Disappointed

[KenB259]

I'll probably be disassembling this one even though my wife says I'm way to picky. Cottonwood burl and there a couple of small voids where I can see brass

 

[SteveJ]

I sure do hate when that happens - especially knowing that if you had caught it before finishing you might have filled to holes with sawdust,,,

 

[magpens]

@KenB259

Looks pretty good to me . . . the burl is certainly nice, as is the finish.

I don't see what you might think is wrong with it, but you see more than pictures show.

 

[KenB259]

I sure do hate when that happens - especially knowing that if you had caught it before finishing you might have filled to holes with sawdust,,,

Yes that would have been ideal.

 

[leehljp]

I'll probably be disassembling this one even though my wife says I'm way to picky. Cottonwood burl and there a couple of small voids where I can see brass

Kinda reminds me of one of my favorite quotes: "Good is the enemy of Best." - Good enough is not good enough for me. My obsessive nature dominates. I applaud your perfectionism!

 

[mark james]

I have one like that also, coincidently on a Cambridge also. Every time I see it (my wife carries it in her purse as a weapon I think) I cringe as 3 voids are like 500W bulbs blinking at me.

 

[howsitwork]

Ken

you're a braver man than me to contradict SWMBO if she likes it !

 

[JohnU]

It is beautiful wood. If you disassemble it without damaging the blank, sand that thing down a little and fill those voids with sanding dust and CA. It's worth a try to save that Burl.

 

[KenB259]

It is beautiful wood. If you disassemble it without damaging the blank, sand that thing down a little and fill those voids with sanding dust and CA. It's worth a try to save that Burl.

Thing is the voids are full of CA. It's just a blank, a pretty one, but still just a blank. I'll remake it.

 

[KMCloonan]

Ken, I totally understand your perspective. Others may not readily see the imperfections, but as Mark said, they are like 500W bulbs to the craftsman who made the pen.

I have never seen cottonwood burl. It's really pretty. I have a yard full of willows and cottonwoods - I have used willow burl pretty extensively, but have not noticed any burls on the cottonwoods. I am going to have to look again. Thanks for sharing.

 

[KenB259]

Ken, I totally understand your perspective. Others may not readily see the imperfections, but as Mark said, they are like 500W bulbs to the craftsman who made the pen.

I have never seen cottonwood burl. It's really pretty. I have a yard full of willows and cottonwoods - I have used willow burl pretty extensively, but have not noticed any burls on the cottonwoods. I am going to have to look again. Thanks for sharing.

I bought the cottonwood burl from Cook woods online. I get stuff from them I can't get locally. I would rather see the wood in person, but they have pictures of every piece of wood they sell. I haven't been disappointed by anything I have bought from them.

 

[Kenny Durrant]

If the voids are full of glue take a Dremel or pick and open up the crack. Then fill it with the glue and dust. Just try to make any shapes as irregular as possible so it would look more natural. I'd try that before discarding a nice blank. Like yourself and others I couldn't leave it as is.

 

[sorcerertd]

If the voids are full of glue take a Dremel or pick and open up the crack. Then fill it with the glue and dust. Just try to make any shapes as irregular as possible so it would look more natural. I'd try that before discarding a nice blank. Like yourself and others I couldn't leave it as is.

This is what I was thinking, too. If you aren't happy with the "fix", you can still trash it and start over, but it might just work out well.

 

[KenB259]

This is what I was thinking, too. If you aren't happy with the "fix", you can still trash it and start over, but it might just work out well.

Good point, I'll give this a try.