Best Woods for Pen Making: Comparing Species

One of the things I love most about making pens is that almost any piece of wood has the potential to become something beautiful. A small offcut from a larger woodworking project, an exotic hardwood you've been saving, or even a fallen tree from your own property can become a pen with enough character to last a lifetime.

That said, not every wood behaves the same on the lathe.

Some species cut like butter and polish to a beautiful shine. Others chip easily, dull tools quickly, or require extra care during finishing. Choosing the right wood can make the difference between an enjoyable afternoon in the shop and a frustrating project.

If you're just getting started, don't worry about finding the rarest or most expensive species. Many of the best pen woods are affordable, readily available, and incredibly rewarding to turn.

Here's my list of some of the best woods for pen making, along with what makes each one unique.

What Makes a Good Pen Wood?

When choosing a pen blank, I generally look for five qualities:

• Stable and dry

• Turns cleanly without excessive tear-out

• Sands smoothly

• Accepts a finish well

• Has attractive grain or color

The smaller size of a pen means even subtle grain patterns can really stand out, so appearance matters just as much as workability.

Best Woods for Beginners

If you're making your first few pens, these are hard to beat.

Walnut

Walnut has long been one of my favorite domestic hardwoods.

It machines beautifully, rarely chips, and finishes exceptionally well. The rich chocolate brown color gives pens a classic, timeless appearance that appeals to just about everyone.

Difficulty: Easy

Best For: Beginners, gifts, executive pens

Cherry

Cherry turns cleanly and develops an even richer color as it ages.

Freshly turned cherry starts with a warm pinkish tone, but exposure to light gradually deepens it into the rich reddish-brown color many woodworkers love.

Difficulty: Easy

Best For: Everyday carry pens

Maple

Maple is smooth, consistent, and forgiving.

While plain maple can look somewhat understated, figured maple varieties like curly or quilted maple create stunning pens with incredible depth.

Difficulty: Easy

Best For: Beginners and figured blanks

Ash

Ash has an open grain that gives finished pens a distinctive texture and appearance.

If you're looking for something with more visible grain than maple or cherry, ash is a great option.

Difficulty: Easy

Best Exotic Woods

If you want a pen that immediately catches someone's attention, exotic hardwoods are difficult to beat.

Cocobolo

Cocobolo is famous for its vibrant orange, red, and dark brown streaks.

It polishes to an incredible natural luster and often requires very little finish.

Be aware that many people develop allergic reactions after repeated exposure to its dust, so good dust collection and respiratory protection are essential.

Difficulty: Moderate

Bocote

Bocote features dramatic dark striping against a golden background.

Every blank seems to reveal a completely different pattern, making each pen unique.

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Zebrawood

True to its name, zebrawood displays bold dark stripes running through a pale golden background.

It creates eye-catching pens that always seem to start conversations.

Difficulty: Moderate

Purpleheart

Purpleheart is unlike almost any other wood.

Freshly cut, it often appears dull brown before turning a brilliant purple after exposure to air and sunlight.

Its color naturally darkens over time, but it remains one of the most distinctive woods available.

Difficulty: Moderate

Padauk

Padauk offers an incredible bright orange-red color that almost looks artificial.

It turns easily and finishes beautifully, although prolonged UV exposure will gradually darken the color.

Difficulty: Easy

Wenge

Wenge has an almost black appearance with dramatic open grain.

It creates bold, masculine-looking pens but can be somewhat splintery during turning.

Sharp tools make a big difference.

Difficulty: Moderate

Leopardwood

Leopardwood's flecked grain gives it an appearance unlike almost anything else.

Finished properly, it resembles the pattern of animal spots.

It's one of those woods that people almost always pick up for a closer look.

Difficulty: Moderate

Beautiful Burl Woods

Burls produce some of the most valuable pen blanks available.

Popular choices include:

• Maple Burl

• Buckeye Burl

• Redwood Burl

• Box Elder Burl

• Thuya Burl

• Myrtle Burl

These blanks often contain swirling grain patterns impossible to find in standard lumber.

Many burls benefit from stabilization before turning.

Domestic Favorites

Other excellent domestic species include:

• White Oak

• Red Oak

• Hickory

• Osage Orange

• Black Locust

• Sycamore

• Elm

• Hackberry

• Persimmon

Many local hardwoods are overlooked simply because they aren't considered "exotic."

Some produce outstanding pens.

Stabilized Wood

Some woods are naturally soft or highly figured.

Stabilization replaces air inside the wood with resin under pressure.

The result is a blank that's:

• Stronger

• More stable

• Easier to polish

• Less likely to crack

Many burl blanks are stabilized before they're sold.

Woods I'd Avoid as a Beginner

While every wood can teach you something, a few species are more challenging.

• Very green wood

• Punky spalted wood

• Brittle burls

• Extremely oily woods (without proper preparation)

• Cracked blanks

There's nothing wrong with these materials—they simply require a little more experience.

My Top 10 Pen Woods

If I had to choose just ten, my list would look something like this:

1. Walnut

2. Maple Burl

3. Cocobolo

4. Cherry

5. Bocote

6. Padauk

7. Zebrawood

8. Leopardwood

9. Purpleheart

10. Wenge

That's certainly not the only correct list, but these species consistently produce beautiful, reliable results.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the easiest wood for beginners?

Walnut, cherry, and maple are excellent starting points because they're forgiving and easy to finish.

What's the prettiest wood for pens?

That's entirely personal preference, but maple burl, buckeye burl, cocobolo, bocote, and zebrawood are among the most eye-catching.

Are exotic woods worth the extra cost?

In many cases, yes.

Because pen blanks are so small, the cost difference is often only a few dollars, but the finished appearance can be dramatically different.

Can softwoods be used?

They can, but they generally dent more easily and often require stabilization or additional finishing.

Nick's Shop Notes

I've learned over the years that expensive doesn't always mean better. Some of my favorite pens have been made from ordinary walnut and cherry left over from larger furniture projects.

If you're just getting started, don't feel like you need to buy the rarest exotic blank available. Focus on learning clean cuts, careful sanding, and a good finish. A well-made walnut pen will almost always impress people more than a poorly finished exotic one.

As your skills improve, you'll naturally appreciate the unique character that different woods bring to each project.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a wood for your next pen is part of the fun. Every species has its own personality, from the rich elegance of walnut to the bold striping of zebrawood or the swirling figure of a burl.

Experiment with different materials, keep notes on what you enjoy turning, and don't overlook the offcuts already sitting in your shop. Some of the best pens begin as scraps that might otherwise have ended up in the burn pile.

The more species you work with, the more you'll develop your own favorites—and that's one of the most rewarding parts of pen making.