Pen blank?

[Wood Knot]

Does it matter which way the grain runs on a pen blank?

Here's why I ask, I have some really nice tight grained mahogany wood blocks, the only thing is in order for them to be used as pen blanks the grain would run horizontally around the pen.

 

[d_bondi]

It is completely up to you.

Crosscut wood can make a GREAT looking pen. Do be aware... it is harder to turn end grain and you will need very very sharp tools.

 

[Wood Knot]

It is completely up to you.

Crosscut wood can make a GREAT looking pen. Do be aware... it is harder to turn end grain and you will need very very sharp tools.

Thanks.

 

[egnald]

Ditto! - Dave (PS I even try to cut up some of my boards at a diagonal to change the appearance of the grain for pen blanks).

 

[NJturner]

I agree with all answers above, but as @d_bondi said - sharp tools!! The wood will be at it's weakest if all grain is truly horizontal to the center. Even a little bit of diagonal cut will help - allowing some of the harder, stronger cells of the wood to assist the softer cells along the diagonal joins. If your cut ends up with the wood truly horizontal to center, the wood becomes a stack - soft, then hard, then soft, etc. . Sharp tools will reduce your required cutting pressure which also will reduce the stress to the stack, as well as cleanly cut the wood.

You didn't say if this will be a kit pen with a brass tube - which would be a plus - or a custom pen with no inside structure to assist with the blanks strength, but with some care it will work either way.

Go easy -

Kevin