SteveJ
Member
This is the second of two polls in the first round of voting for the best FOG pen of the 2024 Birthday Bash. At the conclusion of the two polls the top four from each poll will be entered in a final poll. You can vote for 4 pens. In the case of a tie for the fourth place, both will be entered into the final poll.
#1
Title: Where are yew now?
Description: Back when I started turning I would collect all sorts of pieces of wood while walking around. This is one of them, yew branches, picked up from trimmings left at the discard bin in a local cemetery.
The branches have been drying in my shop for many years, and I used a piece cut from a crotch area to dress up a Blade button click ballpoint.



#2
Title: Natural Alabaster
Description: Made from VERY brittle alabaster stone. Its like turning sheetrock but with natural cracks. It has pink hues and different shades of white.


#3
Title: Spirit of the Caribbean
Description: The wood is a piece of Mangrove that I found on the beach at Friis Bay, St. John, USVI. I stabilized it and cast it with Caribbean inspired blue resins.



#4
Title: The neighbor's lilac and discarded beer can
Description: The wood is Lilac I retrieved from the neighbor's brush pile. I captured one bold streak of purple, some very pleasing cream-colored sapwood for my center section, a curly Q of spalting, and several prominent cracks.
Last week, after I saw the FOG contest announcement, I convinced my wife get out of the car to pick up a Coors Light can to complete my vision. And for that alone, I deserve to win!
Not a bad pen, considering that I found these materials just lying on the ground!


#5
Title: Zen in Kudzu Strangled Oak
Description: A recurring customer presented me with this section of an oak branch that had been wrapped by a kudzu vine. I drilled holes in the ring centers at both ends, using a centering bit, and then turned the piece between centers before drilling the 10.5mm hole for the brass tube. Turning, sanding and finishing were routine. I love the way the vine stressed the wood grain so far from the surface so that you can see the effects of the vine spiraling around the branch. CA finish.



#6
Title of Your Entry: Palo Duro
Description: While on a road trip, we went camping in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. While driving down the winding road into the canyon, I spotted a piece of firewood beside the road, I grabbed it and threw it into the back of our vehicle. After hauling it over a 1000 miles back home I stowed it in the shop for future use. Palo Duro was named by Spanish explorers and means hard wood. Ironically, the wood was dense and very hard. Navigator roller ball kit. Worm hole filled with brass colored mica powder.



#7
Title of Your Entry: Turning Aspens
Description: I turned this pen from a piece of aspen I found on the ground in a New Mexico forest while hiking near our campsite (small amount is legal to take for personal use). The Executive pen kit is just the right length to show off the figure in the best part of the wood. The glossy CA finish will preserve this wonderful reminder of many great times in our favorite campground!



#1
Title: Where are yew now?
Description: Back when I started turning I would collect all sorts of pieces of wood while walking around. This is one of them, yew branches, picked up from trimmings left at the discard bin in a local cemetery.
The branches have been drying in my shop for many years, and I used a piece cut from a crotch area to dress up a Blade button click ballpoint.



#2
Title: Natural Alabaster
Description: Made from VERY brittle alabaster stone. Its like turning sheetrock but with natural cracks. It has pink hues and different shades of white.


#3
Title: Spirit of the Caribbean
Description: The wood is a piece of Mangrove that I found on the beach at Friis Bay, St. John, USVI. I stabilized it and cast it with Caribbean inspired blue resins.



#4
Title: The neighbor's lilac and discarded beer can
Description: The wood is Lilac I retrieved from the neighbor's brush pile. I captured one bold streak of purple, some very pleasing cream-colored sapwood for my center section, a curly Q of spalting, and several prominent cracks.
Last week, after I saw the FOG contest announcement, I convinced my wife get out of the car to pick up a Coors Light can to complete my vision. And for that alone, I deserve to win!
Not a bad pen, considering that I found these materials just lying on the ground!


#5
Title: Zen in Kudzu Strangled Oak
Description: A recurring customer presented me with this section of an oak branch that had been wrapped by a kudzu vine. I drilled holes in the ring centers at both ends, using a centering bit, and then turned the piece between centers before drilling the 10.5mm hole for the brass tube. Turning, sanding and finishing were routine. I love the way the vine stressed the wood grain so far from the surface so that you can see the effects of the vine spiraling around the branch. CA finish.



#6
Title of Your Entry: Palo Duro
Description: While on a road trip, we went camping in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. While driving down the winding road into the canyon, I spotted a piece of firewood beside the road, I grabbed it and threw it into the back of our vehicle. After hauling it over a 1000 miles back home I stowed it in the shop for future use. Palo Duro was named by Spanish explorers and means hard wood. Ironically, the wood was dense and very hard. Navigator roller ball kit. Worm hole filled with brass colored mica powder.



#7
Title of Your Entry: Turning Aspens
Description: I turned this pen from a piece of aspen I found on the ground in a New Mexico forest while hiking near our campsite (small amount is legal to take for personal use). The Executive pen kit is just the right length to show off the figure in the best part of the wood. The glossy CA finish will preserve this wonderful reminder of many great times in our favorite campground!



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