How much are you willing to pay for a premium blank? (part 2)

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How much are you willing to pay for a premium blank?

  • Up to $15.00

    Votes: 50 43.1%

  • Up to $25.00

    Votes: 37 31.9%

  • Up to $50.00

    Votes: 16 13.8%

  • Up to $75.00

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Up to $100.00

    Votes: 5 4.3%

  • Up to $125.00

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Up to $150.00

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Up to $200.00

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Up to $250.00

    Votes: 1 0.9%

  • more than $250.00

    Votes: 7 6.0%
  • Total voters
    116
  • Poll closed .
D

Dario

Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2005
Messages
8,222
Location
Austin, TX, USA.
How much are you willing to pay for a premium blank?

Okay this is a remake poll...let us please behave and respect others choice or preference. Some of us set it because of financial reasons, some because of market demand. Let us respect that.

We are not setting the price of the blank...ONLY HOW MUCH WE (as individual) ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR THAT RARE and SPECIAL WOOD BLANK.

Blank is NATURAL WOOD, not casted or segmented. It also is not of any biblical or historical importance associated with it to make it "extra" special.

Thank you.
 
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Natural Blanks - I don't know of any that are worth that much to me. I would probably pay for a mammoth tusk blank, but beyond that nothing more than $50.00, and that would have to be extra special and beautiful. And then it would be for a wedding anniversary or one of my daughters.
 
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Natural blank, no historical significance, no biblical significance, not cast, not segmented, and I assume not stabilized - just a piece of purdy wood -- $5 tops.
 
Dario said:
Some of us set it because of financial reasons, some because of market demand
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A third option, and the one that constrains me, is the limit of my turning abilities. I am not at the point yet where I would chuck up a blank worth more than $25 because I think that there's an even chance that I wil wreck it.

FWIW, I feel much the same way about tools and have gotten into many a, er, "discussion" with people who insist that you need a $300 saw blade to cut straight lines. When the day comes that that saw blade will make a difference, I'll most likely buy one - but I ain't there yet.

So, would I pay $1,000,000 for a blank cut from the last remaining Bumma-Bumma Gum Tree? Sure - if I knew I wasn't going to wreck it (and if I knew I was going to get my money back out of it, or if my personal satisfaction was worth $1,000,000)). But, today, I'm in the $25 and below crowd. That much will get me into snake skins and pretty nice amboyna - and won't make me cry when the blank explodes on my lathe. :)

Cheers!

Gary
 
Are there any plain wood blanks without significance that would be over $25. The only blanks I can think of that are over that are the ones from Rarest Woods, and I would consider those historically significant.
 
gatornick said:
Are there any plain wood blanks without significance that would be over $25. The only blanks I can think of that are over that are the ones from Rarest Woods, and I would consider those historically significant.
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I don't. If I know a certain emperor (or any historical figure) used the chair it is taken from, then yes.
 
wood-of-1kind said:
I wish that I could have the opportunity to ask this polled question to one individual, a great (penmaker) that left us far too early. I very much doubt that he would spent beyond tier I pricing and I would agree. The "true" value of a pen blank pretty much stops with the talent that one is capable of making it into a fine quality writing instrument. JMO
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I assume you are talking about Eagle. By all means, start a new poll for it. I would love to see the results as well. And I would honestly raise my limit for his work as well. :cool:

Oops, reading back...I realized I mis-understood the statement. I know he doesn't buy much expensive blanks and used a lot of scraps. I supplied him a box actually and offered to make me a custom blank for free. I declined though he tried convincing me more than 15 times. Now I regret that move.

Capability is sure a factor in setting our limits and feel free to use it. My limit can change tomorrow but I am voting only for now.
 
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I said $25, but I think the highest I've paid for a "regular wood blank" is $15. However, I could see paying even more than $25 for the right blank. I'm a big believer in buying and selling the best.
 
Dario I think you should add - would you pay a higher price if was already sold? I don't have a lot of cash floating around but if someone wanted a $100 blank off of me and would pay up front for it I would not turn them down. I would be nervous as hell turning it but that's only because I still doubt my abilities. As I said in the other thread my highest selling pens have been this way. The customer wanted a certain wood. It happened to cost way more then I normally pay but I did it for the customer and it turned out great. For those who do not want to pay more then $5 for wood blanks send your customers to me, lol.
 
rjwolfe3 said:
Dario I think you should add - would you pay a higher price if was already sold? I don't have a lot of cash floating around but if someone wanted a $100 blank off of me and would pay up front for it I would not turn them down. I would be nervous as hell turning it but that's only because I still doubt my abilities. As I said in the other thread my highest selling pens have been this way. The customer wanted a certain wood. It happened to cost way more then I normally pay but I did it for the customer and it turned out great. For those who do not want to pay more then $5 for wood blanks send your customers to me, lol.
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I think if this is the case I won't have a limit as well so NO. Just because I believe this is not a normal transaction.

I know the risk of ruining a blank at that cost could be a bit unnerving. :eek:
 
I think the rarity, and visual appeal would play a huge factor. I do not restrict myself based on a dollar value. If there was something that was very rare, and I was reasonably sure it was something that not many would have, that would raise the price.

Thinking about it, does it not come down to supply and demand?


Ralph
 
mrplace said:
I think the rarity, and visual appeal would play a huge factor. I do not restrict myself based on a dollar value. If there was something that was very rare, and I was reasonably sure it was something that not many would have, that would raise the price.

Thinking about it, does it not come down to supply and demand?

Ralph
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Exactly what I am polling. If you found that nice rare piece...how much are you willing to fork out?
 
I assume that a blank can be anything, not just a single piece of wood, but segmented wood would count as well. And of course a segmented blank can be far more rare than most of even the rarest wood species. If I did not have the talent to build it myself, then I would pay possibly up to $150 for a segmented blank. For just a wood blank, I find it tough to justify more than $5. Many of the rare blanks of wood species are not that rare. I was once told pink ivory is the rarest wood in the world. I don't know if that's true, but I don't know too many wood places that don't have it in stock...if it's in stock everywhere, how rare is it??? Some of the asian woods..well I see all kinds of other species that look the same. So if I'm a customer, how do I really know it's what I'm told it is? Even if you give me documentation of some sort..how do I trust that too? You show me a top notch segmented blank, well it's far more convincing to a customer that there is a labor of love here in this blank, and there sure isn't a forest of this blank growing down the street!
 
I still voted 25.00 Based on my ability and demand, I used to cut a lot of Gem stone, that when I bought it and it was available was lets say 75.00 a pound, to get the same material now it would cost nearly that per carat, roughly 2,000 times what it cost in the 1970s, I've seen this happen with many seemingly plentiful materials, when the mines/ forests have been picked clean they are gone for ever. But IF I had a request for a specific piece of wood, and the Provenance were beyond reproach, I would CONSIDER a 200.00 chunk of lumber. otherwise 25.00 is my limit, you know some of the currently available burls will be classed as RARE in the near future.
And I am glad to see this poll has remained civil and on an adult discussion level.
 
So .. how come the poll says 'up to.." instead of 'less than' ??
Different meanings, as I'd still be honest in saying I'd pay less than
$15, but I would NOT pay up to $15.

If I'm going to pay over $15, I'll be getting much more than a blank.
It will have provenance, personal meaning, great workmanship etc.
.. but I wouldn't pay that much for just the piece of wood.

Again, not saying it isn't worth the money, it just isn't worth
it to me. Some people can also spend a few hundred on a nice
dinner out with someone special. I'd be just as happy with a
balogna sandwich, as this just isn't something I happen to value
in the same way.

Then again, there are things I will spend money on that others may
see as wasteful, too expensive etc.. it is a matter of priorities, I
think.

And while I can see value in certain rare woods, I wouldn't spend my
money on them. I might order them for a client, but not for myself.
I also wouldn't wear expensive jewelry, expensive clothing etc. I wouldn't
care to live in a large home. I don't care for expensive cars. It has nothing
to do with my being cheap (but I am) it is just that these things have no
value TO ME. Not 'no value at all' .. just not for me.
 
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Smoke Tree Root Burl........ Still looking for a piece.
Cocobolo Burl........

Oh I can see reasons without any historical/biblical reason to pay large amounts for blanks.

I mean someone mentioned Chestnut Burl, The tree is extremely rare now and so the burl must be an even more rare piece. I've even seen people talk about Purpleheart burl on occasion.

When you are looking at a piece of wood that is so rare that you may not see another piece in 20-30 years if ever, price can go out the window.
 
Russianwolf said:
...Smoke Tree Root Burl...
...Chestnut Burl...

When you are looking at a piece of wood that is so rare that you may not see another piece in 20-30 years if ever, price can go out the window.
Click to expand...

Am I glad that I managed to stash a few blanks of these :biggrin:

The smoke tree burl was from trades with another IAP member and the American Chestnut burl was from eBay a few years back. It is the most expensive wood I ever bought (by unit volume). It is pretty but not prettier than amboyna or honduran rosewood burl IMHO...but because of rarity, I bought it.
 
I voted up to $15 as there wasn`t a lower option , there are blanks sold on here that because of their rareness they command very high prices, I would only buy these if it was a special customer request and they knew just how much the wood was selling for.
 
its a shame that there isnt an option for a $500 + blank as in the next month I will put one up that will rock your worlds watch this space.
I am sure that what ever one is selling there is always a market for low end and super high end be it cars or carrots was ever thus and hey it would be a boring world if we had only vanilla flavoured blanks to play with I suspect that even if folk dont buy the high end blanks they enjoy looking at the pens and reading about them its what makes this site great namely variety, one size fits no one.:)
 
I agree with one and all of you. Every one of you is willing to pay what you said and not a one has belittled some who think differently than you.
Oh by the way David you are going to send me one of the $500.00 blanks to try ....Right?:rolleyes::wink::biggrin:
 
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I have paid $16 a blank for superb quality of IBO, but would not spend more than 25 bucks for a wooden pen blank - but then it must be something very special!! For those who can afford to buy a single pen blank - and that is what we are talking about here - and spend more than $250 a piece: good luck! Hope you can sell the pen you make from this blank, if it is not blown out during drilling or turning :frown::mad::biggrin:
 
Rarest wood said:
... in the next month I will put one up that will rock your worlds...
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Dave;

I've got a 10lb piece of flame burl amboyna coming in next month that will leave you in tears. I probably am going to put it on a shelf as a specimen rather than turn it. Yes, it was very, very dear. If your blanks is anything like it I would hate to see it become a pen.

I would sell autographed photographs, though.

>:p

Marc
 
Dario,
I voted in the first category..two reasons..
1. I'm poor, very close to my money, cheap, etc....
2. While a very nice blank will enhance the looks of a pen, it's my firm belief that there are turners on this site (I'm sure not one of them) who could take a broom stick and make a fabulous pen... the final product is a product of combining the materials with the skill of the hands and imagination of the artist.
 
ozmandus said:
2. While a very nice blank will enhance the looks of a pen, it's my firm belief that there are turners on this site (I'm sure not one of them) who could take a broom stick and make a fabulous pen... the final product is a product of combining the materials with the skill of the hands and imagination of the artist.
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That's just too funny. I would love to see someone turn a nice broom stick pen. Emporer?? hahhaha. :laugh: Come on guys, how cool would it be.

What the heck do they make broomsticks out of these days?
 
I agree that it depends to some extent whether or not you have a buyer for a pen made from an expensive blank. IIRC, the cocobolo blanks sold for $25 per blank. I sold a Jr Statesman rollerball cocobolo burl pen for $200, which more than covered my expenses for the other two blanks I have. Perhaps I could have asked for more, but the buyer owns about 30 of my pens so I didn't want to get pushy. If I get up the nerve to drill one for a Churchill, his favorite style, I could get about the same again, and still have a blank for me to enjoy.

Marc and I disagree on occasion, but I really agree with his remark about the flame amboyna burl. Some of God's creations should just be admired, not altered.
 
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