Ebony pen

[Doug B]

I recently got some Ebony and wanted to try it out. I got it mostly for accents in pens and bottle stoppers but I wanted to try a full size pen with it to see how it would look. Wow - it is really really black - looks like plastic, which may be a problem...I don't know, but the wood is amazing.

It is very hard to work with. I had several places in the wood that had to be sanded out because even a sharp skew was leaving rough spots. And sanding is a major ordeal with this wood - there is absolutely no skipping grits and I had to sand by hand with the lathe off after each sanding grit. I would not be tempted to make another one, but the effects of putting a finish on the wood was so dramatic that I imagine I'm going to be making more Ebony pens even though it is a real PITA to do.

I used the Lacquer dipping method on this pen, and it ended up getting about 8 coats because any (and I mean any!) little flaw shows up dramatically on this jet black material. And removing dust nibs leaves noticeable defects in the finish that I could not stand, so it would get another dipping trying to get a "clean" finish. I even strained the Lacquer dipping solution trying to get that perfect finish on this pen.

Anyway, here is the pen.

[boodrow]

Doug the stripe in the center of the top part really sets it off. I made one pen out of ebony and it just looked like a regular old black pen. That is a good idea what u done with that one.
Boodrow

[Doug B]

Thanks Boodrow.

Yeah that is the problem with Ebony - it looks like black plastic when it is finished. But I have to say that my dark pens really appeal to certain customers and nothing else gets their attention.

I knew I had to dress the Ebony up somewhat, and I really like the pick guard with Bloodwood sandwich design. I'm working on a jig to help me make some of those accents with an angle instead of straight.

[boodrow]

Doug I like the dark stuff. I still think u did a fantastic job on it.
Boodrow

[sdb777]

Never having turned Ebony....

Can you even see the grain of the wood?
I can't see any grain in the photo.



As always, spot on fit! And goes well with the kit you picked out for it!!!







Scott (why can't I see the grain) B

[Doug B]

No grain shows Scott. That is the down side - it really could pass for plastic instead of wood

I like to see wood grain, but some people seem to be attracted to solid black more than anything else. I had one customer who only picked up my one and only Walnut pen. He never even looked at the other pens. But his money was green so I do not complain and I try to make sure to have some dark pens in the inventory.

[maverick31]

supurb, I like this one a lot. Eventhough it was tought it turned out fantastick.

I am starting to like turning plastic and I wonder how different a blk acrylic blank vs ebony would look?

[Doug B]

Thanks Mav. My fear is that a black plastic pen blank would look the same as this Ebony one. Some people may appreciate the difference, but count me as one who could not Looks the same...who cares what it's made out of

I am almost absolutely sure that there will be someone who does care that it is made out of expensive Ebony wood from Africa instead of a cheap synthetic plastic.

[maverick31]

I bet your right. someone would rather have the real deal vs el cheapo plastic chit

[sachbvn]

That is SHAAARP!! Thanks for the details regarding it's difficulty in turning - I'm glad I've always stuck with African Blackwood..... looks really nice!


Zac

[Doug B]

Thanks Zac. To be fair, this is the first time I used this kind of Ebony - I have used and do like Macassar Ebony. I also have not tried African Blackwood so I cannot compare the 2 of them.