Ironwood heartwood?

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Hippie3180

Hippie3180

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This Ironwood has quite a bit more gold than the last one with pronounced dark grain. Do you think this is likely because it is heartwood? I love the caramelly gold of this one.
 

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egnald said:
I don't know, but it sure is a gorgeous pen. I really like how your inserts show up as bands on the ends, at least I think it must be part of your inserts and not just an added piece on the ends. - Dave
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Thank you,the accent rings utilizing the inserts are not unique to our pens this is something that is out there. There are other far more talented makers who make almost strictly wood pens that probably invented this method see Casey Giddens' work and a few others. Casey's work is infinitely more elaborate, but I feel that makes his work his own….so we don't go there.
 
bugradx2 said:
that's cool, are you making the sleeves or purchasing someplace?
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This particular sleeve was given to me, but look for leatherette pen sleeves. I believe F3 Pens can do customization on leatherette pen sleeves, I think they hold a single pen.

These are nice ones from Turners Warehouse

www.turnerswarehouse.com

Slim Leatherette Pen Sleeve Pouch - Laserable | Turners Warehouse

This slim leatherette pen sleeve pouch offers a professional and sleek design for your favorite pen. You can add your own personal touch by laser engraving the surface. Crafted with high-quality materials, this pouch will keep your pen safe and secure while on-the-go.
www.turnerswarehouse.com
 
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Beautiful pen, as always! That grain is beautiful. It may just be like that, because its figured? It may be due to the piece being from near the heartwood, and the figuring caused some strangeness as it transitioned from sapwood to heartwood? Can't say for sure.

Have you ever considered making your own pen boxes? Its a whole different kind of woodworking, for sure...different tools, skills, techniques. But it has the potential of allowing you to tailor your pen containers to the pens themselves. ;) Something I've been exploring. I have a lot to learn, before I think I'll be able to produce my own first pen box, but exploring other kinds of woodworking besides just turning is interesting!
 
jrista said:
Beautiful pen, as always! That grain is beautiful. It may just be like that, because its figured? It may be due to the piece being from near the heartwood, and the figuring caused some strangeness as it transitioned from sapwood to heartwood? Can't say for sure.

Have you ever considered making your own pen boxes? Its a whole different kind of woodworking, for sure...different tools, skills, techniques. But it has the potential of allowing you to tailor your pen containers to the pens themselves. ;) Something I've been exploring. I have a lot to learn, before I think I'll be able to produce my own first pen box, but exploring other kinds of woodworking besides just turning is interesting!
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Thank you! That may be, it's just such a different color….that is what's so cool about wood. You just never know what is in there.

I've not thought about pen boxes, but I know there is a demand for those. Hard to find just the size one needs. I've been able to get a few done by a cabinet maker friend, but I don't think he's really into them…small work. I would think someone could do well making pen boxes.

I don't really want to buy more wood working type tools (we work in a small corner of a two car garage-no real shop), but I am thinking of getting back after my candlesticks. I originally dug the lathe out to make candlesticks but immediately got frustrated with beads and coves, I'm thinking now I may be able to figure them out.
 
That may be, it's just such a different color….that is what's so cool about wood. You just never know what is in there.[\Quote]
To me, that is the love I have of different woods. When I lived in Japan, there was a chain high end hobby store (Tokyu-Hands) with different choices of wood Asian Australian and African woods of different sizes that one could buy. I still have a good stash. One never know what one will find in them. I have several iron wood blanks and just enjoy looking at them from time to time!

That is a beautiful pen! You brought the beauty of the wood out real well!
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I guess thinking about this heartwood is new growth with far less color and figuring. 🤔 I'm guessing Jon is probably correct. Wood is interesting.
 
Hippie3180 said:
I guess thinking about this heartwood is new growth with far less color and figuring. 🤔 I'm guessing Jon is probably correct. Wood is interesting.
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Michele , heartwood is at the center of a tree , and is frequently very soft , what most turners call pith . As a tree grows , it either deposits more chemicals into its central growth rings , or the ones already there begin a slow decomposition process which changes the colour . The dark portions of the annual growth rings is probably where they are concentrated .
So , it varies a lot between species , but the newest growth , the sapwood , may be only 2 growth rings thick , or it may be 20 . I have no experience with desert ironwood with regard to that . But , as far as I know , sapwood is always lighter colour than heartwood .
That is a very beautiful pen . Makes me want to dig out my stock of DIW and try it again .
 
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