Hi there! I'm just starting out in the world of pen turning and purchased a pack of 12 blanks. I know there's probably nothing in there that's too special since I only paid $10.00 for all 12 blanks but I'd like to know what types of wood these blanks are cut from since the package didn't have any information. If you could help me out, I'd really appreciate it! Thank you so much for your time!
Can you tell me what wood these blanks are made from?
- Thread starter bigthin13
- Start date
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ed4copies
Local Chapter Manager
4 is purpleheart, 9 likely walnut 5 likely paduak 6 likely yellowheart
guess 1 maple
guess 12 holly
guess 1 maple
guess 12 holly
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Fred Bruche
Member
10 looks same as 1, looks like maple (maybe one has some figure on faces not shown, like curls?).
8 looks like sapele, 11 might be as well.
8 looks like sapele, 11 might be as well.
Charlie_W
Member
I'm wondering if #10 is cherry.
1080Wayne
Member
Agree with Ed on 1, 4, 5, 9 and 12 , Mal on 3 , Charlie on 10 . Note the liklies and maybes . Padouk , walnut and sapele all have different but distinctive fairly strong smells when sanded . Is 12 a little bit blue/gray or is that a lighting or camera angle effect ?
That leaves 2 and 7 for me to guess at , and as usual I haven`t a clue .
That leaves 2 and 7 for me to guess at , and as usual I haven`t a clue .
leehljp
Member Liaison
7 looks like ash. (baseball bat ash) 12 looks like holly. 1 & 10 look like maple. the lighting affects the colors further out from the center. 3 "reminds" me of some hairy oak that I have but the grain is a bit closer on that blank.
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1080Wayne
Member
Hank probably correct on 7 . One of the best ways to distinguish between woods is their end grain appearance . It is a bit more basic to a tree than skin colour because it shows their internal structure . Sand an end on each to at least 220 grit and give us another picture . (No need to do 4 - we are positive about that one .)
Another important wood characteristic is density . Which ones are significantly heavier or lighter than the average of those you have ?
Another important wood characteristic is density . Which ones are significantly heavier or lighter than the average of those you have ?
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12 is the white-ist out of all of them so it must have just been the camera :-/
Number 1 has darker rings on the end and they're pretty close together whereas number 10 has faint rings that are almost a yellowish color and they're a lot farther apart that 1. I tried taking a picture but the flash makes some of the middle ones look totally white and for the life of me, I can't get a good shot that shows them all.
jttheclockman
Member
I would like to make a couple suggestions being it looks like you are just getting into this. When ever buying pen blanks no matter who they are from weather it is someone here or a vendor. Make sure you ask them to label the blanks or do not buy them. Way too many people selling blanks on the market today. If they can not bother to label not worth buying from. Or else you end up like this guessing. Some are obvious but others can be many different varieties.
Other thing is take the photos outside in natural light not sunlight. It will give you the best chance of telling. An angle like you last photos is best because it gives us a look at the end grain and flat grain at the same time.
Now these are just suggestions so do not shoot the messenger.
I believe 3-lacewood
4-purpleheart
5-padauk
6-yellowheart
7-white oak or ash
9-walnut
11-bloodwood (todays version of it being sold)
educated guess #1 maple, #10-cherry, #12-holly
If you could seperate those and have the rest group to get a better look
Other thing is take the photos outside in natural light not sunlight. It will give you the best chance of telling. An angle like you last photos is best because it gives us a look at the end grain and flat grain at the same time.
Now these are just suggestions so do not shoot the messenger.
I believe 3-lacewood
4-purpleheart
5-padauk
6-yellowheart
7-white oak or ash
9-walnut
11-bloodwood (todays version of it being sold)
educated guess #1 maple, #10-cherry, #12-holly
If you could seperate those and have the rest group to get a better look
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1080Wayne
Member
Well , 12 is definitely holly , 3 most likely Brazilian lacewood but could be leopardwood . Distance apart between growth rings largely a function of available moisture and soil fertility . Both maples and cherry can vary widely in that respect . Relative hardness of the two to your thumbnail ?
John`s advice on labeling and photography is excellent . Does raise a question though . Have you asked the person or store you bought them from what they are ?
John`s advice on labeling and photography is excellent . Does raise a question though . Have you asked the person or store you bought them from what they are ?
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robutacion
Member
west aussi
Member
#3 looks like silky oak ( grevillea robusta )