How often does this happen to you?

[Houtkop]

Was a bit bored yesterday and decided to turn a quick pen. Selected a single barrel kit and a Wild Olive Burl blank. One of the easiest woods to turn and I love the smell. Rounded the blank and could marveled at the beauty of the wood. My first thought was it would be a pity to turn it down further and maybe lose the striking features. The thought crossed my mind to leave it as it is, the pen would have been darn difficult to write with, but it sure would have been beautiful!

 

[keithbyrd]

I agree with the beauty of the wood - but did you go ahead and turn it and what did it look like? My guess is awesome!

 

[thewishman]

Yes. Sometimes I start to turn a piece and then stop and take it off the lathe so I can look at it for a while. Later, if I don't look at it for a while (weeks or months) I'll put it back on the lathe and finish making it into a pen.

 

[JimB]

I probably would have made something else from it. It looks big enough for a bottle stopper.

 

[tomtedesco]

Beautiful wood makes beautiful pens.

 

[magpens]

Yes, Olive is a very attractive wood and fun to turn. What pen kit were you making ?

 

[Houtkop]

I wanted to do a Wallstreet pen and pencil kit, but did exactly what Chris said. Took it of the lathe, but put it where I can look at it for a while. With my sense of sight sated, I took a piece of aromatic red cedar and turned a slimline.

 

[1080Wayne]

Beautiful wood . Think I would have split the blank and made two . Even if they ended up a bit under size when fully round , clear casting over top wouldn`t change the appearance , just the smell .

 

[lyonsacc]

I had a really nice looking spalted blank. About 1mm from the final size it look really nice. Got down to final size and about 80% of the spalt markings were gone. . . . Oh well.