Hi all. New member and new pen turner here. Was wondering about purchasing burl blanks. Is it possible to turn burl blanks that have not been stabilized? I see many places to buy burl blanks on ebay, but most are non-stabilized blanks. If I need to buy stabilized blanks, can anyone tell me the best place to buy? Thanks.
Burl Blanks
- Thread starter dcastle
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Manny
Member
It really depends on the blank density. Porous and soft woods are difficult to turn without stabilization. Although thin CA can be used while turning to help keep things together. To answer your question I turn unstabilized burl blanks all the time. Burl caps can be purchased and sliced up and turned no problem.
Manny
Manny
ctubbs
Member
Welcome Dennis, from far west Kentucky, to the addiction, sometimes referred to as the vortex. Be sure to give the library a good bit of time. The link is at the top of the page. You will find an article called Library Index. This covers tutorials on about anything pen making you can think of. You will also notice that there are articles listed by year. Much good info there as well. When these fail to answer your questions, by all means post it here. I have never seen one go unanswered very long. You might also want to give this thread a good look. It has some very good info for the beginning pen turner; http://content.penturners.org/library/general_reference/Getting_started_in_pen_turning.pdf. Grab some wood, make some shavings and have fun all the while being safe.
Charles
Charles
Joe Burns
Member
Hi Dennis,
Welcome to the addiction. You can turn stabilized and non-stabilized burl blanks. I prefer them to standard wood as they make great pens.
Go slow and easy with the non-stabilized ones. Take your time as they could have small voids in them. Just have some sawdust from the shavings handy along with some thin CA to fill the voids.
Stabilized blanks are impregnated with resin and will turn easier.
Joe
Welcome to the addiction. You can turn stabilized and non-stabilized burl blanks. I prefer them to standard wood as they make great pens.
Go slow and easy with the non-stabilized ones. Take your time as they could have small voids in them. Just have some sawdust from the shavings handy along with some thin CA to fill the voids.
Stabilized blanks are impregnated with resin and will turn easier.
Joe
Younka
Member
I turn alot of burls that are not stabilized and if there are some cracks in the burl I will fill in the crack with some CA glue. A few of my favorite places to get blanks are from the IAP market place, alot of members on hear sell some really nice stuff! Some other great places to get blanks are big dog burl source, Indy pen dance, griffin exotic wood. (I know the big dog burl is expensive but they are great quality!!)
mdburn_em
Member
You can absolutely turn un-stabilized burl blanks. There are risks, just as there are if you turn very spalted blanks.
If you're going to try it, you need to have very sharp tools. if you can't get sharp tools, don't try it. They'll blow up on you.
I have a piece of Ebony that I use just for sanding dust. When I need some black to fill some voids, I turn and sand the ebony blank. I'll catch the dust and then use it to fill the voids. Others like to use different colors to fill the voids. I've done the same by getting some truestone, sanding that and saving the dust. That can really look pretty sharp. of course, it can also look pretty hideous. Or at least that's what I've heard.
If you're going to try it, you need to have very sharp tools. if you can't get sharp tools, don't try it. They'll blow up on you.
I have a piece of Ebony that I use just for sanding dust. When I need some black to fill some voids, I turn and sand the ebony blank. I'll catch the dust and then use it to fill the voids. Others like to use different colors to fill the voids. I've done the same by getting some truestone, sanding that and saving the dust. That can really look pretty sharp. of course, it can also look pretty hideous. Or at least that's what I've heard.