#103

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Mahogany and Chrome Ballpoint TwistPen

MAHOGANY - Swietenia mahagoni, commonly known as the West Indies Mahogany, is a species of Swietenia native to southern Florida in the United States and islands in the Caribbean including the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola. 

Turned on May 14th 2014 from seasoned American Mahogany a little further up the Llangollen Canal at Grindley Brook. This pen is made from some left over mahogany that I bought to make a laminated canoe paddle, another project on the yet to be completed list. It is finished in several coats of boiled linseed oil and cyanoacrylate to give a hard wearing deep gloss finish that really brings the fine grain of this wood to life.

We had a lovely walk from here to Whitchurch via a farm where we had the offer of 'taking as much fallen oak as we could manage'. Sadly we were already up to our limit for stove wood capacity. 

1. Mahogany and Chrome ballpoint pen.
2. A lovey sunny day but not too wide a towpath
3. One down, next is to try a bit of bowl turning whilst the sun is out

#102

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Oak and Chrome Ballpoint Twist Pen

EUROPEAN OAK - Quercus robur

Usually straight-grained, the heartwood of European Oak varies in colour from light tan to brown. Quarter-sawn pieces show attractive flame figuring. The wood is fairly hard, heavy and dense, clean but with the occasional knot.  European Oak is a beautiful timber and with an oil finish, the grain will turn a deep golden brown.

Turned  on April 24th 2014 from kiln dried European Oak on the wide towpath of the Llangollen Canal just passed Lee's Bridge (number 4) and finished in several coats of boiled linseed oil and cyanoacrylate to give a hard wearing deep gloss finish. Oak being a fairly open textured wood can take a few more finishing coats, this pen has thirty.

The Llangollen canal is very busy at this time of year and holidaying boats pass frequently. Within a week we hope to be transversing the Pontcysyllte aqueduct before the final few miles to Llangollen town against the flow of the feeder from the river Dee.

1. Oak and Chrome ballpoint pen
2. The pen blank marked ready for cutting and drilling
3. Turned, ready to start the sanding process

#101

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Ash and Chrome Ballpoint Twist Pen

EUROPEAN ASH - Fraxinus excelsior

Creamy white to a light tan in colour, European Ash is a tough, straight-grained and flexible timber with a coarse but even texture. It works well with both hand and machine tools, and stains, saws and finishes well. It can have olive coloured streaks running through the boards. With an oil finish, it can turn golden brown

Turned on April 24th 2014 from kiln dried European Ash on the wide towpath of the Llangollen Canal just passed Lee's Bridge (number 4) and finished in several coats of boiled linseed oil and cyanoacrylate to give a hard wearing deep gloss finish. 

Early springtime brought this relaxing mooring location to life with fields full of cows and sheep and long warm afternoons.

1. Ash and Chrome ballpoint pen
2. The Ash pen blanks mounted on the lathe ready for turning
3. A lovely peaceful spring evening