By Kath Gannaway
When Ross Ward and Bob Talbot step up to the lathe, it would be easy to think they’ve been reshaping bits of wood all their lives.
In fact, it’s a skill both men have learned since joining the Yarra Glen Men’s Shed about three years ago.
Each week they spend some of their time at the shed transforming blocks of wood into the centre-piece of what evolve, with some manufactured fittings either end, into beautifully crafted ballpoint pens.
Currently there are two models, the slimline and the bullet pen.
The process starts with sourcing the wood, For the most part, it’s wood with a previous life and in some cases an interesting story to tell.
Ross pulls out a length of timber that is destined to give some lucky pen owners a connection to a world-famous Yarra Valley identity.
“This piece is a jarrah floor board from Coombe Cottage,” he said.
To think the great Nellie Melba may once have walked, perhaps even barefoot, on that very board … that’s something to write home about.
Among the box of rectangular blocks of wood waiting for their chance to shine are pieces cut from bridge timber from the Yarra Glen railway line.
There is redgum, blackwood and some blocks of rare Osage orange wood that was donated to the shed from a tree that had died.
Each block is precisely drilled through to take the Parker pen insert, then shaped and finished on the lathe with a special fine-grit polish and a finishing oil that brings out the unique qualities, colour and markings of each piece of timber.
Once the insert is in place, the timber is topped and bottomed finishing the process of producing a high-quality, functional and marketable pen.
Ross and Bob have been putting in a bit of overtime ahead of Father’s Day and, of course, the bullet pen is popular with anyone with affiliations with, or an interest in, the military.
The pens are available at Healesville RSL and direct from the men’s shed which is open from 9am to 4pm weekdays at 16 Anzac Avenue, Yarra Glen.
For more information phone 9730 2864 or visit www.yarraglen.com/mensshed.
