These pens are not yet available for purchase, but if you'd like to check out our other products, our website is here! https://formanwoodworking.com/
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Hello, friends! Earlier this year, I was trying to build up some pen inventory to bring to a local craft fair/show, and so I decided to take on this behemoth of a project and make 48 handmade pens all at the same time! Long story short, I did not succeed :D Other, more important projects began to take priority part way through this process, and so as of this posting, I still have many pen blanks that need to be finished. Regardless, I thought it was well past time I shared this project with you all! In this video, I made fountain pens out of 4 separate wood species (red oak, padauk, sucupira, and lacewood), with red oak being the only wood species of the 4 that I've worked with before.

A note on each of the four: 1) As many of you probably know by now, I absolutely love red oak. Yes, yes, some find it "old-fashioned," but I myself just can't get enough of it! I love the colour, I love the grain patterns, and just about everything else about it, so turning these was a treat! 2) I will NEVER EVER turn sucupira again! Good lord, this wood ruined almost a handful of tools in my shop. I have no idea how its hardness compares to other wood species, but this was by far the hardest wood I've ever personally worked with; I could hardly get through a single pen without having to resharpen my blade! Beautiful wood, don't get me wrong, but just not worth it for the beating it inflicts on tools. 3) I was not expecting padauk to be as soft as it was! Again, this was my first time working with this popular turner's wood, and as much as I love the striking color, I actually found it a challenge to work with, just given how frail it felt on the lathe. I might very well be doing something wrong, or perhaps I'm just not keeping my blade sharp enough, but either way, I think I need more practice with this one! 4) This project has made lacewood a fast favorite wood species for me. Not only are the grain patterns eye-catching and super unique, but the wood turns as nicely as any other wood I've tried to date. I don't currently have any extra in the shop for larger projects like bowls, but the next time I visit the exotic wood store, I'm definitely picking up some more of this!

Anyways, all pens were dry sanded up to 600 grit, finished with 12-15 coats of thin CA glue, wet sanded up to 12000 grit, and then finished with a plastic polishing paste. What wood was your favourite??

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Check out our Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/formanwoodw...

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Key equipment/products I used:

Rikon 70-220 VSR Midi Lathe: https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/...
Pen Mandrel: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B004...
Woodstock 1/2 inch bowl gouge: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B005...
Ballpoint pen kits: https://www.penblanks.ca/Budget-Strea...
Pen Blank Chuck: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07C...
Pen Press: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B005...
Starbond Thin Cyanoacrylate (Pen finish): https://www.penblanks.ca/Starbond-CA-...