One of a kind: Stabilized Spalted Maple Burl pen blanks extreme pink - product of Canada

One of a kind: Stabilized spalted maple burl pen blanks – product of Canada

Add dramatic figure and enhanced durability to your next project with these one of a kind stabilized spalted maple burl pen blanks. Sourced from maple burl and professionally stabilized with resin, these blanks combine the natural beauty of spalting with improved strength and workability.

Spalted maple burl is known for its striking contrast of light and dark lines created by natural fungal activity, combined with the swirling, irregular grain of burl wood. The result is a highly figured blank with exceptional visual depth, featuring tones that range from pale cream to grey, brown, and black zone lines.

Each piece is one of a kind — what you see is exactly what you will receive. Simply choose your favourite blank from the dropdown menu.

What size are the blanks?

Each blank measures approximately 3/4" square by 5" long (19 mm × 19 mm × 127 mm), the standard size for most pen turning projects. No two pieces are the same — pick the exact blank you want. What you see is what you get. Select your preferred blank from the dropdown menu above.

What does “spalted” mean?

Spalted describes natural markings created when fungi begin to break down wood fibres. In maple burl, this process forms dark lines and zones that trace through the grain. Spalting is purely visual in these blanks, adding contrast and artistic detail without affecting their suitability for turning. No two blanks will ever look the same. 

What does “stabilized” mean?

Stabilized refers to wood that has been impregnated with resin under pressure, reinforcing softer or highly figured areas and eliminating weak spots. This creates a blank that drills cleanly, turns smoothly, and resists tear-out or blowouts. Each blank is unique and will be selected at random. Some colour variability is normal due to differences in wood density and how the resin is absorbed. We do not offer refunds for colour variation or minor internal imperfections, which are inherent to burl wood.

What is burl?

Burl is a rare, abnormal growth that forms on a tree in response to stress, injury, or disease. Instead of straight grain, burl produces tight swirls, eyes, and complex figure, making it highly prized for high-end furniture, decorative inlay, and premium turned objects like pens.

What makes stabilized spalted maple burl special?

Spalting occurs naturally as fungi begin to break down the wood, creating intricate dark lines and colour variation. Stabilization replaces the air in the wood with resin under pressure, significantly increasing strength, reducing tear-out, and making the blank much easier to turn and finish.

The addition of burl figure brings even more complexity, with swirling grain and “eyes” that create unique, organic patterns impossible to replicate.

Fun facts about stabilized spalted maple burl:

• The dark lines in spalted wood, called zone lines, are created as different fungal colonies compete for territory within the wood.
• Stabilization not only strengthens the wood but can also enhance colour contrast and clarity, making the natural figure appear more vivid after finishing.

How should I finish these blanks?

Stabilized starfruit burl finishes beautifully with a variety of methods. After turning, sand through your normal grits. From there, you can apply a cyanoacrylate (CA) or friction polish finish for a high-gloss, durable surface, or sand to a very fine grit and polish using a plastic polish such as Novus or One-Step for a glass-like shine.

Price per blank in Canadian dollars.