Stabilized Birdseye Maple pen blanks purple haze - product of Canada

Stabilized and dyed Birdseye Maple pen blanks - product of Canada

Add rich colour and distinctive natural figure to your next pen with stabilized and dyed Birdseye Maple pen blanks. Birdseye Maple is known for the small, swirling figures scattered throughout the wood that resemble tiny bird's eyes, creating an eye-catching pattern that comes to life as the blank is turned and finished.

These blanks are made from Birdseye Maple that has been stabilized with coloured resin. The stabilization process reinforces the wood while adding colour that complements its natural grain and distinctive birdseye figure. Because every piece of wood absorbs resin differently, each blank is unique.

What are the dimensions of these pen blanks?

Each blank measures approximately 3/4" square × 5" (19 × 19 × 127 mm), a standard size suitable for most pen turning projects. The photos are representative examples only. The blank shown has been sanded to better display the figuring. Your blanks will be selected at random and will vary in colour, grain, birdseye figure and resin absorption.

What does “stabilized” mean?

Stabilized wood has been impregnated with resin, reinforcing the wood and helping create a more consistent material for drilling, turning and finishing. For these blanks, coloured resin is used during the stabilization process to add colour while allowing the natural Birdseye Maple figure to remain visible.

Variations in wood density mean that different areas can absorb different amounts of resin, creating natural variations in colour from blank to blank and even within an individual blank. Minor internal imperfections may also occur and are not considered defects. We do not offer refunds for colour variation or minor internal imperfections.

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.

What is Birdseye Maple?

Birdseye Maple is maple with a distinctive figure consisting of numerous small circular or swirling markings that resemble tiny eyes. It is not a separate species of maple; rather, birdseye is a naturally occurring figure that can develop in maple trees.

The small eyes and surrounding grain create intricate patterns that can become particularly striking in smaller turned projects such as pens.

Two fun facts about Birdseye Maple:

• Birdseye isn't a species of maple. It's a distinctive type of figure found in maple, particularly Sugar Maple, characterized by the small eye-like patterns that give the wood its name.
• The exact cause of birdseye figure isn't fully understood. Although various theories have been proposed about why the pattern develops, there is no single proven explanation for what causes some maple trees to produce it.

Can I mix and match these blanks for volume discounts?

Yes! Mix and match these blanks with other stabilized pen blanks, as well as Fusion hybrid, Pearlux, glitter, Coffee Bean and Canadian Flag pen blanks to qualify for available volume pricing discounts.

Price per pen blank in Canadian dollars.