Brazilian Rosewood European Wood Pen - Tactile Rubber Finish

Made from Brazilian Rosewood, this hand-turned European-style twist pen included rubberized black "tactile" components and a turned grip.

Brazilian Rosewood is a tall tree that reaches as high as 130 feet and 40 inches in diameter. This species grows in coastal regions. Brazilian Rosewood has many beautiful looks, from Red, Brown, Purples and Oranges. Heartwood usually varies from chocolate brown to violet brown with violet and black streaks, while sapwood is lighter. Older trees tend to dull saw blades, but this wood turns well on the lathe. A prized wood for both turnery and carving. It has a rose-like fragrance when worked. Used for decorative veneers, musical instrument parts, fine furniture, cabinets, piano cases, fancy turnery, marquetry, and knife handles. It's very very popular for classical guitars because of its unique resonance. It's supposedly the "Holy Grail" of Acoustic Flat top back and side woods. Tonally it is considered by many as the best wood out there, it has a glass-like tap tone. Brazilian is no longer legally exported from Brazil (protected similar to Ivory and Tortoise shell) so it is very rare and very expensive.

Price for this pen: $30.00

Wood Pen: Bocote and Tactile Slimline

This Bocote and Tactile slimline pen is another pen I am very fond of. I deliberately matched the black Tactile components to the Bocote wood because of the black grain - I thought it would look cool and I was right. The black Tactile components of this pen feel almost like rubber, though it is a hard, durable finish.

Though bocote is supposed to have a creamy brown color with wavy black stripes, the color of the wood in this pen is a mustard yellow, making for striking contrast. Bocote is from a small tree native to Central and South America, sometimes called Mexican Rosewood. Because of its striking color and grain, it's popular for accents and turnings.

Price for this pen: $25.00