A little underwhelmed

[qquake]

This blank is called Stormy River and is from Bear Tooth Woods. I'm a little underwhelmed by it, I was expecting more figure. I painted the tube, backpainted the blank, and colored the epoxy with white.

 

[ed4copies]

After 25 years of purchasing manufactured blanks, I can tell you there is no control over the amount of pattern you will receive. The best strategy I found was to purchase several of each pattern. The "so-so" blanks made inexpensive pens, coupled with inexpensive hardware. The fabulous blanks could be put on nicer hardware and sold for a premium. Of course, since then the price of blanks has dropped significantly--I think the quality is about the same. "Ribbon" blanks will show the most inconsistency.

FWIW,
Ed

 

[mick]

Ed's right(he usually is). Blanks are like Forrest Gump's box of chocolate, you never know what you'll get. In my opinion, and yes it's worth what you paid for it, that blank needed a different color paint. Whenever I'm in doubt about a blank I'll drill and without gluing the tube in turn it almost to size. Using a dowel close to the size of the hole and outshine several colors in it. Ed has a YouTube video on this. Slide it through choosing the color that looks best. Paint, paint and glue. Finish up the pen.
Good luck.

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[WriteON]

I think it looks great. Expectations can be a let down. However can be good surprise also. What is it going on? Or in-between?

 

[its_virgil]

I agree with the others..not much control on the pattern inside a blank: plastic or wood. I try to purchase plastics when I can pick the out in person. That is not an option for everyone but I do travel to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area often and have my favorite place to shop and cherry pick blanks in person. No, not a Woodcraft or Rockler although nothing wrong with either for the most part.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

 

[qquake]

I think it looks great. Expectations can be a let down. However can be good surprise also. What is it going on? Or in-between?

It's for a Sierra.

 

[KenB259]

I guess I'm in the minority but I really like it.


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[mick]

No, I liked it too. Like my wife always tells me when a pen doesn't turn out like I expected to, that people who are going to buy it won't know what you thought it should look.
So just like qquake I too have blank angst.

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[qquake]

I went ahead and assembled the pen. I'm actually pleasantly surprised. Photos can be seen in my post here.

 

[RunnerVince]

I agree with the others..not much control on the pattern inside a blank: plastic or wood. I try to purchase plastics when I can pick the out in person. That is not an option for everyone but I do travel to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area often and have my favorite place to shop and cherry pick blanks in person. No, not a Woodcraft or Rockler although nothing wrong with either for the most part.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

I might be in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area later this summer (possibly for SWAT, possibly for the state fair, and possibly just because). Do you mind sharing your LWS (local woodturning shop) with us?

 

[its_virgil]

I might be in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area later this summer (possibly for SWAT, possibly for the state fair, and possibly just because). Do you mind sharing your LWS (local woodturning shop) with us?

My favorite is Wood World Texas on TI Blvd just east of I75 and North of 635

There are two woodcrafts..one in Plano and one in the mid cities area (Grapevine)

Rockler in Arlington and there is another in N Dallas in Addison.

 

[RunnerVince]

My favorite is Wood World Texas on TI Blvd just east of I75 and North of 635

There are two woodcrafts..one in Plano and one in the mid cities area (Grapevine)

Rockler in Arlington and there is another in N Dallas in Addison.

Thanks! I've been to one of the Woodcrafts, and we have one in Salt Lake about 40 minutes from my apartment. But I've never been to a Rockler, and I'll have to check out Wood World Texas next time I get down there. I'm sure if I relay your directions to my wife, she'll know exactly where it is. Or else she'll say "east and north mean nothing to me." For myself, I can't find my way unless I have the Wasatch mountains to the east and the Oquirrh mountains to the west, so I'm always lost in Texas.

 

[duderubble]

I'm jumping in here late and I'm a new guy, but my blank frustration for both wood and acrylics is how often the promising grain or pattern on the outside of the blank all disappears on the shop floor leaving a much plainer interior. Just tonight a pretty black and gold blank turned into a pretty much black blank, at least on the top half.

 

[qquake]

I'm jumping in here late and I'm a new guy, but my blank frustration for both wood and acrylics is how often the promising grain or pattern on the outside of the blank all disappears on the shop floor leaving a much plainer interior. Just tonight a pretty black and gold blank turned into a pretty much black blank, at least on the top half.

Yep, it happens. But still, that pen looks pretty good to me.

 

[duderubble]

Yep, it happens. But still, that pen looks pretty good to me.

Thanks, the bottom I love, I was hoping for more of that zing on the top half.

 

[magpens]

@duderubble
That pen is not bad at all !! . I quite like it, in fact. . Yes, there could be a bit more sizzle to the top, but ... yeah ... not bad as it is !!

Do you mind telling us the type of blank it is, and the name of the blank, please.

 

[sorcerertd]

I'm jumping in here late and I'm a new guy, but my blank frustration for both wood and acrylics is how often the promising grain or pattern on the outside of the blank all disappears on the shop floor leaving a much plainer interior. Just tonight a pretty black and gold blank turned into a pretty much black blank, at least on the top half.

Sometimes it works the other way around. I discovered this cocobolo was pretty punky on one side, but with some CA stabilization the spalting came out gorgeous. Obviously, that's not acrylic, but goes to show there are some good surprises, too!

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[duderubble]

@duderubble
That pen is not bad at all !! . I quite like it, in fact. . Yes, there could be a bit more sizzle to the top, but ... yeah ... not bad as it is !!

Do you mind telling us the type of blank it is, and the name of the blank, please.

Certainly. It's the Gold domes Sports Resin Blank. Turned nicely. Cylindrical stock.