Cigar Tube - Spalted Maple

[Lee Koepke]

I ran across this kit from Bear Tooth Woods, its a large tube for cigars. Have a few people that have asked me about them and decided to give it a try. This one is some spalted maple that I had (lighting is bad in my tent, sorry). Its really pretty cool, but using a 7/8" drill bit is just a hair different than making a slimline pen!

Hope you like it.

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[Ricc Havens]

very cool!!

Ricc

[Jim Watkins]

I like it. Been thinking about making one of those. Did you run into any issues you could advise us about?

[Bruce Pratt]

Jim,

From personal experience -

1. Drill the blank and then let it sit for a couple weeks. Blanks of this size, even some kiln dried, and particularly from waxed (wet) wood, will shrink a bit.

2. After drying, re-drill and glue in brass tube.

If you glue the brass tube into a freshly drilled blank, there is a high likelihood that the wood will split (because of shrinkage from drying) a few days after turning to final outside diameter.

[Lee Koepke]

That's good advice Bruce - so far 4 days later no cracking .. .fingers crossed! This maple was pretty dry, I'm guessing 8 months + since milling.

The only other things are drilling out with 1/2" bit first then finishing with the 7/8" bit ( I bought the largest size Bear Tooth Woods had). I didnt do that and the blank was getting pretty hot, just a function of me excited to try something new without thinking it completely out first.

My pen mandrel isnt long enough for both halves at the same time so I have to turn one side then the other. I dont really care since turning things relaxes me and I dont really want to hurry.

I have already sold 3 of the 4 kits I bought, so that may be either the beginning of something good, or I have reached my peak? Who knows.

[charlie knighton]

Bear Tooth Woods has donated prizes for the Virginia Woodturners Symposium, thanks.....

[Lee Koepke]

Bear Tooth Woods has donated prizes for the Virginia Woodturners Symposium, thanks.....
good people! Was my first time ordering from Earl, wont be the last!