Corn Cob Letter Opener

[Jeff Sudmeier]

I submit to you, a corn cob letter opener:
http://www.woodworkersweb.com/modules/gallery/albums/albut49/CornCobPen.sized.jpg

It wasn't all that difficult to turn, but I did learn a big lesson, you can't turn them wet! This cob has been drying about a year now, it worked great. To turn it you first cut it to blank size, then drill out the "pith". I glue in the tubes with CA glue, seems to work the best for corn cobs.

The stuff turns REALLY easy, but normally it comes out fuzzy. So once I get it within about a 1/16th of final dimensions, I will use some CA glue to firm it up. I cut off the CA glue and then use the BLO/CA finish, to fill in the gaps and give a nice shine.

Here is a close up of just the cob:
http://www.woodworkersweb.com/modules/gallery/albums/albut49/CornCobPenClose.sized.jpg

Thanks for looking, I enjoy your comments!

[John Miliunas]

Hey Jeff, that's pretty sweet....Or was it just regular field corn?!:D Looks really cool, regardless. I may have to try that one of these days. Hmmmm....I still have a lathe, don't I?:confused: :) :cool:

[Karl Laustrup]

Very KEWEL, Jeff.:cool: :D

I never would of thunk about that in a gajillion years. I have never seen anything like that. Is it because I don't get out much anymore? Wonder if that would have a market as a novelty around here or Iowa?

[Jeff Sudmeier]

Hey Jeff, that's pretty sweet....Or was it just regular field corn?!:D Looks really cool, regardless. I may have to try that one of these days. Hmmmm....I still have a lathe, don't I?:confused: :) :cool:
Hey John,

Yep just regular old field corn. I am not up on my corn types, but there are two different colored cobs, one that is white and one that is more red. The white looks great dyed, the red looks like the above.

Thanks for the comments, if you ever do get that lathe fired up, let me know, I will bring over a couple of cobs for it! ;)

[Jeff Sudmeier]

Very KEWEL, Jeff.:cool: :D

I never would of thunk about that in a gajillion years. I have never seen anything like that. Is it because I don't get out much anymore? Wonder if that would have a market as a novelty around here or Iowa?
Karl,

I would think that it would have a market, I may just have to look into that. I can not take credit for the idea, it seems like a pen has been made out of EVERYTHING possible these days. However, I have not seen too many made this way.

Jeff

[Jim Becker]

Outstanding, Jeff!! Everytime I see one of these corncob things, I'm just amazed at how interesting they turn out.

[Jeff Sudmeier]

Jim, Thanks! Yeah, I really like it too... almost so much that I don't want to give it away! As you look at it more and more you see more and more natural details.

Anyway, they have to have Corn in PA, you should try one... just make sure you let it dry first :)

[David Fried]

Looks good Jeff. I bought a bag of corn cobs from the feed store but they're still sitting on the floor next to the lathe. My chicken does like the corn that fell off! One day I'll get brave and give it a try. Again, the letter opener came out really nice!

[Jeff Sudmeier]

Looks good Jeff. I bought a bag of corn cobs from the feed store but they're still sitting on the floor next to the lathe. My chicken does like the corn that fell off! One day I'll get brave and give it a try. Again, the letter opener came out really nice!
David, good luck! Just don't give up! I blew up about 5 of them before I got a process that works for me. The key seems to be not turning down too far, without using CA as a hardener. The CA bulk buy will be a more common affair for me if I keep turning these :)

[Tom Mullane]

I turn quite a few corn cob pens.. mostly Cigar and Perfect Fit convertables... one of the big things to getting a real nice pen is to look at the pith area.. you want that to be just a tiny bit bigger than the tubes... if it is too big you will lose the nice figure of the kernals..
I have some cobs being professionally stabilized and can't wait to see what comes from them.... YEAH, I know sounds like a dumb idea, but I was getting some other stuff done at the same time, so why not... LOL
Here in Western Maryland, I can't keep them in stock at my craft booth... they sell as fast as I make them... Here is one of mine

[Keel McDonald]

Jeff


Good lookin' stuff! I've turned a couple of corn cob pens, with some tips from Tom. I know what you mean about soft. They were easy to turn. Thanks for sharing pics.

[Jeff Sudmeier]

I have some cobs being professionally stabilized and can't wait to see what comes from them.... YEAH, I know sounds like a dumb idea, but I was getting some other stuff done at the same time, so why not... LOL


Hey Tom,

Let me know how they turn out! I would be interested in trying some of the home stabalization methods if you get good results.

Thanks!

Jeff

[Mark Hulette]

Jeff- Nice work! Like the others, I have always been fascinated by anything turned from natural products (other than wood).

Here locally, I saw a pen turned from tobacco leaves laminated/stacked in 1" x 1" square blanks. Very wild!

Seems just about anything can be turned into a pen if you've got the imagination to get it into a form that will take the tubes.

I saw where you said the cobs were drying for a year... I'd like to try this but don't know if I could wait a year! :)

Again, nice work

[Jeff Sudmeier]

Seems just about anything can be turned into a pen if you've got the imagination to get it into a form that will take the tubes.

I saw where you said the cobs were drying for a year... I'd like to try this but don't know if I could wait a year! :)

Again, nice work
Mark,

For sure! I have seen pens made from blue jeans and from snake skin! There are a lot of people, with a lot of imagination!

About the drying time.... Shh.... if you find a farm around... they probably have some that have been laying around for a year, or more! The older the better. I actually did dry the one for this one for a year, but the others I have done were collected from an old building on my uncle's farm.

[David Fried]

Mark,
... but the others I have done were collected from an old building on my uncle's farm.

Next to the still? :D

[Mark Hulette]

Next to the still? :D


:D :D :D More likely to happen here in KY than Wisconsin! ;)

[Jeff Sudmeier]

:D :D :D More likely to happen here in KY than Wisconsin! ;)
Exactly! I have never seen a still in person, so I doubt there are too many around these parts :)

[John Miliunas]

Exactly! I have never seen a still in person, so I doubt there are too many around these parts :)
Yeah, so true. If you needed one found 'round here, Jeff's your man! :D :D :cool: