About the Timber A brief description of the timbers used Click on an image to enlarge

Ash Ash is a good strong wood with a straight grain. It is a durable and has various uses from the production of sports equipment to cabinet making. The timber is nice to work with and usually a really good finish can be achieved. It is light in colour and can have a lovely orangish grain. It is also often stained to give the appearance a darker wood. Due to its considerable strength Ash has had a number of uses throughout the ages ranging from making bows and shafts for spears. Today it is used mostly for interior work such as doors, staircases, architraves, skirting and the like. It is particularly good for bespoke kitchens and makes wonderful flooring. Its only drawback is Ash doesn’t have a natural durability for use outside and so needs to be treated beforehand. Those of a certain age or have an interest in classic cars, will know that it was used as the distinctive exterior wood on the Morris Minor Traveller from 1953

Black Walnut It would be hard to overstate Black Walnut’s popularity among woodworkers. Its working characteristics coupled with its rich brown coloration puts the wood in a class by itself. The heartwood can range from a lighter pale brown to a dark chocolate brown with darker brown streaks. The sapwood is pale yellow-grey to nearly white. The grain is usually straight but can be irregular with some nice patterns formed and occasionally spalted. Black Walnut is normally easy to work provided the grain is straight and regular. It machines well and also finishes well. It has a number of uses including furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, interior panelling and turned items to name a few.

Brazilian Mahogany Mahogany has a straight, fine, and even grain, and is relatively free of voids and pockets. Its reddish-brown colour darkens over time and displays a reddish sheen when polished. It has excellent workability and is very durable. Historically, the tree's girth allowed for wide boards from traditional mahogany species. These properties make it a favourable wood for crafting cabinets and furniture. Mahogany is still widely used for fine furniture; however, the rarity of Cuban mahogany, the over-harvesting of Honduras and Brazilian mahogany, and the protests by indigenous peoples and environmental organizations from the 1980s into the 2000s, have diminished their use. Recent mahogany production from Mexico and Fiji has a lighter colour and density than South American production from the early 20th century. This particular piece of Mahogany that these pen blanks are taekn from was originally bought to make a clock with, in the 1970s, but was never used and has been stored in my shed ever since.

Brown Oak Brown Oak is technically not a distinct species of oak, but rather refers to oak, usually English Oak, that has been infected with a fungus. This fungus has the effect of turning the wood a deep brown colour. Once the wood has been cut and dried, the fungus dies, leaving a rich golden brown timber. Oak is probably one of the most well known deciduous timbers. There are said to be over 500 different knowns varieties of this tree and is known for its strength and was extensively used in ship building from at least the Viking era. It was also used in the making of good quality furniture, barrels and numerous other items. A lot of people do not like using oak as the grain can be very course, difficult to work and get a glass like finish. However, I feel that most people buy a wooden pen for it to feel like a wooden pen and not a piece of plastic. Most of the oak that I use is English, but it is not always easy to tell particularly that sourced from old furniture.

Cedar There are many species of Cedar, probably the best known is Western Red Cedar. The heartwood reddish to pinkish brown, often with random streaks and bands of darker red/brown areas. It has narrow sapwood, which is pale yellowish white, and isn’t always sharply defined from the heartwood. Has a straight grain and a medium to coarse texture. It is easy to work with both hand or machine tools, though it dents and scratches very easily due to its softness it also finishes well. All of my pens are finshed with a tough finish that will resist all but the harsh of handling Its uses include shed making, boatbuilding, boxes, crates, and musical instruments.

Cypress There are many species of Cypress which are deciduous conifers and most have short needles with a feathery appearance. The trees have a straight trunk that tapers at the base, giving it a soaring perspective. In cultivated landscapes, they grow 50 to 80 feet (15-24 m.) tall. It is a light timber that works well and has a nice finish.

English Cherry Cherry is one of the few fruit woods commercially used in the UK for both furniture and joinery. The natural, warm lustre and attractive grain of English cherry set it apart as one of the most luxurious species from our native forests. The sap wood of cherry is a creamy white colour which contrasts with the light pink of the heart wood. English- grown cherry can sometimes develop green tints and streaks which add interest.

English Elm Elm is a hardwood that is thought to have been introduced to England during the Bronze Age. Is a hardwearing timber that has been used for furniture for centuries although it can be somewhat difficult to work sometimes. It has a greyish, brown colour and can have a really nice grain. Sadly, Dutch Elm Disease, has wiped out millions of trees and this has made it a rare tree to be seen now.