Finding My Groove: The Journey into Lau Lau Woodworks Pens
It was one of those rainy afternoons, you know? The kind where it feels like the whole world’s hunkered down, cozy under a blanket. I was sitting in my little workshop, a ramshackle shed in my backyard where I dabble with wood every now and then. I had a warm cup of coffee in one hand and a piece of Lau Lau wood in the other. This was going to be the pen, or so I thought.
Now, I’d seen some of those pens made from Lau Lau wood online—gorgeous things really. The deep brown grains swirled with lighter streaks, like night and day dancing together. But I gotta tell you, the first time I cut into that wood, my heart sank. The smell? Heavenly! Like freshly roasted coffee mixed with a hint of something sweet, almost like vanilla. But the moment I made my first slice with my trusty band saw, I thought, “Oh no, what have I done?”
A Lesson in Patience
I’ve been crafting for a while, but pens were a new adventure for me. I remember watching a YouTube video late one night—again, probably a little too many cups of coffee were in me at this point. The guy made it look so easy. Just take that beautiful wood, shape it, finish it, and voilà! Magic in your hands. But there I was, staring at a piece of Lau Lau that looked more like a lopsided rock than anything remotely pen-shaped.
At first, I almost called it quits. I mean, I’d bought this gorgeous wood, and I knew I had a good chance of screwing it up. But something about that rich color kept me going. So I grabbed my chisels—good ol’ Stanley tools that have seen better days—and started chiseling away. It took a while, but I could feel myself getting the hang of it.
Unexpected Mishaps
Now, then came the part where I had to drill the hole for the ink cartridge. Simple, right? Just drill a straight line through the heart of that beautiful wood. But wouldn’t you know it? My drill bit decided it was going to quit halfway through. The noise was obnoxious—the kind that makes the dogs bark and your neighbors roll their eyes. And the smell? A burnt wood scent mixed with just the faint trace of despair. At that moment, I thought, “This is it. I’m giving it all up. Who needs another coffee cup holder anyway?”
But even with all that chaos, I found myself laughing. Picture me standing in my shed, muttering at tools that should be doing their job better. I almost threw that drill against the wall! But instead, I took a deep breath, put the whole project down, and brewed myself another cup of coffee. Sometimes you just need that little moment to regroup, right?
The Sweet Surprise
Eventually, I got my hands on a replacement drill bit, and that’s when the fun truly began. I went back to my piece, ready for round two. As I smoothed out the edges with my lathe, I could see the Lau Lau wood beginning to shine. Ever so slowly, it started to look like a pen.
And can I just say, there’s something downright magical about watching wood transform. As I held the pen blank to the light, the grain patterns sprang to life—it was like watching an old photograph emerge from the dark. I remember just standing there, grinning like a fool. I even caught my reflection in the lathe’s shiny surface. What a sight!
Putting it All Together
After some more sanding, I learned to love those little imperfections. You know, like that tiny dent from where I got a bit overzealous with the rough grit. In that moment, I thought, “Isn’t that just life? It’s a bit rough around the edges, but it’s still beautiful.”
Then, I found myself at the finishing stage. I’d computed all this in my head—apply the finish, let it dry, and hope for the best. I chose a simple friction polish because it smelled nice and reminded me of camping trips as a kid. Once that stuff hit the wood, it was like magic—it turned that pen into a breathtaking piece of art.
Finally, after all the paranoia about whether the ink cartridge would fit or if I had actually measured correctly, I slipped it in. And there it was, just sitting in my palm, a lovely piece of crafted wood that I’d made, flaws and all.
A Lesson Well Learned
Looking back, this adventure with Lau Lau wood taught me a couple of things. First off, if you’re going to dive into something new—be it pens, tables, or just a new recipe in the kitchen—give yourself some grace. Things aren’t going to go perfectly; they rarely do. But there’s beauty in the messiness, in the trying.
And honestly? If you’re on the fence about trying something you’ve never done before—like crafting or whatever else passionate pursuit you’ve got swirling in your mind—just go for it. I wish someone had told me sooner that the best moments can come from the wildest mishaps. When your project doesn’t go as planned, it might just end up teaching you more than you ever expected.
So here’s to more coffee, more pens, and more laughter in the shop!
