After you are in this hobby for a while you will learn to cut for figure more than volume. By that I mean that I would rather cut one or two great blanks out of a board than ten so-so blanks. A knot, sap wood or figured grain often is a very small part of a board but can make a much nicer pen when cut to make the most interesting pen blank. In fact most people want straight uniform grain in wood without grain pattern or knots. They cut off or grade down the wood we like the most. Nice how that works out sometimes.
Yes, you have touched a important factor when cutting your own wood/blanks, one that I live with every day and I wouldn't wanted it in any other way...!:wink:
The thing is, there is wood and there is wood...!, commercially processed woods discard/reject the very "bits" that we wood-turners most appreciate, the more the wood is processed into clean boards for hardware stores and general wood stores, the vigorous selection those boards will go through so, the chances of finding the interesting flaws knots, spalting and other natural beauties (in my eye...!), are very slim, reason why I suggest people to buy a chainsaw and keep it ready to go with some extra fuel, oil and sharpening file) in their vehicle all of the time, logs, branches are everywhere, if you look for them...!:wink:
I spend a considerable amount of time in my life, showing, teaching, coaching others to process their own woods, even tough I make some money out of selling wood, processed or unprocessed however, I know for a fact that, the vast majority of those learning how its done, would never buy wood from me, either because of shipping costs or unable to spend much money on wood and many other reasons so, they can then, learn how to look around their neck of the woods with the "wood hunting eyes" the ones that only can see the wood/trees (like a filter, huh...???) and all of a certain, they start to pick up bits of wood here and there, take it home and enjoy splitting/slicing it all up, utilising a natural resource that would be otherwise wasted, my rule number one...!:biggrin:
They will get to the point/stage where, they just cut a slice of the log/branch/chunk and that slice/board at about 22mm for pen blanks, show spots with amazing grain, colours and other treasures, and you know you reached that indecisive point that I'm talking about when, you put that board/slice a side as you can't get to terms of ripping it up and loosing all that "picture/character"...!:frown:
That when you have to stop and thing, how can I get the most out of it, and I'm not talking about, "most" is quantity of blanks made from it but, a few with a difference...! That precise point, is one of no return as you can't joint it back together and all be OK, no Sir, you have to live with the decision of where to get the blade to cut through.
And while it may look that, that "moment" is a bad thing and something that you don't thing that, you wouldn't be that keen and/or looking forwards to go through/experience, believe me, you want to be in that situation as often as possible, that feeds my excitement and enjoyment of processing wood from logs.
Is this addictive...??? you betcha, is extremely addictive, you let me know when you try it...!:biggrin:
Good luck,
Cheers
George
