Trader Joe's Olivewood Cutting Board

[d_bondi]

Grabbed this while at Trader Joe's this afternoon, only $12.99 and is about 12" x 7" x 3/4".

I think there are a few beautiful pens hiding in there, what do you all think?

The real question is how to cut it, with the grain, across the grain, or diagonal...

 

[ZanderPommo]

Definitely cut it longitudinally/horizontally based on this picture. There are a ton of great blanks in that picture and if you cut vertically you'll miss out on all those curls.

 

[ZanderPommo]

There's 14-16 great blanks in there

 

[1080Wayne]

That is an absolutely gorgeous piece of olive ! Much to nice to cut up , or to use as a cutting board !

 

[Lew]

That's about the prettiest olive wood board I've seen that comes from an inexpensive cutting board. I will love to see what the end result is.

 

[TonyL]

You have enough to cut it several ways.

 

[Woodchipper]

Good find! Love the grain of olive wood. Looking forward to seeing some pens with the wood. Thanks for sharing the discovery.

 

[MPVic]

Grabbed this while at Trader Joe's this afternoon, only $12.99 and is about 12" x 7" x 3/4".

I think there are a few beautiful pens hiding in there, what do you all think?

The real question is how to cut it, with the grain, across the grain, or diagonal...

View attachment 364061

My wife bought me one of these a few weeks back - the blanks I got out of it are exquisite!! And the price was awesome!

 

[SteveG]

It is easy to misgauge what a pen/pen blank will look like, just by looking at the source board. I solved this by cutting out a template the exact dimensions of a pen blank. Make the template in the form of a hole cut out of the template material, thus allowing you to view the potential blank. That way I can move it around, and if desired, trace the intended blank cut without actually cutting the board. If the blank placement "misses the mark", it is easy enough to erase/sand off the layout line and move to a better spot. By this method, you can plan out the entire board without ever making a cut until the right time.

 

[gbpens]

CROSS CUT

 

[woodwzrd]

Than board doesn't look very happy that you are talking about cutting it up lol.

Since most pen blanks are 5" long I would start by taking a cross cut slice off each end then cut it with the grain.

 

[hokie]

I'm pretty happy with my haul as well. I had to go to three different Trader Joes' until I found one with the bin of cutting boards. The others only had bowls or pre-carved serving platters.

I even got some nice burl figure on one of them along the edge...

 

[d_bondi]

Than board doesn't look very happy that you are talking about cutting it up lol.

View attachment 364078

Since most pen blanks are 5" long I would start by taking a cross cut slice off each end then cut it with the grain.

LOL, not happy at all.

 

[d_bondi]

I'm pretty happy with my haul as well. I had to go to three different Trader Joe's until I found one with the bin of cutting boards. The others only had bowls or pre-carved serving platters.
View attachment 364085

I even got some nice burl figure on one of them along the edge...
View attachment 364086

Wow, those are really nice. That is a great haul.
I went back to day and didn't find anything else nearly as nice. Even tried another store in town (we have 3 within about 10 miles) and that store had none of the olivewood stuff at all.

 

[d_bondi]

It is easy to misgauge what a pen/pen blank will look like, just by looking at the source board. I solved this by cutting out a template the exact dimensions of a pen blank. Make the template in the form of a hole cut out of the template material, thus allowing you to view the potential blank. That way I can move it around, and if desired, trace the intended blank cut without actually cutting the board. If the blank placement "misses the mark", it is easy enough to erase/sand off the layout line and move to a better spot. By this method, you can plan out the entire board without ever making a cut until the right time.

I love that idea Steve. I'm gonna make myself a few sizes of these negative templates and keep them handy for just this situation.

 

[derekdd]

Wow, that's a gorgeous piece of wood.

What a score.

 

[bugradx2]

I'm calling our local Trader Joe's now!

 

[MedWoodWorx]

Grabbed this while at Trader Joe's this afternoon, only $12.99 and is about 12" x 7" x 3/4".

I think there are a few beautiful pens hiding in there, what do you all think?

The real question is how to cut it, with the grain, across the grain, or diagonal...

View attachment 364061

The centre of the board could be cut across the grain while the edges could be cut slightly diagonal. There is more waste like this but the grain is highlighted more like that. The part with the notch is a bit tricky but if you are willing to experiment with coloured epoxy or ca could make interesting blanks. Crosscut olivewood is definately interesting but noone is gonna recognise it as olive wood ( i dont know if it matters to you). Try to make "thick" pens so that the grain can be seen; no slimlines, i hope i helped, cheers.

 

[MedWoodWorx]

The first one is made from slightly diagonal cross grain, the next two cross grain and the last one is almost 100% crosscut. I try to avoid 90° and straight (180°) cuts.

 

[d_bondi]

The first one is made from slightly diagonal cross grain, the next two cross grain and the last one is almost 100% crosscut. I try to avoid 90° and straight (180°) cuts.

Those are some nice looking pens, thanks!

 

[Todd in PA]

I don't want to pee in anyone's cheerios, but I've had terrible luck with these boards. I don't think they're properly dried, and they're rubbed with oil. The result is that the blanks crack themselves after cutting, or worse, after the pen is completed.

Of course, I bought mine at Home Goods instead of Trader Joe's, so your mileage may vary.

 

[d_bondi]

I don't want to pee in anyone's cheerios, but I've had terrible luck with these boards. I don't think they're properly dried, and they're rubbed with oil. The result is that the blanks crack themselves after cutting, or worse, after the pen is completed.

Of course, I bought mine at Home Goods instead of Trader Joe's, so your mileage may vary.

Bummer, that's too bad Todd. It was a pretty pen.

I just checked a few of the blanks I cut from my Trader Joe's board and am getting readings in the 7-10% range.

 

[d_bondi]

Here is how I sliced it up. I could have gotten a few more blanks out of it, but I really wanted to get two from that gnarly part in the bottom center. A little waste, but not too bad.

The two I was really working around will require some stabilization of a punky knot with CA, but I'm already working on that.

 

[MedWoodWorx]

I don't want to pee in anyone's cheerios, but I've had terrible luck with these boards. I don't think they're properly dried, and they're rubbed with oil. The result is that the blanks crack themselves after cutting, or worse, after the pen is completed.

Of course, I bought mine at Home Goods instead of Trader Joe's, so your mileage may

Pee in my cheerios.. thats a great line first time i hear this!
You know olive wood is a bit oily anyway..

 

[bugradx2]

Got one each for me and another IAP member on Saturday! Hoping they turn into some good blanks

 

[d_bondi]

Got one each for me and another IAP member on Saturday! Hoping they turn into some good blanks

Oooh, those have some really nice figure in them!!

 

[bugradx2]

Oooh, those have some really nice figure in them!!

Thanks!
I had a really hard time choosing just two. There were 3 or 4 of them that I stood there and stared at