Happened again :)

[Gecko]

I cleaned the shop today and cut up some more pen blanks from some wood I was tossing out. An odd lot this time. Unfortunately, this time I can't afford to do free shipping. I will do a first come, first serve thing. I will try to keep the list up to date as I get pm's. So here is what I have this time.

Lacewood - 3 of
Yellowheart - 3 of
Padauk - 6 of
Mahogany - 8 of (from some odd piece someone gave me)
Maple burl - 8 of
Maple - 5 of (figured/curly)
Pacific Madrona - 6 of
Teak - 8 of (from some kind of decking)
Bubinga - 13 of

Shorts ranging from 2 3/4" - 6"
Teak, Mahogany, Maple burl, Madrona, Bubinga - 27 of
I would like to ship these lot. If you want these, let me know the minimum length you can use.

Ready, set, GO! ;D ;D ;D

[triplefreak]

I'd like some Pacific Madrona, & Bubinga, about 5" long, if you have them.
I could use 2 of each, so I can leave some for someone else.
I'm not greedy. Thanks again for those maple blanks you sent me awhile back. I'm planning on turning a pen today from them, if I can get the housework done, that is.
I'll PM you my address if you have these.

[Gecko]

Sounds good. They have been pulled for you.

[Gecko]

This is what is left. Do not think you are being greedy by asking for some. There are only a few of you here that turn pens right now.
BTW, a $5.00 flat rate box holds 14 - 6" long blanks
Lacewood - 2 of
Yellowheart - 2 of
Padauk - 4 of
Mahogany - 6 of (from some odd piece someone gave me)
Maple burl - 8 of
Maple - 5 of (figured/curly)
Pacific Madrona - 3 of
Teak - 19 of (from some kind of decking)
Bubinga - 9 of

Shorts ranging from 2 3/4" - 6"
Teak, Mahogany, Maple burl, Madrona, Bubinga - 27 of
I would like to ship these lot. If you want these, let me know the minimum length you can use.

[mapleman]

i think i would like to try your big odd-lot bunch... the 27 pieces...

thanks a lot for the offer --- sounds great! will they all fit into one flat rate box?

and do you do paypal?

thanks, john

[Gecko]

They are yours. All but 3 fit in the $5 box. Did you know that if you cut your blanks at 5 1/2" , you can fit 22 pen blanks in one of those boxes? Way cool.

[maverick31]

I figured I would wait a few days to let some of the others get their request in. I would love a few, the longer the better. I am a random sample type of guy so I would love a maple burl, pacific mad., mahogany, and maybe a random few others at your discretion. I will pm my address. thanks again.

[Doug B]

I just want to say how much I appreciate what you are doing Gecko.

I still have a lot of pen blanks from what you have previously sent me and I am so grateful for them. I would jump in on this deal, but I really don't need any more, and I hope other pen turners will be able to benefit from your generosity.

[sachbvn]

Thanks for pointing this out - due to Gecko's WONDERFUL box making - we get fantastic offerings of cut offs and scraps which suite our needs perfectly!!

Yes, I have some maple and maple B
burl blanks from Gecko and they are great. I also have wood from a few other guys here - just as much appreciated!! Thanks guys, it's really a pleasure being a part of this forum.

Zac

[mapleman]

Fantastic fine sir!!!! This is a wonderfully generous offer. I got your message, too, and finally replied. Work has been busy... Which is definitely good!

the 5 1/2" is perfect for me. until i start using some unusual kit (i am sticking to the typical 7mm types right now)...

fantastic, indeed!

john

[Gecko]

Update:
All orders that I had were mailed out tonight.
What is left is as follows:
Mahogany - 2 of (from some odd piece someone gave me)
Maple burl - 3 of
Maple - 3 of (figured/curly)
Pacific Madrona - 1 of
Teak - 15 of (from some kind of decking)
Bubinga - 5 of

If anyone has been waiting on the sidelines, now is the time to speak.
If no-one claims these, or even if they do, I am going to try something new. I will be putting them into the pen blank box. This box is for you, the pen turners. If you find you liked a wood, please feel welcome to contact me and ask if I still have it. If it is in the box, it is yours. I will keep adding to this box as I create scrap that is usable for pen blanks. If you find you would like to peak in the box, please contact me and I will let you know what is in there. A lot of the time there may not be much in there, but at times the box will be full. Shipping will be paid for when I can afford it.
I am doing this because I really like the people here. Thanks for making this forum work.

[Doug B]

What a great thing to do Gecko.

And, I have an idea that might help make this easier for you...Anyone who wants to receive one of your "pen boxes" can pre-pay the shipping and get their name put onto a list. When the box is full, the next guy on the list gets the box sent to them. It would be like a surprise grab bag type of thing...you gets what you gets...no matter what is in the box when your name comes to the top.

I kinda like the uncertainty of it. You won't know when it will happen, you won't know what it will be...but someday you get a flat rate box in the mail with something special in it

[sachbvn]

I am game fir whatever because I think this is incredibly generous and an awesome idea. ESPECIALLY because it is perfect for a pen maker to be friends with a box maker!

Doug's idea is kind cool, and at the rate of 5 bucks a flat rate box, it's not a big loss to be w/o while someone is patiently waiting for their name to be up - and a box to be filled. At some point you could post that you have to stop adding names for a little while, if you start getting a lot of names on there - but really there are not a great number of us on here - so this idea may work REAL well!

Thanks,
Zac

[maverick31]

I think it is a great idea too. Gecko is probably one of the most generous people out there and it is awesome he does this.

I would like to say that it is very nice for you to pay for shipping when you can afford it but I would rather reimburse you for your expenses on this since you are kind enough to send free pen blanks.

[Gecko]

First off guys, please stop with the generosity stuff. Keep it up and I may swell up to look like an alligator insted of a gecko. And you know how bad tempered alligators are. What I send is scrap to me for the most part. And sometimes my brain isn't clear enough to work on a box so I scratch my wood itch by sawing blanks. The money part isn't chit either. What is a few bucks to make someones day a little better.
That said, lets get down to business.

The ideas put forth should work. Here are some thoughts and my proposal.

1. I don't make a lot of scrap. I don't make a lot of boxes due to real life things like coaching and remodeling. And I only mill lumber every once in a while and usually only a small tree that someone gives me. This means it could be a either long wait for a mixed box or, if I mill, a whole lot of boxes could be sent out with the same species.

2. Due to the unknown length of time between boxes sent out, I will just handle the shipping. That makes the suprise even nicer when you get one I think.

3. Also, to keep things flowing amoungest the participants, I will do 10 blanks per box and not a full 22.

That being said, I propose a pen blank recieval system that works like so:

A person sends in a request for a box. Please include shipping address and note if there is some type of wood you don't want (like Oak). This inclusion will only have to be done once and I will note it on the wall for future reference.
I put their name at the bottom of the list.
When I fill their box I mail it to them. (when a box is recieved, if that person wants back on the waiting list, they need to send in another request)
I then start on the next name on the list.

If this plan works for you all, great. If there needs to be any adjustments or any other ideas put forth, please do so.

[sachbvn]

Gecko - sounds like a pretty good solution to the system.....

I'm game!
Zac

[Doug B]

Sounds like a great plan to me too.

[maverick31]

i will 3rd that

[Gecko]

Ok then, I will set up the system in the swap shop and we can go from there.