This was a little different than the last pens I made. Mainly due to the choice of wood. It is Australian Coolibah Burl and it has to be the hardest darn wood I have even drilled. It was smoking and it got so hot it actually pulled moisture out of the wood (visible at the edge of the hole). I thought I would never be able to turn it down. Oddly enough it turned pretty well. I found that I had to sharpen the tools three times during the process. This is really hard stuff but beautiful wood. Its a Christmas present for my brother. Finished as before with Myland's friction polish and carnuba wax. Thanks Rod for having such beautiful wood from down under.
-
RAGS 
Raggy and Me in San Felipe
sigpic
-
Beautiful work Rags, is that the natural color of the wood?I think in straight lines, but dream in curves -
Your brother is going to love it!Larry R. Rogers
The Samurai Wood Butcher
http://splash54.multiply.com
http://community.webshots.com/user/splash54Comment
-
Very nice. Burls always make nice pens.Comment
-
Wow that is nice. I love the color.David
The chief cause of failure in this life is giving up what you want most for what you want at the moment.Comment
-
Heck with your, brother, Rags... Keep that one for yourself...
Comment
-
-
Very nice and quite beautiful Rags. Someday I may give turning a try if I ever find the time which does not appear on the immediate horizon.
Most burls rank right up there in hardness with say black locust. I have never yet seen any species as hard as lignum-vitae though. You just about have to use plastic explosives to cut it. Beautiful wood, but I bet it takes a toll on edges?
Comment
-
Very nice and quite beautiful Rags. Someday I may give turning a try if I ever find the time which does not appear on the immediate horizon.
Most burls rank right up there in hardness with say black locust. I have never yet seen any species as hard as lignum-vitae though. You just about have to use plastic explosives to cut it. Beautiful wood, but I bet it takes a toll on edges?
Hey Sarge, the beauty of turning is that it doesn't take long to finish a project like a pen and believe me, if I can do it, anyone can. I cannot believe the simplicity of the whole process. I can tell you, I'm hooked on it. I've started sneaking around at night just to get on the lathe.
Thanks to all for the kind words, I just love doing these pens. RAGS
Raggy and Me in San Felipe
sigpic
Comment
-
I can tell you Rags, you are not the first and definitely won't be the last "turner" that gets hooked on just turning. I have seen quite a number over the last 35 years.
And the same can be said for "scrollers". I never got into that very heavily till I purchased a DW 721 factory re-co from a friend that is a DW technician in the large DW service center here in the Atlanta area. I couldn't turn it down at $225 thinking I might get deeper one of these days.
Just started a dresser today and a tall chest of drawers to follow. Then the possible chest for the foot of the bed.. the new coffee table and the tall chest for her croquet yarn.. then.. then.. then....
Looks as through that Scroll-saw is gonna collect some dust before I can get to it. We have one of the largest Scroll-saw Clubs in the U.S. in the out-lying Atlanta county I live in. Ron Brown (who is quite well known.. has some articles printed at the Flying Dutchman site) is in that club. So... if I ever do get there.. no shortage of experienced scrollers to tap for info.
Sarge..Comment
Comment