No marijuana plants were harmed to make this pen!

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mmayo

mmayo

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Well maybe they were, but after reading here about the difficulties in turning hemp I decided it was a challenge. Challenge met! This was a rush job as I work at the Gallery n Gifts today and just received the blanks yesterday. I'll make more and love the wild figure and colors.

It is chippy so bring sharp tools and a light even touch. It responded well to HSS, round carbide and 2" radius square carbide. Like inlace acrylester you might turn the edges carefully first and then thin the middle.

The finish is 4 coats thin CA and 8 medium coats. Flushed up after CA and four coats of thin CA to the ends to seal everything. Sanded with 400 grit and buffed on the Beale buff.

If you've mastered inlace acrylester give this turning challenge a try.
 

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qquake said:
That looks sharp! Where did you get the blank?
Click to expand...
hempwood.com

HempWood®

Innovative Hemp Flooring and Lumber Protect the Forests with Non-Toxic, No VOC HempWood® Widely considered to be the premier wood substitute with the smallest ecological footprint of any lumber alternative, HempWood® is perfect for use as anything that wood can be used for, like construction...
hempwood.com hempwood.com

I've read that buying the 5" squares and cutting them is more economical than buying blanks. Keep that in mind please.
 
mmayo said:
hempwood.com

HempWood®

Innovative Hemp Flooring and Lumber Protect the Forests with Non-Toxic, No VOC HempWood® Widely considered to be the premier wood substitute with the smallest ecological footprint of any lumber alternative, HempWood® is perfect for use as anything that wood can be used for, like construction...
hempwood.com hempwood.com

I've read that buying the 5" squares and cutting them is more economical than buying blanks. Keep that in mind please.
Click to expand...
Shipping is $13 for a $15 piece of wood. Too steep for me.
 
Mine are shipped, so I look forward to turning a few. I also bought the larger blocks.

Thanks for the turning suggestions, will be followed.
 
This place has stabilized blanks listed. Should be easier to turn.

reel-lumber-service.myshopify.com

Stabilized HempWood Pen Blank

Each pen blank has been stabilized with Cactus Juice. We partnered with local Los Angeles wood turner Kate of Bullseye Turning Supply and turned to her for her expertise in creating this clear stabilized blank. Each blank is squared to 7/8" (width and height) and is 5-3/4" in length. Pen Blanks...
reel-lumber-service.myshopify.com reel-lumber-service.myshopify.com
 
qquake said:
This place has stabilized blanks listed. Should be easier to turn.

ImThese blanks have so much adhesive of some type holding all of those pieces together that I wonder if stabilizing juice would penetrate enough to make a difference. Will have to stabilize some to see.
Click to expand...
ImThese blanks have so much adhesive of some type holding all of those pieces together that I wonder if stabilizing juice would penetrate enough to make a difference. Will have to stabilize some to see.

also, Ed at Exoticblanks's was just posting about it wondering if there was a "want". He said he currently has some so I think we will be able to get it from them also!
 
JohnU said:
ImThese blanks have so much adhesive of some type holding all of those pieces together that I wonder if stabilizing juice would penetrate enough to make a difference. Will have to stabilize some to see.

also, Ed at Exoticblanks's was just posting about it wondering if there was a "want". He said he currently has some so I think we will be able to get it from them also!
Click to expand...
I'd rather purchase it from Ed. Reel Lumber has "rift" and "plain" sawn listed, whatever that means.
 
I just seen Exoticblanks has it listed now. Several sizes to pick from.

HempWood Mini Slab - 5 x 5 x 7/8"

HempWood is an engineered wood product. Hemp fibers are broken down into individual strands and glued together using a combination of soy-protein and cross-linking binders, heat, and pressure. The timber is cut to achieve the appearance, width and thickness desired.Slab is approx. 7/8" strong x...
www.exoticblanks.com www.exoticblanks.com
 
qquake said:
I'd rather purchase it from Ed. Reel Lumber has "rift" and "plain" sawn listed, whatever that means.
Click to expand...
"Rift Sawn" is the straight grain look. "Face Sawn" is the twisted grain, "burl" look. The Hempwood website calls it "Face Sawn", but Reel Lumber calls it "Plain Sawn" - it is the same "burl" look.

Both grain patterns come from the same block of hempwood. It depends on how you cut it. When you buy hempwood lumber, you can choose which look you want on the board face and it is cut accordingly.

Pen blanks are symmetrical, so there is no need to choose a "look" - you get both looks in every blank. As you rotate the pen blanks, alternate faces on the same pen blank will have alternating looks. They blend together as you turn the pen on the lathe.
 
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