or does everyone create their own? Thanks.

 

[Randy_]

With the blanks I have those numbers are unique to the seller. They are assigned by the seller and are not the same from seller to seller unless you buy blanks from a seller and one of his resellers. I think most people just write the type of wood on the blank with a pencil or a felt tip pen. I have always been worried that felt tip ink would soak in so far that the writing would show up in the finished blank; but that has not been a problem so far.

BTW, I have a stock of probably 200 blanks and consider myself a small-timer. You should see the stashes that some of these guys have!![]

 

[wood-of-1kind]

I use a steel puch set to identify the different species that I've collected so far. A mere 154 different woods and slowly approaching 3,000 blanks. So much wood and so little time.

-Peter-[]

 

[ctEaglesc]

I just try to keep a good supply of walnut, mahogany, maple and cherry.
The exotics for accents are pretty easy to identify.
The news paper I store by Days. I keep the mondays and Tuesdays together they are small. The sundays are larger and they get a stack of their own.
I keep my one acrylic blank under my pillow.
Now the names of the deceased deer whose antler I have that's another story.
Let me see there's Rudolph, and Donner...[]

 

[TBone]

I started out printing labels on the pc and putting them on the blanks, but the blanks started accumulating faster than I could make labels [] I think it has something to do with those two forums with classified at the end. I thing I do now that I really like is put initials on the end of the blank so I can tell at a glance when they are stacked.

 

[mrcook4570]

I usually just try to keep all wood of a given species together. As you work with them more and more, they become easier to identify. When I label blanks, I use a sharpie and have never had any problems with it, although it could present a problem with a small blank of porous wood. I have received blanks that were labeled with a white-out pen. That works very well.

 

[keithz]

As I accumulate blanks, I just write the species on them with a sharpie. It's quick and easy to keep up with the quantity.

Maybe later on, when I accumulate so many that I have to shelve them, I'll come up with a code to use on the ends of the blank.

 

[TellicoTurning]

When I have multiples of any blank, I keep a roll of masking tape handy and run a strip around them then write the wood on the tape... trying to avoid felt tips on the wood.. haven't had any problems, but being cautious.. sometimes I'll cut a strip of paper and write on it, then use rubber band around..

 

[TomJ]

I use a sharpie on all my pen blanks. I use pencil on vaneers to be cautious.

TomJ

 

[loglugger]

I suggest that you don’t use rubber bands. I have a big box that started out with blanks bundled with rubber bands and the rubber desegregated, now I have a big box of loose blanks that can be any number of woods. I like the masking tape idea.
Bob

 

[Rifleman1776]

I write the species on every blank. White paint pencil on dark stuff and shop pencil on light.

 

[Dario]

I have a bin for each wood specie (blanks here are not individually labelled). I label each blank that is NOT in their own bin. I use sharpie on most and use whiteout only when necessary.

 

[TellicoTurning]

Bob,
you are right about the rubber bands.. when I moved from Texas I packed a bunch of blanks all bundled nice and neat with rubber bands.. we packed my shop about 4 weeks in advance of the move..(our first buyer fell out of his financing).. the boxes sat in my shop in August heat... advantage was they were tightly packed.