I went to the fabric store and this is what I got.

[woodscavenger]

I was brainstorming for ideas for center band material so I went to the local fabric store to check out buttons. They actually work really well. Hold them with plier and SLOWLY drill a hole. Put them on the mandrel and turn to size. All kinds of colors and sizes to choose from. I have my first acrylic posted in my album with a button band. BUT that is not my story.....

I went to the fabric store and while I was buying a few buttons I saw some wood dowels. Big deal. Then one of them caught my eye. It was SPALTED.[:0] I rumaged through all of their dowels....the little old ladies seemed a little unnerved. In the 1/2" section I found 4 out of the 60 dowels with some degree of spalting. I was figuring on using them for ornaments next year. But then I had an idea. What do you think???[?][?] The center band is curly koa.

 

[JimGo]

The buttons are a GREAT idea! I'm gonna have to go rummage through all the local craft stores before someone else finds all the spalted dowels!

 

[Fred in NC]

Spalted? I have rummaged through the dowel bin at Lowe's for the same reason. I found some oak with very nice figure.

 

[Tom McMillan]

Neato Shane!!! Great eye----a doweling we wil go!!!!!!!

 

[Gregory Huey]

Nice pen. Great idea about the buttons and Dolls oh la la

 

[DCBluesman]

Buttons are a great idea. My first ivory center band was from buttons off of a 1940's sports coat I picked up at a second hand store. I put new buttons on the coat and donated it to a local shelter. Everything got recycled!

 

[Darley]

Very nice pen, hope you didn't paid to much for the dowels, Buttons ?? very interesting concept, I will have to try this one , Thanks

Serge

 

[Ken Massingale]

Good idea on the buttons! Nice looking pens.
ken

 

[KKingery]

Looks like you have given us all, another great idea!

 

[Fleabit]

Just too many smart people in this group. Who would of thunk dowel? Nice pen too!

 

[woodscavenger]

The dowels were cheap...I only paid about $1.50 for four 3 foot sections.

 

[jdavis]

Just finished going through all of my dowels and found some neat ones to turn. Students are excited to see how they turn out. Great job on your pens.

 

[Darley]

Originally posted by woodscavenger
<br />The dowels were cheap...I only paid about $1.50 for four 3 foot sections.

That what I call a bargain.[]

Serge

 

[Randy_]

That is a very elegant looking pen. Very nice job!!!

 

[tipusnr]

Well done and great job of scavenging. As for the elderly ladies, just show them the pen and you'll never see another spalted dowel for a long time...(you might have some irate husbands to deal with as well)!

 

[opfoto]

Thats what I call thinking out o the box!!! Nice looking pens. Now where did you get that moniker from ??? []

 

[woodscavenger]

Growing up in Idaho, working on a farm I learned to make do with what I had. I have never been one to turn down someone elses junk if it could do me some good. That and the fact that before starting to turn pens (i.e. make money) I always had to beg for tools/wood from my wife so I had to be very careful.......

 

[Docsmith45]

I love the button idea. My lovely wife has sewing cabinet with 2 or 3 jars full of buttons. I have to root trough them and find some center bands. Thanks for a great idea.[]

 

[PenWorks]

Good looking pens Shane, fine job on the turning and bargain hunting.

 

[Jake Byrd]

Those both look great! Nice job