subject: New Wood vs Older Reclaimed Wood For Projects (Pens/Pencils/Accessories) [print this page] When it comes to choosing what type of wood you want your next handcrafted purchase to be, there are several choices for the consumer to think about. Do I want virgin wood, that is, wood that is right from the mill and have never been used previously. It may be cut into sizes for wood workers to deal with such as bowl blanks, pen blanks, spindle blanks, etc. Or, do I want reclaimed wood? Which is wood that has been previously used in furniture, barn siding, flooring, cross beams, etc? This wood is becoming more popular with the green movement and finishes just fine when the top layer of wood is removed.
Wood workers from my discussions are split either way. Some like the finish that virgin wood provides and does not run the rush of embedded nails or other items that might be missed. Others carefully check their reclaimed wood, remove the upper surface and are left with a piece of wood with character. Either through aging or by wear, reclaimed wood use is becoming more popular and demanding a premium at lumber yards across the country.
We at WitmerEnterprises.com use both and are pleased with the finish and overall result that both types of wood present. Customer choice dictates which piece will sell, but either way, having a selection of virgin and reclaimed pieces for sale bring new types of customers to our website (www.WitmerEnterprises.com) .
Personally, there is nothing as beautiful as the fine grain in a piece of Bubinga, Jobillo, Tulipwood or Zebrawood; but a piece of reclaimed Black Walnut has subtle swirls within the grain and a deep color, Beech has lovely grain and dark spots throughout giving fine character and Birch has fine grain and color. The gray ash color of Ash polishes up nicely and shows how the wood has aged. Everyone is looking at the new' greener' woods available with a new eye toward style.
Pen and pencil sets make wonderful gifts, but top it off with a matching letter opener or magnifying glass and the desk set becomes alive with wood tones, no matter what type of desk is in used. One of my personal preferences to turn into pens is not a wood at all. It is Black Palm, which is a palm which exhibits black striations and eyes which resemble the grain in wood. It makes for a fantastic looking pen when finished in a chrome or nickel finish.
I am always experimenting with new types of wood to turn into pens and pencils and continually update my website with ones that provide excellent textures and tones. I turn pens from wood that customers drop off as they are mementos of life events. My customers enjoy this service and many wood workers will do the same for their clients. I charge no different for the service and, in our business, customer service is our number one goal, otherwise I'd be out of business.
At www.WitmerEnterprises.com , all the customer has to do is send us an e-mail of what they would like me to turn. I suggest how they ship it and what exactly they would like, such as a fancier bulge at the tip or a wider grip area. When in doubt about which type of wood to use, check with a good, local wood worker and you will not be disappointed. Many contractors call upon us for opinions as to the type and texture of wood to use. The best consumer is an informed consumer.
Witmer Enterprises 2010
New Wood vs Older Reclaimed Wood For Projects (Pens/Pencils/Accessories)
