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Add a splash of natural colour to your next woodturning project with this 3-pack of stabilized flame box elder pen blank shorts. Known for its distinctive red streaks against creamy white to pale golden wood, flame box elder produces eye-catching results without the need for added dyes.
These shorter blanks measure approximately 3-1/4" (83 mm) long, making them a practical choice for single-barrel pens and other small turning projects. Each piece has been stabilized to improve its durability and workability while preserving the wood's natural colour and character.
What makes flame box elder special?
Flame box elder is prized for its vivid red streaks, which can range from delicate lines to bold patches of colour. The contrast between the red markings and the lighter wood makes every blank unique. The red colour occurs naturally in the tree. It is associated with the tree's response to injury or stress and the activity of fungi that colonize affected wood. The resulting red pigmentation creates the distinctive flame-like patterns that give flame box elder its name. The amount and pattern of red vary from blank to blank.
What does stabilized mean?
Stabilization is a process in which wood is impregnated with resin, typically under vacuum, and then cured to harden the resin within the wood. This process helps strengthen softer or more porous areas, making the wood more consistent and easier to turn. Stabilized blanks are generally less prone to chipping and tear-out and can be sanded and polished to a smooth finish. Stabilization does not make wood indestructible, but it can improve its durability and make it easier to work with, particularly when turning small or detailed projects.
What size are the blanks?
Each blank is approximately 3-1/4" (83 mm) long. These are shorter than standard 5" (127 mm) pen blanks, so check the length requirements of your project before cutting or drilling.
What can I make with these shorter blanks?
These blanks are particularly well suited to projects that don't require a full-length pen blank, including:
Single-barrel pen kits
Shorter pen components and decorative pen accents
Small handles and knobs
Pendants and other small turned accessories
Decorative inlays and other small woodworking projects
For pen making, check the required brass tube length and allow enough extra material for trimming the ends.
How should I finish these blanks?
These stabilized blanks can be drilled and turned using standard pen-turning techniques. For best results, sand progressively using Abranet or sanding mesh, followed by Micro Mesh. For a smooth, high-gloss finish, apply a cyanoacrylate (CA) glue finish followed by a plastic polish, or use the GluBoost finishing system. Friction polishes such as Doctor's Wood Shop, Mylands, Aussie Oil or Shellawax can also be used.
Price per pack in Canadian dollars.
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