Eucalyptus Burl or Cocobolo?

1. Anything I should know?

   1. Some of my eucalyptus burl pens have evidence of having been stabilized in some of the pieces. Because you really can’t know what is inside a piece of wood until you cut it to final size, sometimes “imperfections” can arise very late in the production process. Unless they endanger the part, I leave those alone. So, some pens may have little pits, holes, incomplete dark rivulets, and other evidentiary proof of its former life as part of a living tree.

2. Why is the  Eucalyptus Burl so much more expensive than Cocobolo?

   1. The Eucalyptus burl requires more work to be made into a pen: Cocobolo merely needs to be machined to size, whereas the Eucalyptus Burl has to be sanded, oven-dried, cooled under vacuum, resin stabilized, oven-cured, and carefully machined to size. Cocobolo is also much harder and easier to work with, despite being a sensitizer.

3. How is the finished wood treated/finished?

   1. There is a hard wax applied to the Eucalyptus Burl that soaks in and provides a coating that is EXTREMELY tough.

4. Will I be allergic?

   1. Cocobolo dust can be sensitizing for some people, but the solid wood is most likely safe unless you already have a cocobolo sensitivity/allergic reaction.

5. What upkeep will be necessary?

   1. Keep ink off the wood! Don’t let dirt build up on the smooth surfaces or the threads.

6. With the open clip hole, will it leak?

   1. No. I have stopped the holes with a grease packing and a screw to plug them. They should admit no air or ink passage.

7. Returns?

   1. At this sale price, no returns, exchanges or credits.