German/European Woods

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Sprung

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Jul 1, 2014
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I have a friend (who is college and grad school classmate of mine) who has asked me to make a fountain pen for him. In talking wood choices, he admits that he knows nothing about wood - but since he loves all things German, would love it to be a wood from Germany. He also stated he likes darker woods, especially if they have a reddish hue/color to them.

I know nothing about European woods - and they aren't even really represented in my small, but growing stash of wood. I do know that some of the species of woods we have here are also found in Europe in some form.

Any ideas to consider for a darker German or European wood? Especially something nicely figured, like a burl? I could probably get him to go with a lighter wood if it was a piece of wood that had some good historical significance.

Or should I tell him to suck it up and choose something else? (We go back long enough that I don't have to use kid gloves when communicating with him, lol!) He did seem to like the Amboyna Burl pen I showed him a picture of.

I haven't made any promises yet in regards to the wood selection for his pen, but I do want it to be nice - this is going on a nice fountain pen that will see frequent use.
 
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stevecas2000

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Wychelm

Hi

Long time lurker, first time poster.

If you're after something darker, I'd suggets Wych elm. Burrs are pretty easy to get hold of and a blank can go from a greyish colour, right through to red-ish brown (well, more brown than red - but it's pretty nice).

The only problem you have with wych elm is that the burr will (most likely) have a number of cracks that need filling - but this does give you a chance to do something creative.
 

Sprung

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Thanks for the input, everyone! I'll check out Ebay.uk (and maybe even use my very rusty and poor German and peruse Ebay.de) and see what I can find - but it seems like it's a request that I am unlikely to be able to fulfill. I have presented him with other wood options I have available, so I'll have to wait and see what he says.
 

Ed McDonnell

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You could consider turning it out of oak and then ebonizing the finished oak pen barrels to give the dark medieval look you see in a lot of German wood scuptures in churches and such.

Ed
 

monophoto

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Peter Freitag is a German woodturner who has a YouTube channel and occasionally does pens.

You might contact him for suggestions. I suspect he would appreciate being asked. You can reach him via his Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/tgif1608 or his web site, EN.

I believe that beech is relatively common in Germany. That might be something to consider.
 

NittanyLion

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State College PA
I made a pen out of English Pippy Yew for my boss, who is from the big Island. It is dang hard to find though, I got it in a trade from someone on here. It was full of eyes and still one of my favorites I've ever done.
 

mark james

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Thanks for the input, everyone! I'll check out Ebay.uk (and maybe even use my very rusty and poor German and peruse Ebay.de) and see what I can find - but it seems like it's a request that I am unlikely to be able to fulfill. I have presented him with other wood options I have available, so I'll have to wait and see what he says.

Don't be so pessimistic!!!

How would a pair of 800 year old Medium Black Bog Oak from Bremen Germany do???

... At one of the first Ohio Chapter IAP meetings at Hartville lumber - early last year probably, an older fellow came just for a visit, not an IAP member. He had turned only a few pens, but was an accomplished woodworker I believe.

He and I were the first at the meeting, so I welcomed him and struck up a conversation. He had a strong German accent and when I repeated his name he commented that I had pronounced his name perfectly (Rolf). I confessed that most of my Mom's family came from Germany after the WWII.

I gave him a pen, and we exchanged e-mails. I also sent him a Christmas Ornament (yea, another Bird House :tongue:), and in return he sent me 4, 800 year old bog blanks that a relative had sent him.

PM me your address, and HAVE FUN!
 

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turncrazy43

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This thread is really what this forum is all about. Sprung had a very specific need Mark was able to provide him with exactly what he was searching for. That was really great and why we all keep coming back. Great job Mark!
____________________________________________________
Everyday I'm vertical is a great day
 

Sprung

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Thank you, everyone, for the help, suggestions, and advice!

And thank you especially to Mark for his most generous offer!

After some more e-mail exchanges with my friend, he decided on a real nice piece of Cherry Burl that I have for his pen - even with an offer of Bog Oak certifiably from Germany on the table. :rolleyes:

Again - thank you, everyone! :)
 

mark james

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Thank you, everyone, for the help, suggestions, and advice!

And thank you especially to Mark for his most generous offer!

After some more e-mail exchanges with my friend, he decided on a real nice piece of Cherry Burl that I have for his pen - even with an offer of Bog Oak certifiably from Germany on the table. :rolleyes:

Again - thank you, everyone! :)

Sounds like a nice resolution! If anything changes, just let me know if I can
help!

Have FUN!
 

robutacion

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Well, I don't speak German but, I went to eBay.de and typpped this (got it from a web translater) "Holzarbeiten-Rohlinge" and I got this,

Holzarbeiten-Rohlinge | eBay

Not a lot of choices so, I would suggest to find to most common native wood species to Germany and then find some from the many vendors, everywhere...!

If you were looking for very Aussie woods, I could help you...!

Good luck,

Cheers
George
 
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