I often make pens as gifts, and usually start by asking a few questions - what kind of wood(s) do you like? Are you a fountain, ballpoint, or rollerball person? Thick or thin? Etc. Most of the time I have a reality check that normal people don't have strong opinions about exotic hardwoods or pen styles like I do, so most people just say "I dunno, just make whatever you think is good." So it's always a nice surprise when someone actually has an opinion.
A friend of mine specifically said he likes rosewood. I went down and found I had no fewer than 5 different rosewood species in my shop. On the glued-up block before turning, from left to right, Bolivian rosewood, Bahia rosewood, Kingwood, Honduras rosewood burl, Cocobolo, and the other end is also Bolivian rosewood.
A friend of mine specifically said he likes rosewood. I went down and found I had no fewer than 5 different rosewood species in my shop. On the glued-up block before turning, from left to right, Bolivian rosewood, Bahia rosewood, Kingwood, Honduras rosewood burl, Cocobolo, and the other end is also Bolivian rosewood.
