Given that there are tons of different materials out there for making pen blanks. What is your favorite. Now I am partial to wood and there are some I like more than others but generally I like all woods. I don't want a lot of detail just the basic material you enjoy the most.
Blank Materials
- Thread starter Smitty37
- Start date
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Burls.
CaptainJane
Member
Newbie blank likes
I am pretty new at this - but I gravitate towards the bright colors and variety of "acrylics". Maybe as I gain experience, I will get sophisticated enough to appreciate the wonders and subtle nuances of wood blanks. Also ,since I am giving all my pens away at this point, I notice that the wood pens are generally passed over in favor of the brighter acrylics.
I am pretty new at this - but I gravitate towards the bright colors and variety of "acrylics". Maybe as I gain experience, I will get sophisticated enough to appreciate the wonders and subtle nuances of wood blanks. Also ,since I am giving all my pens away at this point, I notice that the wood pens are generally passed over in favor of the brighter acrylics.
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Cwalker935
Member
I like turning everything, but my order of preference is:
1. Wood
2. Fusion/worthless wood
3 Acrylics
1. Wood
2. Fusion/worthless wood
3 Acrylics
Cmiles1985
Member
I love revealing what a highly figured burl is hiding. Unfortunately, burls do not sell well in my area, but acrylics do. So, I turn more acrylics even though I enjoy burls.
lorbay
Member
Yellow cedar Burl.
Lin
Lin
Sylvanite
Member
Whatever I haven't tried yet - especially if I'm unsure it will work.
Inox:wink:
Preferably a former bolt....
Preferably a former bolt....
1080Wayne
Member
Wood , in all forms . Plastic is pretty , but pretty unsellable , when up against local woods .
Lenny
Member
For woods ... Spalted or Burls.
steamshovel
Member
Any wood or combination of with a personality.
jyreene
Member
Vintage materials of any kind.
NittanyLion
Member
I get the most pleasure using burls I've harvested. After that, any blank I've been given/traded with the fine members here. The story behind the material is far more valuable than what it is.
bedangerous
Member
Wood, burls and spalted.
Leviblue
Local Chapter Leader
Figured and burl wood. Then try stone and corian. Oh and ambrosia maple.
dartman
Member
I like walnut and African black wood and then acrylics.
wob50
Member
It is said here any wood with a great story behind it ......
or some crazy wood and pr mix up.
or some crazy wood and pr mix up.
endacoz
Member
Lilac
Burls
Buckeye
And I enjoy the challenge of inlace acrylester.
Burls
Buckeye
And I enjoy the challenge of inlace acrylester.
ed4copies
Local Chapter Manager
Borrowing a quote from Yo-Yo Spin (Ed Davidson):
"Wood is good, plastic is fantastic!!"
Plastics are faster to finish AND wood pens (and other natural products) can crack. Plastics are more stable.
As for selling---every high end manufacturer uses plastic over wood. Just ask your potential customer, "why is that"? The pens that sell best are the ones the maker believes in---you sell those things that YOU like.
"Wood is good, plastic is fantastic!!"
Plastics are faster to finish AND wood pens (and other natural products) can crack. Plastics are more stable.
As for selling---every high end manufacturer uses plastic over wood. Just ask your potential customer, "why is that"? The pens that sell best are the ones the maker believes in---you sell those things that YOU like.
nativewooder
Member
Wood, properly dried and aged.
jttheclockman
Member
Woodkiller
Member
Cherry. Either figured or burl, doesn't matter. I just love cherry.
That is one of my favorites also...
bjbear76
Member
Ditto. I'd say 85-90% of my sales are the bright eye-catching acrylics. Highly figured woods and burls (that I think have more warmth and appeal) just do not sell well
kingkeyman
Member
Free
dtswebb
Member
Wood, especially burls.
Anything that Eugene (Mutt Blanks) makes.
Other acrylics/plastics/resins not so much.
Anything that Eugene (Mutt Blanks) makes.
Other acrylics/plastics/resins not so much.
jeweler53
Member
Burls.
BKelley
Member
African Blackwood, Cocobolo, & Olivewood in that order. I like acrylics and turn a lot of them, but these woods are my favorite. Just one problem, I'm allergic to some woods especially the Dalbergia family.
Ben
Ben