Pen Turners' Swap - Round 3 #6: Bel Aire or Bust!

Also wishing Happy Thanksgiving to all in the turner’s swap and all Jocks.

Oh, man… Just catching up after being DEEP into a home renovation project that kept me away from this round, and I’m now seeing what I’m missing!

Keep it going, y’all… Can’t wait to see more of the #391 pens!

So when’s Round IV? ;-)

-- Ryno

I am really getting excited. The pen box is bouncing all over the states – maybe Santa will snag it on his travels and find something he likes.

-- Those that say it can't be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Great, moving again.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Sorry about the lack of pictures… I will try to send what i took out… And what I make of them…

I have turned 10 pens this week for Christmas sales… I made 4 pens from a tobacco stick from a customers’s family farm… 3 pens from a spalted ash log from a customer’s yard (I had to dry those blanks with the microwave…) And then 1 from teak from a piece of a customer’s new bar that they just built…

But have not used any blanks from the box so far… I am making them up for family… My daughter saw the green acrylic blank and immediately claimed it… She want it made with the bloodwood on the bottom and the green acrylic as the top… I have some Wall Street and Churchill sets that I plan to make up as well…

Also making some bandsaw puzzle boxes… Once I am done I will set up and take some photos…

-- Derrel Frankfort, KY

Sounds like some great stuff! I love teak but haven’t turned any yet myself.

Thanks Derrel!

-- Tim D. - Woodstock, GA

Well folks I got the box on Friday after Thanksgiving. Something else to be thankful for and something to wake me up from the turkey coma.

Wow, this thing is full to bursting with pen kits, pen blanks, and completed pens. This is the second time I have participated in this swap and it is becoming more and more obvious just how great woodworkers are. The overflowing box is a testament to their generousity. It took me at least 15 minutes to unpack everything and be able to take stock of what was inside. My entire benchtop was covered with stuff.

Both challenge blanks provide their own tests as the burl is very unstable and the willow is just plain punky and soft. They will take a steady hand and fine tool handling technique to turn effectively. I think this will be a good opportunity for me to try some home stabilization techniques that I have been reading about on the forums. Whatever happens, I am up to the challenge!

I admit that since this box was so full that I may have taken more than I put in just so that I could get the box closed again. We Jocks are probably abusing the flat rate shipping box and the US postal service must be losing money on this deal because the weight alone would drive up the shipping cost. I tried to offset the space and weight issue by putting in more pen kits and less blanks since they take up less space. I also put in more exotic and expensive blanks and kits to balance out the karmic effect.

Here was my take:

Blanks:

2 Laminated Walnut/Poplar
2 Apple
Spalted Willow
Cherry Burl
2 Cocobolo
Pink Ivory
2 KY Coffee Tree
2 Pecan
Walnut Crotch
Tulip
PurpleHeart

Pen Kits

A cool satin nickel Euro

Pens

Great Euro turned in acrylic
Beautiful Slimline in Big Leaf Maple burl

And here is what I put back in the box:

Blanks

2 Quilted Maple
2 Bird’s Eye Maple
2 Very Curly Koa
Kamani (Hawaiian hardwood)
2 Yellowheart
2 Quartersawn White Oak
2 Quartersawn Sycamore (from my backyard)
2 Buckeye Burl (see my Euro Screw Cap post)

Pen Kits

2 Classic Screw Cap
2 Rhodium Euro
Refrigerator Pen

I didn’t put in any of my own pens mainly because everything I am making now is going towards my craft show in two weeks. Next time around maybe I’ll put some of my own creations in there. I can’t wait to try out some of this interesting wood I pulled from this. Thanks to everyone who is participating and especially to Tim D for organizing the whole thing. Now it’s time to package this up and ship it off to the next lucky Jock!

-- Check out my blog and podcast "The Renaissance Woodworker" at www.rogersfinewoodworking.com/blog

Thanks for the update, Shannon.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

It is getting closer, but I doubt if I’ll see it before Christmas.

very cool….I think I am #15—-so this is good…i will need christmas break to catch up…and make some new pens…so slow down a bit everyone!!! just kidding…i know you are all anxious to keep the box moving…

matt

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

I think its getting close to me and I am VERY EXCITED, can’t wait, will be watching for the mail all week.

-- Every cloud has a silver lining

Awesome, thanks for the update. I’ll get the blog updated ASAP!

-- Tim D. - Woodstock, GA

Great additions.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †