Please help

[Cwalker935]

I need to save face with my wife, sister and brother in law and am looking for some suggestions. I recently attended an outdoor wedding in the mountains of North Carolina. After enjoying locally brewed beer and participating in a bourbon tasting, I stumbled over a piece of heavily weathered wood. I picked it up and started carrying it to the car and was subjected several derisive comments like "what are you going to do make a pen with that"? Stubborn pride being what it is, I am going to make a pen with it. I am not sure but think that it might be pine of some sort. I have a pressure pot but have not done any stabilizing or waste wood blanks. Any suggestions for making something really special out of this wood? The wood is reasonably solid.

 

[Jim Burr]

As a maker of beer and pens...I'll stabilize it for you...maybe a suggestion or two on a kit that may work. Turning the pen may find you out of the woof woof house!!

 

[firewhatfire]

I don't think it's pine. I think it's dogwood. Got a pic prior to cuttin?

 

[Cwalker935]

I did not take a picture prior to cutting, it was just a weathered grey chunk of wood without any bark.

 

[Ted iin Michigan]

Casting some worthless wood blanks is a good idea - but there aren't too many voids in most of them for the resin to fill (unless you create some voids). Frankly, I like the 2nd from the left and the far right. I think the knots might make interesting features. Maybe Sierra/Gatsby?

Also, how about just dying one? Dunk a lighter one in red or yellow vegetable dye. If it's grey, might even try blue.

But be careful on the pride thing. It can cause real trouble. DAMHIKT

 

[rblakemore]

The wood looks pretty solid and I doubt that it needs to be stabilized. The fourth from the left has a nice edge on the top and could be cut for a piece of cast worthless. I like the knots and curly areas also. Instead of a single piece pen, how about a two piece which will show off more wood and grain??