Which do you turn the most of?

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Herb G

Herb G

Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Messages
1,461
Location
Southern Maryland
Acrylics or wood?
I turned a lot of wood, but nowadays I find myself turning way more acrylics.
I find them more interesting & challenging to turn is why.


How about YOU ??

:smile:
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
When I was still active in doing shows, my customers preferred wood. Out of a 100 pens and pencils, over 90 percent of the sales would be wood. Women tended to pick the lighter colors, and men the darker colored wood. It was the children who preferred the acrylic, but the children were not the buyers, mom and dad were.
 
I love wood, but find most sales, other than my Tru-Oil finished Black Walnut gun-themed pens, are items made from plastic blanks.
 
I prefer wood and lately I've been leaning back towards a friction finish after 600 grit.. Just feels more natural and warm rather than the plasticy CA Finish. IMHO

-Antny
 
I turn both. However, I get a lot of free wood scrap from bowyers (bow makers) and other woodworkers. So right now I'm only turning wood to free up some space.
 
I turn more wood.
Although I would like to do more acrylic, because they usually take less time.
But I can't resist a good burl or great grain.
 
lyonsacc said:
I turn more wood.
Although I would like to do more acrylic, because they usually take less time.
But I can't resist a good burl or great grain.
Click to expand...


I turned some Chittum Burl last year. Man, that was a learning curve almost too steep. That is some crazy wood for sure.
It had so many different grains in it, it made me dizzy trying to keep up with it. I ended up sanding it way more than actually turning it.
I wore out several whole ( 9 X 12" ) sheets of sandpaper, but I finally got it done.
That's one good thing about acrylics. No grain to speak of.
 
I have 8 pens on the bench right now. 4 wood, 3 acrylic, 1 hybrid. Customers seem to buy the acrylic ones more often than not.
 
Antler, Wood and a few acrylic.
I sell way more antler pens with a lot of them supplying their own antler. As far as wood goes it sells very well for me and is my favorite medium to turn. That said I also sell firewood and do some chainsaw milling so I have a very large source for wood.
 
I was all wood the first year and shifted to Acrylic.
Wood is absolutely beautiful...however acrylic has a beauty unlike anything else. And people are fascinated by the appearance, Show them a blank and show the final product....I love the stare.
To answer... mostly acrylic. Aside from beauty of it.... less dust. Finishes faster...no harsh CA fumes when finishing. If I could only turn one...it would be acrylic.

Have not turned an acrylic stopper blank...not sure if I want to. I have not made any acrylic pool cue joint protectors. I intend to use acrylic for ring turning which I'm currently getting started with.

I worked with acrylic for a lifetime (Dental Tech).... Happiness is the final polishing application when the shine lights up. 1Step or Novus or Automotive machine polish.
 
Last edited:
I sell in the neighborhood of $5000 worth of pens a year. Most of my buyers are women who are buying gifts. While I love turning wood (love seeing the grain pattern emerge) most of my sales are acrylic. Which is probably because of my customer base. I make what sells!
 
I much prefer wood, but the acrylics are becoming very popular at the blind center with my more experienced turners.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom