I've purchased "stabilized" corn cob pen blanks, and made a few pens from them. I find them to be hit-or-miss, and VERY expensive! I've tried soaking natural cobs in a 50/50 solution of tung oil and shellac with limited success. Have any of you folks developed a process for stabilizing cobs at a reasonable cost?
dfurlano
Jul 8 2008, 12:43 AM
I haven't done one in a very long time but you can just use CA glue as you turn it down. There is an article on the thepenshop.net
navydad
Jul 8 2008, 02:57 PM
You can also look for a tutorial on vacuum stabilizing. There are people out there that offer this service. Look on thepenshop.net or penturners.org. You could also try soaking in MinnWax wood hardener.
Ligget
Jul 9 2008, 05:47 AM
I use cheap unstabilised cobs, whilst turning I use thin CA glue to help stabilise as I go.