William Wood-Write Subscription Boxes (Woodturner's / Pen Blank / Woodturner's Club)

What's in the box: Expect a selection of pen blanks and other woodturning materials, though the site does not spell out exact box contents.

William Wood-Write is a Canadian owned woodturning supplier that has been operating since 2006. Its subscription boxes, sold under the Woodturner's, Pen Blank and Woodturner's Club names, come from a large catalogue. The shop stocks stabilized and dyed maple pen blanks made in Canada, label cast artisan blanks, limited run hybrid blanks, bowl blanks and turning kits. It also carries supplies for ring making, knife making, casting and stabilizing. That range is a good sign for a box, because the curators have plenty of interesting stock to choose from. The catch is that the site does not clearly explain what each subscription includes, how often boxes ship, or how the three options differ. You may need to call or email before you sign up. For regular store orders, Canadian shipping is spelled out plainly: free on orders of $200 or more, a flat $4.99 for orders from $100 to $199, and $12.99 for orders up to $99. US customers have a separate site. There is a toll free phone line, which helps when dealing with a small specialist retailer. The site is busy and repeats items, so browsing can feel cluttered. If you already turn pens or bowls and want a steady supply of new blanks from a Canadian source, it is worth a look. Just confirm the box details first.