I recently turned a couple corn cob pens for a local farmer/friend and his wife.  He raved about the pen until I was embarrassed.  I saw him at church Sunday and asked how everyone liked his pen.  He told me that he hadn't shown it to anyone.  I was sorta disappointing until he asked if I could make 12 more for him to give as Christmas presents!

Here is my production so far.  7 slim line blanks, 3 Wall Street blanks and an Atlas blank.  So far no blowouts.  Wish me luck.

Cool, there nothing that says "I like your work" better than someone willing to pay for it.

Amen!!! So, now I gotta ask, what does a corn cob pen look like?

Richard McComas said:

Cool, there nothing that says "I like your work" better than someone willing to pay for it.

The American Woodworker said:

Amen!!! So, now I gotta ask, what does a corn cob pen look like?

Here is my carry pen. It is corn cob on a chrome wall street.

Joshua D. Rollins said:

Are those purchased cobs, or some that you dried out on your own? I only tried a corn cob pen once, I breathed on it too hard and it flew apart on the lathe. I got my money back, but I didn't care to try it again. I may try some local corn cobs sometime though.

That is too cool, I didn't know you could turn corncob. I thought you were turning wood and chip carving it to look like corn cob, but your taking the actual corn cob. Unreal. Very nice.

Greg Coleman said:

The American Woodworker said:

Wow Greg that is awesome and an order for 12 is a pretty good complement. Love the one you show, it is well done.

I need to make a trip to the corn fields and give that a try.

I have also seen some turned out of pine cones, but I haven't found any big enough on the trees around my house to turn. If any of you have it large pine cones, I would be interested in a few.

John, you just got to get you a lathe, you would have so much fun.

John Moody said:

Wow Greg that is awesome and an order for 12 is a pretty good complement. Love the one you show, it is well done.

I need to make a trip to the corn fields and give that a try.

I have also seen some turned out of pine cones, but I haven't found any big enough on the trees around my house to turn. If any of you have it large pine cones, I would be interested in a few.

John, you just got to get you a lathe, you would have so much fun.

In my local mountains we have pine cones in the 1 foot long range and 4 to 6" diameter. Anyone interested?

Now that sounds like what we need.

Can you get any of them?

The American Woodworker said:

In my local mountains we have pine cones in the 1 foot long range and 4 to 6" diameter. Anyone interested?

Josh, I didn't even think to look at the local Hobby Lobby.

I will give that a try.

Joshua D. Rollins said:

Thanks Greg, after that time with the purchased cob I've never really given it any more thought. And you're right, you can't beat the price. I'll have to take the back roads to work and see if anyone has recently harvested any corn.

John Moody, I've been on the lookout for large cones too, if I find any I'll get some to you. I even looked at hobby lobby for them though because I know people use to decorate with the large cones. I couldn't find any there either.

According to the info on IAP most turners use cones from the Afgan Pine. It does say it grows from the southwest to the California high desert. The pictures of the cones I have found show the cones as fairly small. I am guessing they get them before they open and let them dry.

I think John Moody has inquired about some on Bill Young's site. The ones pictured there are HUGE. Looks like they strip off the finger bleeders then use just the core. Will be interesting to see how this turns out.

If they are on the ground I can get em John! They do fall off green if you guys need em that way. I will be taking a trip up there in the next two weeks if you guys need any, well, before I promise a bumper crop, I better wait until I get there and see if they haven't been picked through yet. My Aunts live up in Pine Cove in the San Jacinto Mountain Range just 45 minutes from us, they usually have quite a few laying around their property.

The American Woodworker said:

In my local mountains we have pine cones in the 1 foot long range and 4 to 6" diameter. Anyone interested?

I would be happy to pay for them and or the shipping if you can get some.

Here is what one of the guys on another board said he uses.

" Afghan pine cones AKA ( Desert pine, Elder pine, Mondale pine ) which can only be found in the US Southwest. California, Arizona, etc."

I have to say I am pine cone dumb as I don't know the difference in any of them.

Here is a pen William Young turned from a pine cone.

Here is the center of the cone he says is usable.

So if you can get some I would be interested.

Thanks so much John

The American Woodworker said:

If they are on the ground I can get em John! They do fall off green if you guys need em that way. I will be taking a trip up there in the next two weeks if you guys need any, well, before I promise a bumper crop, I better wait until I get there and see if they haven't been picked through yet. My Aunts live up in Pine Cove in the San Jacinto Mountain Range just 45 minutes from us, they usually have quite a few laying around their property.

The American Woodworker said:

That looks very familiar John, I am sure this is what I am finding up in our local mountains. I will keep in touch with what I find.

John Moody said:

I would be happy to pay for them and or the shipping if you can get some.

Here is what one of the guys on another board said he uses.

" Afghan pine cones AKA ( Desert pine, Elder pine, Mondale pine ) which can only be found in the US Southwest. California, Arizona, etc."

I have to say I am pine cone dumb as I don't know the difference in any of them.

Here is a pen William Young turned from a pine cone.

Here is the center of the cone he says is usable.

So if you can get some I would be interested.

Thanks so much John

The American Woodworker said:

You got it Josh.

Joshua D. Rollins said:

Yes John, count me in too please. And also will be happy to pay you for them.