Spalted Oak Fountain Pen with Gold Plated Fittings (696)

This pen is constructed from oak that has started to decay giving wood a colouring that can vary from cream with dark specks to brown/black with cream specks. This rotting can be so spectacular that one blank can sometimes look like two or three different pieces of wood instead of one. Most pieces have been stabilised by extracting the air from the wood in a vacuum chamber and replacing it with a stabilising solution. It is then “cooked” in a oven to harden it off. The reason behind this process is to harden the timber stop further decay and make is workable on the lathe.
Oak is probably one of the most well-known deciduous timbers. There are said to be over 500 different knowns varieties of this tree and is known for its strength and was extensively used in ship building from at least the Viking era. It was also used in the making of good quality furniture, barrels and numerous other items. A lot of people do not like using oak as the grain can be very course, difficult to work and get a glass like finish. Most of the oak that I use is English, but it is not always easy to tell particularly that sourced from old furniture.