I have a couple of new reel seats and a pen and pencil set that I just finished. This lathe is WAY too much fun!
The first insert is Chinaberry with a CA finish.
This next one is a Flame Boxelder. It had great color when I started turning the blank, but I must have turned through most of it. It is still pretty.
The Pen and Pencil set is Quilted Sycamore Burl with a CA finish.
Nice work Kevin! Good thing you have a couple of somewhat local sources close by to keep you supplies.
I am very big on ordering online. I have found wood at 50-75% less than at Rockler or Woodcraft with very reasonable shipping. Pen kits, duck call parts, you name it… They can all be had for MUCH less online even when you add shipping to the price. On top of that, the selection of wood species online is absolutely incredible.
Add to that the fact that living in Denver has taken all the fun out of driving for me. I absolutely hate to drive anymore unless I am going out of town. Even that can be horrid with bicycles and tourists, not to mention the transplants from California, Texas, Florida, and other warm climates that think 3 flakes of snow means that you have to drive 3 miles an hour. Nope. I’ll let the UPS driver and Postman do the driving for me. 
I would think that buying wood online would be like buying hackle (you’d want to choose from the best grain). The Rockler near me always has about half their pen blanks much cheaper than the web (many for $1.99), and the web site doesn’t list but a fraction of what the store has. Probably has to do with the stores being independent franchises or something. Last time I went to Rockler I picked up 7 different pen blanks (6") and 5 half blanks (3") for less than $12. Purpleheart, zebrawood, lacewood and tulipwood were the prettiest.
You guys never cease to amaze me!!!
She’s ALIVE! I was beginning to wonder! Thank you for the kind words, Ms. Betty!
Kevin,
That quilted Sycamore burl would make a beautiful trout net or gun stock! Did you turn any inserts using it? BTW, yes it does make some nice pens too.!! Never saw that wood before!
Best regards, Dave S.
Yes, I just happen to have turned a couple of inserts with this.
Nice looking wood Kevin. Thanks for sharing. Jim
Kevin,
Thanks - very, very nice. I was just thinking that you could probably not get that burl in long enough slabs to make the hoop part of a trout net, but could get it for the net handle. Plus, I’m betting that stuff would be almost impossible to bend for the net hoop. I’ve bent bird’s eye maple for net hoops - you have to be very careful not to rush it. Same situation for a gun stock, without having to do some splicing, but if you married the right pieces together you could make a beautiful mosaic type stock!!
Best regards, Dave S.