When I am making batches of pens or boxes, something deep inside of me (I was probably a magpie in a previous life) tells me not to sell all the things I make. I am always finding excuses not to sell all my work.

Over the years of making these boxes, I have keep a few.

When setting up the display cabinet, I initially though that I had kept about 5 boxes in the few timbers that I truly love like Tiger Myrtle, Huon Pine, Red Cedar, Olive and Native Olive.

After I had finished setting it up, my Wife said why don’t you show the rest of your boxes? I looked at her and said “that was it”. She shook her head and said “Why don’t you bring out your keepers?”

I Forgot about my keepers in the workshop. I have over 30 keepers in the workshop.

Took them out and put one of each timber in the display cabinet.

I think it’s a bit too crowded so I might have to get another display cabinet.

Hope you like it.

New – German Made Bock nibs in different sizes and thicknesses.

Upgrade the fountain pen writing experience by using these nibs on your pen. They are high quality nibs that are completely made in Germany (not just the tip).

Available in the 5mm and 6mm size nibs.

The 5mm nibs come in the following configurations -

Gilded (gold) – Extra Fine, Fine and Medium

Polished (White gold look) – Fine and Medium

6mm nibs come in the Medium brush in both Gilded and polished.

We have just include 6 new exciting Australian Made Pen Blanks into our range.

We have moved to a new industrial premises so we can now start to grow again.

Were going to include many new exciting items over the new few weeks.

The 6 new blanks are Pirate’s Treasure, Tiger Eye, Ultra Violet, Dracula, Galah and Blackened Gold.

In my depression I went into the workshop to make another piece of furniture.

I wanted to make a display cabinet for a few pieces I have been collecting.

I started with a few boards of Tasmanian Blackwood. I love the process of woodworking where you start off with a few sticks of wood and you transform it to a wonderful (and hopefully an heirloom) piece of furniture.

Front face and side face of the cabinet completed.

Back face done. Only raised panel and top to do.

I have waited over half a year to get possession of the building. We finally got the keys for the property on the 7th of December. Plans were then drawn up on what we needed to do on the property.

1st job – remove the old asbestos roof and reroof with a new colourbond roof. We had to give work cover the mandatory days to inform them of the work we intend to do.

Roof removal was commenced at 7am on the 19th of December. I was a cloudy gloomy day but that was better than a hot 40 degree stinker. At about 12.30pm when half the roof was removed, the heavens opened up and downloaded 60mm of rain in under 2 hours.

From then onwards, it has been raining on and off everyday. The delay has meant that we were unable to get the new roof sheets back on. I don’t think we will have it on until well after the New Year.

Should of listened to the wife and waited until after the New Year to remove the roof. Knowing my luck, it would of been fine sunny days if we waited.

This Medical, Pharmaceutical and Food Grade, Mineral Oil is food safe for use on chopping boards, bread boards, salad bowls, and all wooden food utensils where you want a natural and safe finish for raw timber.

Because of its properties that prevent water absorption, combined with its lack of flavour and odour, this food grade mineral oil, is an ideal preservative for wooden food utensils, butchers blocks, chopping boards, bread boards, salad bowls, wooden spoons, etc.

Rubbing a small amount of mineral oil into wooden kitchen items periodically will prevent absorption of food odors and ease cleaning, as well as maintain the integrity of the wood, which is otherwise subjected to repeated wetting and drying in the course of use. The oil fills small surface cracks that may otherwise harbour bacteria

PLEASE NOTE: This oil has no fragrance and will not taint or change the taste of food the way some other oils may. It will not go rancid and does not contain lead driers, wax, polyurethane, tung oil or any other pollutants as some others oils.

A FEW OTHER USES

RUBBING OUT A FINISH Use this oil for wet sanding a finish prior to rubbing out a finish, instead of water which will allow the abrasive to cut too quickly. Using this oil will slow down the cutting process and make it easier to get a great, even, result, without as much fear of cutting back through the surface of the finish.

FRENCH POLISHING Use this oil when French polishing as the lubricant for your polishing pad. Because it is a non drying oil it can be left on the surface for a long period of time and will not skin on the surface like linseed which is traditionally used for this process. This oil is also the recommended oil for use with our Hard Shellac as it works much better than any others.

ON METAL – Tools, etc. This oil can also be used as a coating on metal tools, as it is an excellent way to inhibit oxidation. It can also be used on guns and other metal weaponry. When mixed with 1% oil of cloves oil it is used by Japanese sword makers to protect the sword blades.

ON STONE This oil is used to darken soapstone countertops for aesthetic purposes and has similar affects on a number of different
stone bench tops.

CLEANING This oil can be used as a “de-gummer” to remove the adhesive residue left on a surface from price tags, adhesive tape,
etc. This oil can also be used to clean heavier oil stains by diluting and liquefying the other oils, rendering the oils more easily washed away with detergents.

OTHER STUFF This oil has a myriad of other uses including baby oil and much more.

Pixie, Crumble Violet and Pearl Opal. These 3 blanks have very striking colour and would be an excellent complement to your pen range.

When you purchase the higher end fountain pen kits (eg. Baron II, Sedona and Roman Harvest Pen kits just to mention a few), you will notice that you get 2 additional parts in the set. The first part is the disposable ink cartridge and the second being a Piston Pump Converter.

1. Disposable ink cartridge – use this if your not a fountain pen expert. Just push it in the back of the fountain pen nib until it clicks. When it is empty, just throw away when empty and buy a new one.

2. For the fountain pen connoisseur. Its called a plunger unit. You use it if you purchase your own ink (eg. http://www.timberbits.com/parker-quink-inkbottles.html ) in bottle form. You suck up the ink into the plunger unit. Connoisseurs have their own favorite bottle of ink. The ink comes in different colors and viscosity, you eventually get use to using a particular brand and end up swearing by the product.

To refill a plunger unit, watch this video. The video is a bit dark and poor quality, but it will demonstrate how it is done.

I was asked by a friend to go with him to Vietnam because he couldn’t work out why they could supply plywood cheaper than the Chinese.

Well this is the plywood plant.

As you can see, it like going back into the stone ages.

Logs are loaded in by hand, machines are crude and parts of the machine are homemade. The machine has no guards or safety devices. Notice the open chain and sprockets. If you accidently put your finger in there, kiss it goodbye, no microsurgery in Vietnam.

I hope you find the video entertaining. I certainly found the visit to the factory an eye opener.