Enviromental Blanks

[darrin1200]

I have been thinking of an enviromentally friendly blank, to make a "Green" pen.

Has anyone tried the "Environ blank" from CSUSA. It is made of recycled newprint and soyabean bi-products.

How do they look when turned?
Any special finishing requirements?
Do customers find them attractive?

Does anyone have any other suggestions for recycled material blanks?

Thanks all.
Darrin

 

[Russianwolf]

there is Dakota Burl which is made of Sunflower shells. And half a dozen others that are either recycled wood (some laminates and some similar to OSB).

I honestly have never cared for the look of any of them myself. The laminated wood ones being the least "offensive"

You have to remember, that to be truly green, it needs to be made using a process that doesn't hurt the environment. Some of the adhesives/resins used to make them don't really fall under that category very often.

Your best bet for a truly green pen, in my opinion, would be antler sheds. The deer drop them every year without any harm to them, and they do make gorgeous pens.

 

[ironman]

well the people that care if you go green or not probably will think that you killed the deer because they usually dont know they shed them. and the environ blanks are something most the city folk that they know like newspaper and soy beans so i would go with the environ blanks and the turning and finishing is fine.

 

[Gulfcoast]

Darrin ---

--- here's a newspaper and soy I did a while ago ---

Joe

 

[Mark]

I just cut a couple of Bamboo blanks, so I don't have anything to show you. It's considered a green product, due to the renewable resource. I'm told that the Teregran Bamboo I'm using also qualifies for LEEDs as far as the adhesives used. Non toxic, bio-degradable, etc.

Maybe something to consider.

 

[Glass Scratcher]

I just cut a couple of Bamboo blanks, so I don't have anything to show you. It's considered a green product, due to the renewable resource. I'm told that the Teregran Bamboo I'm using also qualifies for LEEDs as far as the adhesives used. Non toxic, bio-degradable, etc.

Maybe something to consider.

At what point does the adhesive begin to degrade?

 

[Mark]

At what point does the adhesive begin to degrade?

I don't know. I suppose when soaked in water...:biggrin:

 

[Chasper]

Environ makes a nice pen. I finish them with CA, which is something of an oxymoron in and of itself (plastic over recycycled materials). They can be buffed to a nice finish but they seem to dull out over time.

They aren't fast selling for me, but occasionally a strongly green oriented buyer comes along and loves them.

Dakota burl also makes an interesting pen that sells to those with a passion for green.

 

[darrin1200]

Thank you all for your quick replies.

CSUSA is closing out these blanks ($2 each), so I was debating quantities. Thanks to all your info I just ordered 5 of each and 5 Dakota blanks. I will make one of each blank and save the rest for on demand. I am also going to try corn cobs.

Darrin

 

[Rfturner]

Darrin ---

--- here's a newspaper and soy I did a while ago ---

Joe

I would use that Blank but not for the enviormental factor, i would use it because it is one of the best looking camo blanks I have seen I have ever seen

 

[dl351]

Forgive me if I'm just ignorant, but what's wrong with using wood? It grows back. I've had these "discussions" with friends about cutting down trees, and we just don't see eye to eye. I just hear these sob stories about deforesting America. My response is that I've lived in Washington state and seen areas that were "deforested" years ago. Do you know what's there now? More trees. I just don't understand this kick for renewable resources, but when a tree is cut down to be used (another tree can very well grow in its place), they throw a fit. Maybe Tru-stone is better because it doesn't kill trees. It's just rock, which will grow back. Right?

Sorry if I seem a little "enthusiastic" about the subject. I live on the coast of California and hear all sorts of opinions that I don't quite agree with.

 

[Russianwolf]

Forgive me if I'm just ignorant, but what's wrong with using wood? It grows back. I've had these "discussions" with friends about cutting down trees, and we just don't see eye to eye. I just hear these sob stories about deforesting America. My response is that I've lived in Washington state and seen areas that were "deforested" years ago. Do you know what's there now? More trees. I just don't understand this kick for renewable resources, but when a tree is cut down to be used (another tree can very well grow in its place), they throw a fit. Maybe Tru-stone is better because it doesn't kill trees. It's just rock, which will grow back. Right?

Sorry if I seem a little "enthusiastic" about the subject. I live on the coast of California and hear all sorts of opinions that I don't quite agree with.

Some trees grow faster than others. The Pacific Northwest if memory serves is mostly softwood forest. Softwoods grow very quickly compared to Hardwoods in general and exceptionally fast compared to some specific varieties (Rosewoods, etc.). Add to that the over cutting of specific species (with higher market values) again and you find why some countries are now restricting or banning exports of some woods.

Yes, wood is a renewable resource, but it has limits and some species can be cut into extinction if not managed responsibly. Not to mention things like Dutch Elm Disease helping out the process.

 

[darrin1200]

Forgive me if I'm just ignorant, but what's wrong with using wood? It grows back. I've had these "discussions" with friends about cutting down trees, and we just don't see eye to eye. I just hear these sob stories about deforesting America. My response is that I've lived in Washington state and seen areas that were "deforested" years ago. Do you know what's there now? More trees. I just don't understand this kick for renewable resources, but when a tree is cut down to be used (another tree can very well grow in its place), they throw a fit. Maybe Tru-stone is better because it doesn't kill trees. It's just rock, which will grow back. Right?

Sorry if I seem a little "enthusiastic" about the subject. I live on the coast of California and hear all sorts of opinions that I don't quite agree with.

I understand, I too get a little jaded with all the bu$&%@.

The trees I am more concerned with is from countries that clear cut hectares for developement or use that do not get replanted. I believe that here in North America, we are much more proactive in keeping it a renewable source.

As for the recycling, any less junk in the landfill is a good thing. Although I do realize that the packaging that surrounds my recycled blank purchase and sale seems self defeating, the object of the game is awareness. Also, I plan to sell the recycled pens with minimal or no packaging.

Darrin

 

[dl351]

I understand you all here. Basically, we need to sensibly regulate, which I have no problem with. It's people like some of my friends out here that say things like "Americans cut down too many trees," that get to me. They just make comments like that which they think apply across the board. What the heck should we make houses out of?! We need wood, and most woods used here in the states (for construction and large projects) are not rare slow growing hardwoods. For those like us here on this forum, we mostly seem to be willing to pay the premium for rare and protected woods, which is fine with me. Regulate it and price accordingly. Don't get all extreme and ban logging all together. There is a happy medium.

On a more appropriately related note, if these enviro blanks are on close out, I may have to try a couple, just to see what they look like.

 

[MesquiteMan]

Like someone else said, why not just use wood? Especially wood that is salvaged heading for the chipper, burn pile, or landfill? Every blank I make and sell uses salvaged wood. I have never cut down a tree just for the wood in it. I am not opposed to cutting trees, I just prefer to recycle the stuff that is going to be wasted.

Heck, I am a custom home. I make my living by butchering trees! I am a very sustainable (green) builder, though, and those of us in the sustainable building field prefer wood most of the time since it is a renewable resource, just like planing and harvesting corn!

 

[toddlajoie]

Yep, I had some friends who liked my pens, but asked about the "green" aspect of them, so I headed out to the woods behind my house, and found a tree that fell a few years ago in a storm and was sitting there rotting. Cut, cut, cut, dry, dry, turn, turn. Presto:

Another option is olivewood, applewood or grapewood, or others, all of which must be trimmed every year to keep their production levels up. I know some (not all) olivewood comes with certificates that state this...

 

[dl351]

Now that I think of it, there's a place near where I go to school (college) that specializes in selling salvaged/reclaimed wood. Not all of it is necessarily the most attractive wood, but some of it still looks pretty nice.

 

[RussFairfield]

The only true environmentalist is the one running through the woods naked and living off of bark and huckleberriues.

Everyone else is a phoney. The animal lovers wear shoes made of leather. The tree huggers live in houses made of wood. The global warming crowd drives SUVs that get 10 miles to the gallon of gasoline.

A tree had to be cut down to make that paper in the pen blanks that were asked about.

 

[Russianwolf]

well the people that care if you go green or not probably will think that you killed the deer because they usually dont know they shed them. and the environ blanks are something most the city folk that they know like newspaper and soy beans so i would go with the environ blanks and the turning and finishing is fine.

Then it's your job to edu-ma-cate them. :tongue:

As Russ points out above, Newspaper, even recycled newspaper, came from a tree at some point.

 

[Russianwolf]

The only true environmentalist is the one running through the woods naked and living off of bark and huckleberriues.
.

Why do they have to be naked there Russ? Hemp cloth and Silk have been around for a long time. Cotton and Wool are renewable too. Heck they are even making Bamboo cloth now.

 

[Chasper]

I agree that wood is the most environmentally friendly material, especially highly figured, scrap, spalted, historic and other types of wood that are often used for pens and would normally be scrapped. They are certainly more friendly than trash or waste material that has been mixed with a chemical binder and put under high pressure from and electrical powered press.

However, for me the point is to sell pens. If a potential buyer is enamored with the fact that the pen is made out of waste materials and that no trees were cut down to make it, I'm not going to get into a discussion with them about the minimal environmental impact of a pen made from wood.

 

[juteck]

Since you're considering the enviro blanks, a manufactured blank, other resin impregnated / stabilized blanks should also fit your requirements.

Stabilized corn cob blanks?
Cactus + resin ?

 

[workinforwood]

I am not an environmentalist by any means, but I have to ask what is so environmentally friendly about the enviro blanks? Recycled newsprint makes it green? Is it just because it is recycled that makes it green? How much resin or glue is in that blank, and how much electricity was required to smash it all together? How did the newsprint even get sorted and then moved to the place that made the blank?

How much energy and carbon output does a man use that just walks into his own back yard and picks up a tree branch that was blown down by the wind and then spins that into a pen?

Do environmentalist people think to the future before they come up with their environmental agendas? Anyone remember why we couldn't use paper bags and had to use plastic instead because plastic was better for the environment? Is the word "logic" still in the dictionary?

 

[DennisM]

Its all about balance. Period.

What will save one area will destroy another. Ying and Yang.

I just have a little sign that says no Puppies were harmed in the making of these pens. Seems to cover most...

 

[dl351]

I'm still waiting for someone to cast some fallen feathers of a Spotted Owl!