Magnifying the Master
Member
Just wondering what everyones favorite Texas Domestic Wood for pen turning?
What is your Favorite Texas Domestic Wood for pen turning?
- Thread starter Magnifying the Master
- Start date
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BoonareeBurl
Member
Texas lignum vitae.
G
G
Magnifying the Master
Member
Thank you for commenting. That is definitely one I am not familiar with. Do you have any pictures of the wood or a project you turned using it?
paramount Pen
Member
Bodark
paramount Pen
Member
The yellow wood in this project. Some spell it bois de ark
Magnifying the Master
Member
Thank you, I have not turned a Mesquite pen yet either. Looking forward to it however.
Magnifying the Master
Member
Thank you! I have turned a little Bodark but not a pen, but have to put that on my list as well!
GaryMGg
Member
Along with mesquite, osage orange (bodark), cholla cactus—which has to be cast—there's Texas ebony. Dense, harder than heck wood.
egnald
Member
Here is a post of a pen and pencil set that I made from genuine Lignum Vitae in 2020. The blanks came from a salvaged aft propeller shaft bearing from a very old ship, the MV Doulos Phos. It was the world's oldest active ocean-fairing passenger ship until it was decommissioned in December 2009 after 95 years of active service. Lignum Vitae is extremely hard and is very prone to cracking.
Here is a post of a pen I made from Bodark (Osage Orange). It is another extremely hard wood that is prone to cracking. Here in Nebraska we usually refer to it as "Hedge Apple". It is a member of the Mulberry family and it has a yellow wood similar to Mulberry. The French and Osage tribe are the one's most responsible for the name "Bodark" as it was prized wood for bows and war clubs. The French name was bois d'arc (wood for a bow) which was anglicized into "Bodark". It's use and value was cited in the reports that Lewis of Lewis and Clark made. (Also prized by Arikaras, Comanche, Kiowa, Pawnee, Omaha, and Seminoles.
Dave
Here is a post of a pen I made from Bodark (Osage Orange). It is another extremely hard wood that is prone to cracking. Here in Nebraska we usually refer to it as "Hedge Apple". It is a member of the Mulberry family and it has a yellow wood similar to Mulberry. The French and Osage tribe are the one's most responsible for the name "Bodark" as it was prized wood for bows and war clubs. The French name was bois d'arc (wood for a bow) which was anglicized into "Bodark". It's use and value was cited in the reports that Lewis of Lewis and Clark made. (Also prized by Arikaras, Comanche, Kiowa, Pawnee, Omaha, and Seminoles.
Dave
mark james
IAP Collection, Curator
Figured mesquite for sure. Not common, but found in the NW corner - Desert Ironwood; again, look for figuring.
GaryMGg
Member
Osage orange really shines when it's crosscut and turned.
It shows the tight grain pores rather than just straight lines.
It shows the tight grain pores rather than just straight lines.
MRDucks2
Member
Nothing wrong with good ol' pecan, either. Especially with figure or spalting. Or both.
mark james
IAP Collection, Curator
Common to Texas?????
BoonareeBurl
Member
Oh maybe not.
Magnifying the Master
Member
Beautiful!!
Magnifying the Master
Member
Thank you for commenting! I'd like to see a pen or a turning out of that as well, if you have any?
Magnifying the Master
Member
Thank you for you good input! I am learning a lot from all the various answers. Do you have pics of any of these?
Magnifying the Master
Member
Thank you for taking the time to respond! I'm still trying to get some Mesquite. I'm in East Texas and not super common here although often used for smoking me at if course. I haven't seen any ironwood pens either.
jocat54
Member
Marlin, I am in Lindale and have quite a lot of mesquite that I would share a little with you if your interested.
Magnifying the Master
Member
Thank you Jocat, I would really appreciate that! Would love to get a bit from you!!
Magnifying the Master
Member
Do you have any pics Love to see an example?
I looked it up and black ash is not native to Texas but it is still beautiful. This one is in my pile that needs sanding and polishing yet.
Magnifying the Master
Member
Tim W Russell
Member
Bois d'Arc (bodark) is definitely my native Texas wood of choice, even now more than ever!! The first picture is bodark from the (circa) 1880s!! These pieces have been unearthed from 1st St NE in Paris, TX while resurfacing the street for pedestrians only. Cheri Bedford is the Main Street Coordinator and Historic Preservation Officer and has allowed me to collect lots of the wood that was buried ~ 150 years ago! I have been able to have these pressure washed and turned into pens and a "conversation piece" (pen cup?). The second set of pens comes from Biardstown, TX., which is South of Paris on a friend's farm. (I have access to a "bunch" of each)
