Black Gold & Ironwood Closed End

davinci27 · 12-14-2008, 11:45 PM

So this is my first closed end pen. It is an Ironwood and Black Gold blank from mesquite man. It's on jr Gent titanium kit and includes a custom finial. If you look closely, you will see the black gold continues up onto the finial. I'm still working on the photography, bu it is slowly getting better. Comments and Criticisms welcome

igran7 · 12-15-2008, 12:26 AM

Very nice, especially for your first closed end. That blank is outrageous!

angelofdeath · 12-15-2008, 12:45 AM

that pen is awesome looking. great job with your first closed end.

MesquiteMan · 12-15-2008, 01:12 AM

Nice job, Ben. Just to be clear, though, that is not Ironwood as most think of it. It is what I call Hill Country Ironwood and is not related to Desert Ironwood that most think of with the name. Hill Country Ironwood is also know as Bluewood Condalia, Edwards Bluewood, Edwards Plateau Capul Negro, Edwards' Bluewood, and Brasil. I used the name Hill Country Ironwood because it comes from the Texas Hill Country and is what the local ranchers refer to as simply Ironwood. It is also harder than woodpecker lips and has a specifil gravity greater than 1, meaning it will not float. Here is more info on it if you are interested: http://uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium/coho.htm

davinci27 · 12-15-2008, 07:46 AM

I remember seeing in the original post that it wasn't desert ironwood. I didn't even think about it. I know Ipe is sometimes called brazillian ironwood, so I just assumed this was a similar situation. I will say l love the tone of this wood. It's a very deep brown once it's finished. and I think the titanium kit matches the blackgold pretty well.

As for the hardness, you are right it was pretty tough. I think Elmostro's Pecan root has it beat though. I only had to stop to sharpen once on the hillside Ironwood, it took three sharpenings to make it through the pecan root.

Ben

MesquiteMan · 12-15-2008, 08:46 AM

Ben, basically any wood that has a specific gravity of greater than 1 is an ironwood.

akbar24601 · 12-15-2008, 09:31 AM

Very nice! Good job on the closed end.

PaulDoug · 12-15-2008, 09:59 AM

Well, why float a pen anyway!?! Beautiful job putting that pen together. I'd like to see more pictures of it.

CSue · 12-15-2008, 02:24 PM

Ben, that is one beautiful pen! And I like your idea about the mandrel and shims. (Can I say that here?)

Very nice work!

toolcrazy · 12-15-2008, 10:59 PM

Very, very nice pen.

12-14-2008, 11:45 PM	#1
davinci27 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Franklin, GA Posts: 495 Photos: 9	Black Gold & Hillside Ironwood Closed End So this is my first closed end pen. It is an Ironwood and Black Gold blank from mesquite man. It's on jr Gent titanium kit and includes a custom finial. If you look closely, you will see the black gold continues up onto the finial. I'm still working on the photography, bu it is slowly getting better. Comments and Criticisms welcome Attached Thumbnails __________________ Ben Franklin, GA www.artturned.com - Coming not quite so soon "I've read about the bog people before, but I'm not sure they would make very good pens." Last edited by davinci27; 12-15-2008 at 07:59 AM.

12-15-2008, 12:26 AM	#2
igran7 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Clackamas, Oregon, USA. Posts: 1,067 Photos: 230	Very nice, especially for your first closed end. That blank is outrageous! __________________ Joe Clackamas, OR. www.emeraldpens.com If you think you can...Or you think you can't...Your'e Right.

12-15-2008, 01:12 AM	#4
MesquiteMan Head Moderator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Marcos, TX, USA. Posts: 2,647 Photos: 17	Nice job, Ben. Just to be clear, though, that is not Ironwood as most think of it. It is what I call Hill Country Ironwood and is not related to Desert Ironwood that most think of with the name. Hill Country Ironwood is also know as Bluewood Condalia, Edwards Bluewood, Edwards Plateau Capul Negro, Edwards' Bluewood, and Brasil. I used the name Hill Country Ironwood because it comes from the Texas Hill Country and is what the local ranchers refer to as simply Ironwood. It is also harder than woodpecker lips and has a specifil gravity greater than 1, meaning it will not float. Here is more info on it if you are interested: http://uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium/coho.htm __________________ Curtis O. Seebeck www.TurnTex.com "Original Cactus Blank"™ and "Texas Hybrid"™ blanks Official IAP Pressure Pot Tester!

12-15-2008, 07:46 AM	#5
davinci27 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Franklin, GA Posts: 495 Photos: 9	I remember seeing in the original post that it wasn't desert ironwood. I didn't even think about it. I know Ipe is sometimes called brazillian ironwood, so I just assumed this was a similar situation. I will say l love the tone of this wood. It's a very deep brown once it's finished. and I think the titanium kit matches the blackgold pretty well. As for the hardness, you are right it was pretty tough. I think Elmostro's Pecan root has it beat though. I only had to stop to sharpen once on the hillside Ironwood, it took three sharpenings to make it through the pecan root. Ben __________________ Ben Franklin, GA www.artturned.com - Coming not quite so soon "I've read about the bog people before, but I'm not sure they would make very good pens."

12-15-2008, 08:46 AM	#6
MesquiteMan Head Moderator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Marcos, TX, USA. Posts: 2,647 Photos: 17	Ben, basically any wood that has a specific gravity of greater than 1 is an ironwood. __________________ Curtis O. Seebeck www.TurnTex.com "Original Cactus Blank"™ and "Texas Hybrid"™ blanks Official IAP Pressure Pot Tester!

12-15-2008, 12:45 AM	#3
angelofdeath Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lebanon, IL Posts: 478 Photos: 0	that pen is awesome looking. great job with your first closed end.

12-15-2008, 09:31 AM	#7
akbar24601 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 780 Photos: 67	Very nice! Good job on the closed end. __________________ ~Steve Scottsdale, AZ http://www.penartistry.com http://twitter.com/PenArtistry *No matter which way you turn, you are always learning something new...*

12-15-2008, 09:59 AM	#8
PaulDoug Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Benton City, WA. Posts: 1,974 Photos: 3	Well, why float a pen anyway!?! Beautiful job putting that pen together. I'd like to see more pictures of it. __________________ Paul Benton City, WA

12-15-2008, 02:24 PM	#9
CSue Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Riverside, CA, USA. Posts: 2,023 Photos: 13	Ben, that is one beautiful pen! And I like your idea about the mandrel and shims. (Can I say that here?) Very nice work! __________________ Cathy Sue Never say 'die!'

12-15-2008, 10:59 PM	#10
toolcrazy Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Port Orchard, WA Posts: 4,970 Photos: 6	Very, very nice pen. __________________ Steve - Port Orchard, Washington TFW Web Services - Web site hosting and Domain Names. Wood Craftsmen Online, come join us. TFW Designs - Handmade Pens.

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