Koa wood

[pshrynk]

I was on a trip to Hawaii and met another turner and saw the work of another in a gallery. They were both using Koa for some of their pens and the wood was beautiful However, I thought their prices were a bit high. Granted the ones in the gallery were hybrids, but $129 for a simple Slimline? I'm really underpricing! The guy I met was not quite that steep, but the Koa ones were all higher in price than the plastics and other woods. Is Koa that rare?

 

[wolf creek knives]

It's not rare in Hawaii but try and find some on the various sites that sell blanks on the mainland. And it's not cheap in Hawaii either. A large flat rate box of cutoffs will cost you around $100.00 shipped to your home. I've got a bunch of it right now if you're interested. Koa for pens, bottle stoppers, ice cream scoops and a bunch of other sizes. If your interested let me know and I can send you some pictures.

 

[acmaclaren]

I've purchased some Hawaiian Koa from Cooks Woods. They're in Oregon. They sell pen blanks. You may want to buy a couple and see if you really like turning the wood or not.

Pen Blanks

Woodturning is a craft of simplicity and finesse. The finest woodturners can produce pens with high luster and an ultra-smooth finish. At Cook Woods, we understand that such precision requires quality pen blanks. That's why we cut our exotic and domestic wood species with care, tailoring our...

www.cookwoods.com

 

[bsshog40]

I've not seen any koa turned but I bought a Taylor guitar earlier this year made of koa. Beautiful wood!

 

[PenPal]

Koa is a relative of our most beautiful Tasmanian Blackwood ,it in company with Koa boasts that sheen as in shot silk ties with a that special finish.
Sometimes I believe we exaggerate some timber and place it over others more accessable and easier to obtain. It certainly has its share of mediocrity.

What it comes down IMHO is there are hidden gems to be found in so many drop dead gorgeous timbers. I clearly remember ending up with four hundred African Violet plants one time thinking where had I been or how could I have avoided being surrounded by these beautiful flowers.

I remember the day I first met my wife I was smitten and 67 yrs later still am.

Pricing of pens is so subjective and difficult to understand and completely trend driven.

Brian thank you for your experiences and post that provoked similar responses that I experienced here,in Hawaii and other Islands and especially the last forty years of excitement in Pens.

Kind regards Peter.

 

[Roly]

I agree wholeheartedly with your comments on Tasmanian Blackwood. I found a timber around here that is called Hickory locally but is actually a very close relative of Tassie Blackwood (Acacia Melanoxin (?))

 

[Aces-High]

This is curly Koa.

 

[PenPal]

Jason you wear the belt mate for this outstanding pen,its a WOW from me plus so many congratulations on your finish,presentation,quite made my day mate.

Peter.

 

[leehljp]

The high price was not because of the Koa only, but from the market place. Tokyo, New York, Paris, Hawaii, Singapore, Rome (and a few other world class destinations) will command a price double or triple what one would get in Memphis, or Portland, or San Antonio or St Louis. One "might" sell at those prices in the smaller markets but it would be on rarer occasion. Combine the location with local wood, from which they have a first choice of the best woods and those becomes their selling points.

 

[pshrynk]

I took some shots with my phone camera and will upload a few when I get the chance. They were beautiful pens

 

[pshrynk]

Here the pics.