Pen Making 2009

It is pen making time again! Fall always brings me into the wood shop with a focus on pens and other woodworking projects. This year I have expanded my inventory of wood choices and pen designs. Perhaps the most interesting addition is the use of Olive wood that comes from Bethlehem. The certificates that come with the wood say that it was taken from ancient olive orchards that date back to Roman times. The wood was salvaged from pruning and no trees were removed or destroyed in the process.

You can see many of the design choices in the picture here. The pens with the black silicone grip are known as Comfort Pens. These can be assembled as a ball point twist pen or as a 7mm pencil with a click mechanism. These sell for about $25 each.

The top center group are called Designer Pens. These are my favorite to make. They are large enough to show off the wood grain and make a real eye-catching and elegant pen. They can be made a little thinner for a feminine or smaller hand. These sell for about $35 each. There is also a Designer Pencil available that is a match for this pen design.

The group of pens at the bottom of the picture are a classic design modeled after a 1935 Parker fountain pen. These can be made as a fountain pen or as a roller ball gel writer. The pens in this picture have the roller ball insert. These pens are absolutely gorgeous, but are also challenging to build. These pens sell for about $45.

Prices can vary based on wood choice. The standard finish is a combination of shellac and carnauba wax. It creates a highly polished surface that holds up well and takes on character as it is used. Different woods will age and show character differently as the oil of the user's skin interacts with the wood and the finish. If you wish to maintain a shiny new look, I recommend the use of a furniture polish that contains wax to clean and polish your pen.

If you are interested in purchasing a pen from my inventory, or having one made, send me an email.