Pen turning

In message , mtjones writes

Someone gives you money you take it and give them the pen :)

If anyone knows which woods sell better its unlikely they will tell you, they have found a niche and probably don't want to loose it :)

With pen turning you can do fancy plain big small thick thin, a million and one species let alone finishes. And each will have a customer, the hard bit is finding them. I know those who like light coloured woods as they are different ( Ash . Holly) and others who like dark (Rosewood, Acacia) some perfectly smooth and others with lots of coarse grain

If their was a magical formula you can have your pens, I would be patenting the formula and selling that :)

Depends on your area and your pens.. Anyone else in your "network" making them? Are your pens distinctive but usable?

I sold a few in the States, mostly to friends because so many other folks were making them.. Most people seem to buy the dark woods like bocote and cocobolo, some walnut, etc..

Here in Baja, I'm the only turner and pens sell very well, especially the ironwood ones, in the "classic' and "Cigar" kits.. Better plating should justify higher prices, but it doesn't seem to..

I show $50 pens in 10k gold and $65 in the more expensive platings and very few folks buy the higher priced pens..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Hello MJ,

My experience over the last 13 years has shown that the darker exotics and high figured local timbers sell better than lighter timbers. Anything that is highly figured - (burrs, curl etc) does well. Having said that, most of my clients and collectors are women (98%) and prefer the coloured plastics over timbers most of the time. Men seem to prefer darker timbers and burrs. It really depends on your area though, so make several and test the waters in your area. Among the timbers Cocobolo and Ironwood were reliable favorites. Also, whitetail deer antler is popular with hunters in my area.

Steve Russell Eurowood Werks Studio The Woodlands, Texas

My personal preferance in making pens have ben the larger cigar style in buckeye burl or ambonia. Like Steve and Mac stated, highly figured woods. I found out recently by making one (as a request) bullet pens seem to attract a certain moronic element with money to speare. I hate these things as they have no artistic value (to me) but I love them because I can't make enough of them. Great profit margin too!