Materials

My Items don't sell unless they're on the website.
But it takes a whole lotta time to get everything on this website,
And sitting in front of the computer is time not spent in the shop!

Sorry about the lack of information on some of the items,
I'll get it added as soon as I can,
but for now......

BACK TO THE WORKSHOP!

The workhorse of my shop.

Pen Blanks and Pen Parts

Lumber

     There is an abundance of materials that can make beautiful pens. I scour the Internet constantly in search of new materials and ideas. I have had people donate wood from Cherry and Black Walnut trees grown locally in back yards in North Carolina and Virginia, to scraps of hardwood flooring, up to something as exotic as Tanzanian Ebony brought back from Tanzania in carry-on luggage by hand.
     The myriad colors that can be achieved with Acrylic Acetate, Polyester, and Celluloid are striking. Celluloid is an example of an early plastic. It is made by nitrating cellulose fibers (typically vegetable or wood) and adding Camphor as a hardener. Celluloid has been used for decades by the finest pen makers in the world. It has a very distinct hand-feel, very different from common plastic.
     Tru-Stone is a stone-like material that looks and feels just like real stone. I have been told by several Lapidaries that the grain and design is quite accurate to the naturally occurring stone. It is made in a highly guarded, proprietary process by blending 85% real crushed stone from the source rock and hardening resins to make a very durable and very realistic material.
     Bakelite and Ebonite are very old, precursors to plastic. Ebonite is basically vulcanized rubber, and has been used by fine pen makers for years. It is becoming more scarce. Ebonite has a warm lustrous feel when held, unlike any other material.
     Nothing beats the beauty and historical significance of Olivewood from Bethlehem, Israel. The Olivewood trees are direct descendants of trees that were planted by the Ancient Romans, and still bear fruit today. I obtain the wood directly from a supplier in Israel. The wood is fiercely protected, and the pen blanks I receive come from annual limb clippings that help keep the trees healthy.
My absolute favorite material to find is one with an historical significance. Sometimes referred to as "Witness Wood," This is a term used for a material that has been present , or involved in some traceable historic event, and thus was a "witness" to the historical event itself. Examples include Teak Decking from various World War II Navy Ships, Oak stage from the House of Blues in Hollywood, CA, and Ipe wood from the Coney Island Boardwalk, just to name a few.
I also just came across stabilized cow poop. Seriously.
I am always on the search for new and exciting materials. If you come across any materials that you have seen made into a pen, and don't see here, please contact me and let me know!

Basically, if it can be turned on a lathe and cut with carbide tools, it can be made into a pen!

Acrylic Acetate, Polyester and Celluloid

Exotic Hardwoods

Hawaiian Woods including Koa, Spalted Koa, Macadamia Nut, Milo, Octopus, Pheasant Wood, Lama, Hawaiian Cherry, Signature Tree, and Mango

Bakelite and Ebonite

Bethlehem Olivewood

Hardwood Burls

M3 Metals
These materials are made with high purity metals and other exotic elements that have been deconstructed to the macro-molecular level, homogenously combined and then reconstructed with highly refined proprietary chemical binders. The result is a material that loosk and feels like metal, but is able to be worked with conventional woodworking tools. The finished product will behave like the real metal it is representing, for example, the copper will patina to a green. Each blank is hand made to order from the company that produces them, and no two patterns will be the same
(OK, maybe the solid colored ones will be the same!)
Be sure and check out the Shaving Sets to see the finished product!

Back Row L to R: Damascus Steel, Copper, Stainless Steel. Bottom front to back: Cobaltium and Lava Ash, Aluminum and Lava Ash, Damascus Steel

L to R: Black Lava Ash & Cobaltium, Copper, Stainless Steel, and Black and White Metal.

Imperial Rollerball in Damascus Steel M3 Metal

Shaving Set in Stainless Steel M3 Metal

Alligator Jaw Bone
Actual jawbone from a farm-raised alligator
encased in acrylic.

Uncut Alligator Jawbone Blanks

Finished Alligator Jawbone Shaving Set

Cholla Cactus

Cholla Cactus (Cylindropuntia) is a genus of cacti (family Cactaceae), containing the cholla, native to northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States. They are known for their barbed spines that tenaciously attach to skin, fur, and clothing (Source: Wikipedia). Shown below are examples of the living plant, that when dried, produces a"honeycombed" skeleton appearance. The Cholla skeleton is then placed in a vacuum mold, and filled with colorful acrylics and polyester resins to produce a stunning pattern of man-made and natural materials. There are many colors available and basically be made into any item on my website. Please don't hesitate to ask!

Live Cholla Cactus

Dried Cholla Cactus

Cholla Cactus Blanks (L to R: Super Copper, Pearl Blue, Majestic Green)

Mach 3 Shaving Set in Antique Silver Cholla Cactus

Tru-Stone

These blanks are made from 85% of the real stone they are duplicating, mixed with proprietary resins that allows me to cut and shape this material using conventional wood working tools. Tru-Stone polishes to a high gloss, is heavy for it's weight and is impervious to water, much like real stone.

Attention: The makers of Tru-Stone recently stopped making their product in sizes suitable for Pen Turners. The price of Tru-Stone has subsequently sky-rocketed, and supplies are drying up. I have a very limited supply on-hand, and can sometimes find a specific color.
Please e-mail me with requests, and I'll see what I can accomplish.

Common Colors/Patterns
(There are many more to choose from, please ask, and I will do my best to find them for you!)

1) Arizona Jade 6) Pure White 11) Red Coral 16) Black with Gold Matrix 21) Azurite/Malachite 26) Azurite Web
2) Malachite 7) White Marble 12) Red w/ Gold Matrix          17) Pure Black 22) Mahogany Obsidian 27)Yellow Spiney
3) Rhodonite 8) Asian Pink Coral 13) Bloody Basin Jasper 18) White Horn (repeat) 23) Larimar Turquoise 28) Sonoran Sunset
4) Yellow Spiney 9) White Horn 14) Sodalite 19) Persian Turquoise 24) Medium Lapis 29) Charoite
5) Banded Ivory 10) Black & White Banded 15) Black w/ White Matrix 20) Blue River Agate 25) Black & White Jersey 30) Sodalite

31) Black with Red     32) Red and White Spiney 33) Arizona Turquoise 34) Chilean Lapis

More Colors!
Many thanks to Ernie McFarlane at Bear Tooth Woods for use of his pictures!

Chinese Green Web Turquoise

Leopard Skin Jasper

Malachite Web

Pink Conch Shell

Pink Larimar

Red Dino Bone

Banded Azurite/Malachite

Banded Chrysocolla

Blue Dragon Skin Turquoise

White with Copper Matrix

White with Gold Matrix

Wild Horse Jasper (White with Rust and Black Matrix)

Yellow Dino Bone

Imperial Jade

Reclaimed Materials

If it can be turned on a lathe, it can be made into a pen!

Please check out my historical "Witness Woods" on my "Woods with a Story" page.
(Click Here)