robutacion
Member
Australian Fleureau Peninsula pen blanks! the beginning of the story!
Hi everyone,
Some members here may already know me from other forums, mainly the Aussie and Canada ones, and some may have never heard of me, so here it goes a "squeezed" version of my story. (a little bit more info in on the Introduction thread).
Timber addicted by nature, with a problem with timber wastage so since early retired 5 year ago, due to spinal injury deteriorating with age ware and tare, I started woodturning with a $90 GMC wood lathe gluing bits of boards together to have big enough timber to turn. Got myself a small chainsaw and start going around town looking for people with tree branches that need cutting, no charge for the service in return for the wood (cleaning the mess, also). My wife as a helper, we would come home with some turning wood and some firewood also, but with word of mouth and the price charged, in no time we were gathering lots of timber. Bigger and better chainsaws, pole-saws, better safety gear and a good trailer, did made us busy every time I was feeling well enough to walk around. The 2 sheds at the house got full, and I had to rent a small open and empty paddock near the house to store more wood. I've turn bowls and more bowls, plates, platters, vases, for days on end, but the timber coming in was more than what I could use so I start selling some blanks. Recently I got involved with pen making and I started to enjoy immensely the process of making the pen blanks from the 30 timber species that I have all from around here. I particularly liked the fact that for the first time I could make use of those nice small pieces of wood that are very much useless for the type turnings I was doing before, so I started to introduce these timbers and these blanks to anyone interested, as most of my woods are native to Australia and not found commercially anywhere.
I started also to make pens, one every 2 weeks or so and I like to turn then as I also continue to turn other stuff as before, but the cutting of my timbers into pen blanks has become the most enjoyable and easy for me to handle now that my legs are letting me down. The timber gathering has been slow and I believe is coming to an end soon, as I just can't handle it anymore. I have a few olive trees and some other small stuff to get this year, as it was arranged last year, but I reckon that is going to be it for me, so I will concentrate in use what I have stored, and I tell you, I have plenty...!
So, I have plenty of timber to work with and plenty that I care share with others for a very reasonable price, to recover my costs from these last few years collecting it and now processing it, plus a little bit for pocket money.
I have made a list with all the timber species I have, and each one has a number, that number is what identify the species at any time, and is the number that is imprinted on each and everyone of the blanks. The blanks are waxed on each end (end grain) are are cut now at 21mm square x 130mm long. Most of the timber cut with the grain have also available longer (double) pen blanks 21mm x 10" for those that need a perfect match for the double sets. Other pen blanks sizes are also available upon request.
For those that are unfamiliar with these Aussie species (or most of them) the 27 mix pen blanks pack at AU$35 + freight, is most recommended as there are 27 blanks of the 30 possible species guaranteed on that pack, giving a good selection of what is available. After tested and used, the choice of the preferred blanks species is a lot easier, and can then be supplied in any quantities you want (condition apply!), the blanks prices vary between AU$1 and AU$2 max. each. Special discounts on quantity are a norm, and free-bees a good possibility:biggrin:
Any purchases can me made directly, just by contacting me by email, or can be made through my Australian eBay store. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime!
I'm attaching the timber species list for easy consultation and printing, as also the 27 mix pen blanks pack in semi-turned samples and pack pics.
I will provide more info as we go, but remember the first place were I normally put new pen blanks is on the eBay store, so use it as a reference if need be.
All the contacts details or places mentioned above are provide as links on my signature bellow.
Thank you,
Cheers
George
Hi everyone,
Some members here may already know me from other forums, mainly the Aussie and Canada ones, and some may have never heard of me, so here it goes a "squeezed" version of my story. (a little bit more info in on the Introduction thread).
Timber addicted by nature, with a problem with timber wastage so since early retired 5 year ago, due to spinal injury deteriorating with age ware and tare, I started woodturning with a $90 GMC wood lathe gluing bits of boards together to have big enough timber to turn. Got myself a small chainsaw and start going around town looking for people with tree branches that need cutting, no charge for the service in return for the wood (cleaning the mess, also). My wife as a helper, we would come home with some turning wood and some firewood also, but with word of mouth and the price charged, in no time we were gathering lots of timber. Bigger and better chainsaws, pole-saws, better safety gear and a good trailer, did made us busy every time I was feeling well enough to walk around. The 2 sheds at the house got full, and I had to rent a small open and empty paddock near the house to store more wood. I've turn bowls and more bowls, plates, platters, vases, for days on end, but the timber coming in was more than what I could use so I start selling some blanks. Recently I got involved with pen making and I started to enjoy immensely the process of making the pen blanks from the 30 timber species that I have all from around here. I particularly liked the fact that for the first time I could make use of those nice small pieces of wood that are very much useless for the type turnings I was doing before, so I started to introduce these timbers and these blanks to anyone interested, as most of my woods are native to Australia and not found commercially anywhere.
I started also to make pens, one every 2 weeks or so and I like to turn then as I also continue to turn other stuff as before, but the cutting of my timbers into pen blanks has become the most enjoyable and easy for me to handle now that my legs are letting me down. The timber gathering has been slow and I believe is coming to an end soon, as I just can't handle it anymore. I have a few olive trees and some other small stuff to get this year, as it was arranged last year, but I reckon that is going to be it for me, so I will concentrate in use what I have stored, and I tell you, I have plenty...!
So, I have plenty of timber to work with and plenty that I care share with others for a very reasonable price, to recover my costs from these last few years collecting it and now processing it, plus a little bit for pocket money.
I have made a list with all the timber species I have, and each one has a number, that number is what identify the species at any time, and is the number that is imprinted on each and everyone of the blanks. The blanks are waxed on each end (end grain) are are cut now at 21mm square x 130mm long. Most of the timber cut with the grain have also available longer (double) pen blanks 21mm x 10" for those that need a perfect match for the double sets. Other pen blanks sizes are also available upon request.
For those that are unfamiliar with these Aussie species (or most of them) the 27 mix pen blanks pack at AU$35 + freight, is most recommended as there are 27 blanks of the 30 possible species guaranteed on that pack, giving a good selection of what is available. After tested and used, the choice of the preferred blanks species is a lot easier, and can then be supplied in any quantities you want (condition apply!), the blanks prices vary between AU$1 and AU$2 max. each. Special discounts on quantity are a norm, and free-bees a good possibility:biggrin:
Any purchases can me made directly, just by contacting me by email, or can be made through my Australian eBay store. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime!
I'm attaching the timber species list for easy consultation and printing, as also the 27 mix pen blanks pack in semi-turned samples and pack pics.
I will provide more info as we go, but remember the first place were I normally put new pen blanks is on the eBay store, so use it as a reference if need be.
All the contacts details or places mentioned above are provide as links on my signature bellow.
Thank you,
Cheers
George
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