#330

Now Sold

Cammo Acrylic with Gun Metal Finish

Whenever I start to make a pen from an acrylic blank I always remember the negative points. Acrylic turning is messy, I really try to clear every last scrap of it up; it can also be smelly; the sharp little chips get everywhere and it can blunt the turning chisels really quickly. By the time the pen shape is turned and I start the messier job of wet sanding through about fifteen different grades I'm usually trying to convince myself that maybe it's better to just concentrate on turning wooden pens.

Then the final grades of sanding and polishing start to reveal something special and I really like acrylic again... until the next time.

We'd now been through the tunnel at Harecastle, stopped for a few days at Church Lawton, Stopped for an overnight break at Rode Heath and were close to Middlewich where we were going to be trading at the Folk And Boat Festival. With a couple of washing loads to do and a good few pens to turn we decided to moor up in the middle of nowhere at Bridge 164 a few miles (and half a dozen locks) south of Middlewich to do some catching up. Pen #330 was made on Tuesday 16th June 2015

The weather was lovely, Dudley tired himself out running through the long grass at the side of the little used towpath the washing dried quickly in the sunny breeze and chips of oak, elm, Bubinga, Sycamore, shavings from NB Birchils and Dane, and colourful acrylics floated around the back deck of the boat. Just what we needed and our first night away from civilisation for a good while. Even the rattle of combines in the next field and lorries along the A553 from Sandbach couldn't dull our moods.

#329

Now Sold

Bubinga, Laminated Aluminium and Brown Acrylic

BUBINGA - Guibourtia

An African hardwood also known as Kevazingo, Bubinga may be loved as much for its quirky name as it is for its strength and beauty. Also sometimes called Kevazingo, usually in reference to its decorative rotary-cut veneer.

Bubinga has a close resemblance to rosewood and is often use in place of more expensive woods. Yet Bubinga also features a host of stunning grain figures, such as flamed, pommele, and waterfall, which make this wood truly unique. Bubinga also has an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio.

We'd now been through the tunnel at Harecastle, stopped for a few days at Church Lawton, Stopped for an overnight break at Rode Heath and were close to Middlewich where we were going to be trading at the Folk And Boat Festival. With a couple of washing loads to do and a good few pens to turn we decided to moor up in the middle of nowhere at Bridge 164 a few miles (and half a dozen locks) south of Middlewich to do some catching up. Pen 329 was turned on the 16th June 2015.

The weather was lovely, Dudley tired himself out running through the long grass at the side of the little used towpath the washing dried quickly in the sunny breeze and chips of oak, elm, Bubinga, Sycamore, shavings from NB Birchils and Dane, and colourful acrylics floated around the back deck of the boat. Just what we needed and our first night away from civilisation for a good while. Even the rattle of combines in the next field and lorries along the A553 from Sandbach couldn't dull our moods.

#328

Now Sold

Sycamore and Chrome Ballpoint Twist Pen

Sycamore - Acer pseudoplatanu

Sycamore is a creamy white colour with a silky lustre, and is easy to work. With an oil finish, Sycamore can turn a light tan colour.  Sycamore isn't that great for outdoor use. It is easily perishable and is best kept for internal decorative work. 

We'd now been through the tunnel at Harecastle, stopped for a few days at Church Lawton, Stopped for an overnight break at Rode Heath and were close to Middlewich where we were going to be trading at the Folk And Boat Festival. With a couple of washing loads to do and a good few pens to turn we decided to moor up in the middle of nowhere at Bridge 164 a few miles (and half a dozen locks) south of Middlewich to do some catching up. Pen #328 was made on Tuesday 16th June 2015.

The weather was lovely, Dudley tired himself out running through the long grass at the side of the little used towpath the washing dried quickly in the sunny breeze and chips of oak, elm, Bubinga, Sycamore, shavings from NB Birchils and Dane, and colourful acrylics floated around the back deck of the boat. Just what we needed and our first night away from civilisation for a good while. Even the rattle of combines in the next field and lorries along the A553 from Sandbach couldn't dull our moods.

#327

NOW SOLD

Elm and Chrome Ballpoint Twist Pen

EUROPEAN ELM - Ulmus procera

European Elm has is a light to medium brown, sometimes with a hint of red. With an oil finish, it can turn a beautiful golden brown colour. 

We'd now been through the tunnel at Harecastle, stopped for a few days at Church Lawton, Stopped for an overnight break at Rode Heath and were close to Middlewich where we were going to be trading at the Folk And Boat Festival. With a couple of washing loads to do and a good few pens to turn we decided to moor up in the middle of nowhere at Bridge 164 a few miles (and half a dozen locks) south of Middlewich to do some catching up. Pen #327 was turned on Tuesday June 16th 2015.

The weather was lovely, Dudley tired himself out running through the long grass at the side of the little used towpath the washing dried quickly in the sunny breeze and chips of oak, elm, Bubinga, Sycamore, shavings from NB Birchils and Dane, and colourful acrylics floated around the back deck of the boat. Just what we needed and our first night away from civilisation for a good while. Even the rattle of combines in the next field and lorries along the A553 from Sandbach couldn't dull our moods.

#326

NOW SOLD

NB Dane Elm and Gold Ballpoint Twist Pen

(25% of which will be donated to the Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the owners of NB Dane)

We'd now been through the tunnel at Harecastle, stopped for a few days at Church Lawton, Stopped for an overnight break at Rode Heath and were close to Middlewich where we were going to be trading at the Folk And Boat Festival. With a couple of washing loads to do and a good few pens to turn we decided to moor up in the middle of nowhere at Bridge 164 a few miles (and half a dozen locks) south of Middlewich to do some catching up. Pen #326 was made on Tuesday 16th June.

The weather was lovely, Dudley tired himself out running through the long grass at the side of the little used towpath the washing dried quickly in the sunny breeze and chips of oak, elm, Bubinga, Sycamore, shavings from NB Birchils and Dane, and colourful acrylics floated around the back deck of the boat. Just what we needed and our first night away from civilisation for a good while. Even the rattle of combines in the next field and lorries along the A553 from Sandbach couldn't dull our moods.

EUROPEAN ELM - Ulmus procera

European Elm has is a light to medium brown, sometimes with a hint of red. With an oil finish, it can turn a beautiful golden brown colour. Unless, of course, it's been kept at the bottom of a canal for an awfully long time.

Narrowboat Dane was built by the Mersey Weaver and Ship Canal Carrying Company and used as part of their fleet. She was built in November 1946 and first registered on January the first 1947. Ade from A P Boatbuilding is currently restoring her on behalf of The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the work being done is rebottomed with new chine planks, kelson, stem post and soon to receive two new bow planks, gunwales, decks, new back cabin and engine room. The pens that I will be making from Dane are all from a heavy lump of Elm bottom plate.

#325

NOW SOLD

NB Birchills Oak and Gun Metal Fountain Pen

(25% of the selling price of this pen will be gifted to The Black Country Living Museum, the Custodians of NB Birchills)

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.

This particular piece of oak (probably English rather than European) is just a little bit special though. It comes from the rear cabin side gunwales of Narrowboat Birchills. I was given a few off cuts by the superb craftsmen who were carrying out a little light refurbishment to this historic boat, in fact the guys had cut the whole back cabin off!

Birchills is an historic, ‘Joey’ boat with a small day cabin, built in 1953 by Ernest Thomas of Walsall, ‘Birchills’ it is one of the last wooden day boats made and was used to carry coal to Wolverhampton Power Station. This boat is double-ended and the mast and rudder could be changed from one end to the other. This enabled its use in narrow canals or basins where there was no room to turn the boat around.

The rotten parts of these rebuilt boats are usually used to stoke the fires that steam the new planks for bending to the hulls shape so half a day later this flaky gunwale would have been burned. I wasn't sure how deep the rot would have gone and how deep I would have to delve into this piece to find stable wood. The pens I make from historic boat materials have been thoroughly tested by me to make sure that they will give pleasurable daily use.

That old flaky gunwale went on to make a few very nice pens and I was lucky enough to be given some more wood by Ade at A P Boat Building in Alvecote. This time a piece that appears to be from the old red cabin hatch surround.

We'd now been through the tunnel at Harecastle, stopped for a few days at Church Lawton, Stopped for an overnight break at Rode Heath and were close to Middlewich where we were going to be trading at the Folk And Boat Festival. With a couple of washing loads to do and a good few pens to turn we decided to moor up in the middle of nowhere at Bridge 164 a few miles (and half a dozen locks) south of Middlewich to do some catching up.

The weather was lovely, Dudley tired himself out running through the long grass at the side of the little used towpath the washing dried quickly in the sunny breeze and chips of oak, elm, Bubinga, Sycamore, shavings from NB Birchils and Dane, and colourful acrylics floated around the back deck of the boat. Just what we needed and our first night away from civilisation for a good while. Even the rattle of combines in the next field and lorries along the A553 from Sandbach couldn't dull our moods.

Pen #325 was turned on Tuesday 16th of June 2015 from a piece of cabin oak from NB Birchills.

#324

NOW SOLD

NB Dane Elm and Gold Ballpoint Twist Pen

(25% of which will be donated to the Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the owners of NB Dane)

EUROPEAN ELM - Ulmus procera

European Elm has is a light to medium brown, sometimes with a hint of red. With an oil finish, it can turn a beautiful golden brown colour. Unless, of course, it's been kept at the bottom of a canal for an awfully long time.

Narrowboat Dane was built by the Mersey Weaver and Ship Canal Carrying Company and used as part of their fleet. She was built in November 1946 and first registered on January the first 1947. Ade from A P Boatbuilding is currently restoring her on behalf of The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the work being done is rebottomed with new chine planks, kelson, stem post and soon to receive two new bow planks, gunwales, decks, new back cabin and engine room. The pens that I will be making from Dane are all from a heavy lump of Elm bottom plate.

We'd now been through the tunnel at Harecastle, stopped for a few days at Church Lawton, Stopped for an overnight break at Rode Heath and were close to Middlewich where we were going to be trading at the Folk And Boat Festival. With a couple of washing loads to do and a good few pens to turn we decided to moor up in the middle of nowhere at Bridge 164 a few miles (and half a dozen locks) south of Middlewich to do some catching up. Pen #324 was made on Tuesday 16th June.

The weather was lovely, Dudley tired himself out running through the long grass at the side of the little used towpath the washing dried quickly in the sunny breeze and chips of oak, elm, Bubinga, Sycamore, shavings from NB Birchils and Dane, and colourful acrylics floated around the back deck of the boat. Just what we needed and our first night away from civilisation for a good while. Even the rattle of combines in the next field and lorries along the A553 from Sandbach couldn't dull our moods.

#323

NOW SOLD

NB Dane Elm and 24ct Gold Plated Rollerball Pen

(25% of which will be donated to The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation for the continued upkeep of NB Dane)

EUROPEAN ELM - Ulmus procera

European Elm has is a light to medium brown, sometimes with a hint of red. With an oil finish, it can turn a beautiful golden brown colour. Unless, of course, it's been kept at the bottom of a canal for an awfully long time.

Narrowboat Dane was built by the Mersey Weaver and Ship Canal Carrying Company and used as part of their fleet. She was built in November 1946 and first registered on January the first 1947. Ade from A P Boatbuilding is currently restoring her on behalf of The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the work being done is rebottomed with new chine planks, kelson, stem post and soon to receive two new bow planks, gunwales, decks, new back cabin and engine room. The pens that I will be making from Dane are all from a heavy lump of Elm bottom plate.

We'd now been through the tunnel at Harecastle, stopped for a few days at Church Lawton, Stopped for an overnight break at Rode Heath and were close to Middlewich where we were going ro be trading at the Folk And Boat Festival. With a couple of washing loads to do and a good few pens to turn we decided to moor up in the middle of nowhere at Bridge 164 a few miles (and half a dozen locks) south of Middlewich to do some catching up.

The weather was lovely, Dudley tired himself out running through the long grass at the side of the little used towpath the washing dried quickly in the sunny breeze and chips of oak, elm, Bubinga, Sycamore, shavings from NB Birchils and Dane, and colourful acrylics floated around the back deck of the boat. Just what we needed and our first night away from civilisation for a good while. Even the rattle of combines in the next field and lorries along the A553 from Sandbach couldn't dull our moods.

Pen #323 was turned on Mondaay 15th June 2015 from a piece of the base plate from Narrowboat Dane.

#322

NOW SOLD

Oak with Aluminium and Tabasco Acrylic Laminate, and 24ct Glod Plated 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.

We'd now been through the tunnel at Harecastle, stopped for a few days at Church Lawton, Stopped for an overnight break at Rode Heath and were close to Middlewich where we were going ro be trading at the Folk And Boat Festival. With a couple of washing loads to do and a good few pens to turn we decided to moor up in the middle of nowhere at Bridge 164 a few miles (and half a dozen locks) south of Middlewich to do some catching up.

The weather was lovely, Dudley tired himself out running through the long grass at the side of the little used towpath the washing dried quickly in the sunny breeze and chips of oak, elm, Bubinga, Sycamore, shavings from NB Birchils and Dane, and colourful acrylics floated around the back deck of the boat. Just what we needed and our first night away from civilisation for a good while. Even the rattle of combines in the next field and lorries along the A553 from Sandbach couldn't dull our moods.

Pen #322 was turned on Monday 15th June 2015 from a piece of Tiger Brown Oak.