Using Citrus Wood for Pen Making

Using Citrus Wood for Pen Making

Using Citrus Wood for Pen Making

Pen crafters are always on the lookout for different types of wood to use in handcrafting pens. Using the basic hardwoods and softwoods easily available, the pen crafter, unless he/she specializes in only a few wood types, desires to try to turn as many different woods as possible. Another choice for the pen crafter/woodworker is the availability of various types of citrus wood for pen making.

Recently quantities of grapefruit, orange and tangerine woods have become available. These woods exhibit fairly tight grain lines and are very easy to turn into fine exquisite pens. These woods turn and sand well. They take any finish and provide an excellent looking pen.

Using these woods in the spalted form also exhibit certain other characteristics that set them apart from standard woods. Many deep dark designs and textures can be uncovered using the spalted type of these citrus woods.

Orange wood has a nice tight grain and even has a slight scent to it. This wood turns very well allowing the handcrafter to sand the piece to obtain a glass-like finish. Pens turn out tannish' in color and the grain is well observed in the finished piece.

Grapefruit wood turns similar to orange wood but is slightly darker in color. Using spalted grapefruit that has insect holes throughout produces magnificent looking pens with character. The grain is slightly more visible than orange, and details added are heightened. Turning with bulged upper and lower barrels produces exceptional looking grain designs.

Tangerine wood is slightly more difficult to obtain, but well worth it. This also turns easily and provides excellent looking pens. The color of the pen resembles pens turned from orange wood, but with slightly wider grain lines. It does have a more colorful look than the other woods but nonetheless retains the same properties as the other citrus woods.

Woodworkers and pen crafters continually look for new wood to turn, but if you get the chance to obtain one of these beauties, it is worth your effort to add it to your collection. All pens are made to be used, and these will spark comments and conversations. Obtain one and see for yourself the work that goes into producing a fine citrus wood writing instrument.

Paul Witmer 2010

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