Tulipwood pen blanks

Tulipwood pen blanks - 3/4" square x 5" | South American hardwood

Turn elegant, high-contrast pens with these Tulipwood pen blanks. Known for its striking natural colour and fine texture, Tulipwood is a favourite among pen turners looking to create refined, eye-catching writing instruments.

What makes Tulipwood a great choice for turning projects?

Tulipwood (also known as Brazilian tulipwood) is a dense, fine-grained hardwood prized for its dramatic pink, red, and cream striping. It turns cleanly with sharp tools, holds crisp details, and sands to a very smooth surface. The natural contrast in the grain means even simple pen designs look polished and intentional.

What are the dimensions of these blanks?

Each blank measures approximately 3/4" square by 5" long, a standard size that works well with most pen kits and provides plenty of material for shaping and trimming.

Blanks are selected at random and may differ from the image shown - each blank is an individual product of nature. 

How should I finish Tulipwood? 

Tulipwood takes finish especially well because of its structure, density, and grain characteristics, making it well suited to a wide range of finishes. Tulipwood has a very fine, closed grain with minimal open pores. This allows finishes to sit evenly on the surface instead of soaking in unevenly, resulting in a smooth, consistent sheen. Being a dense hardwood, Tulipwood burnishes easily during sanding and turning. The surface becomes very smooth, which helps finishes bond uniformly and polish to a high gloss. Its low oil content means Tulipwood doesn’t resist finishes. Sealers, polishes, and topcoats adhere well without fisheye or curing issues.

Two fun facts about Tulipwood:

• Tulipwood was historically used for fine inlay and decorative banding in high-end furniture due to its vivid natural colour.

• Despite its bold appearance, Tulipwood is quite stable, making it well suited to small precision projects like pens.

Price is per blank in Canadian dollars.