Design question for Pen Turners

[NickWelford]

Now I've turned a few pens and I'm always careful to make the sides more or less parallel. Seems to me that that's how the commercial pens are and I much prefer that shape for pens. There seems to be a preponderance of pens shaped like Marilyn Monroe lately - tapered in at the waist. Is this a general thing that pen turners do for any particular reason?

 

[Neil Dyball]

FWIW I only make the slimline pens in that shape, approx. 50/50 with the parallel shape. I quite like them, and that's roughly what experience tells me how puchases are split.

Cheers,

Neil.

 

[jpt]

HI Nick

Up till October last year sales were about 50/50 but since then it has changed to about 70/30 in favour of the fatter ones against the slim ones.

john

 

[TEP]

IME some people can't get on with the 'slim line' 7mm pens. I'm one, if you have mitts the size of mine you find the fatter pens a lot more comfortable to use.

At the same time I do agree that some of the 'Marilyn Monroe' pens you mention are a bit over the top as far as shape goes. Not making a great deal of pens these days I have assumed rightly or wrongly that the fatter ones with the waist where just made for comfort of use.

 

[stevebuk]

you mean like this one nick,

even my very slim handed wife likes the shape and feel in the hand when shaped like this, seems to be more balanced somehow. I also feel that bushing to bushing on a slim pen can be a bit boring shape, but ok on a fatter shape like the very big cigar pen.
just my opinion.

 

[penman]

Hi Nick

If you loo on my website you will see that I do my slimline pens just thickened out at the lower end not all the way along. I find this shape more appealing and easyer to use.
Although this is just my opinion we all differ :lol: :lol:

Malcolm

 

[greggy]

hiya nick, i personally think that a lot of slimline pens you see on here
are not sold. they are the results of people ( woodturners ) trying something different. experimenting with shapes, and techniques, etc .
and of course some lads are doing pens for the first time too. all the pens i make i sell, albeit not cheap. but they sell. i dont like to see a slim like maralyn monroe, it just does not look right in my eyes, but if thats what a customer wants ,, they get. i also dont like bushing-bushings
on certain pens but again the pen is not for me. take my son in law, he does not have hands. they are very large shovels lol, so he needs a big fat pen. 70% of my sales are now made to order

 

[NickWelford]

Interesting comments. I'll just have to try making a "waisted" one and see how it feels.....

 

[stewart]

I'm not keen on the look of the waisted ones but like to make slimlines a bit fatter than bushing to bushing so I've started making my own centrebands for the middle - like so:

 

[mikec]

Stewart, those are nice pens

What kits are they and where do you get them :?:

I'm starting down a deviation from the main slippery slope, have to make some pens for relatives

Mike C

 

[wizer]

Seeing as we're asking the pen turner's questions. Can I ask where the very very best quality pen hardware (kits) come from. I'm talking Most Blanc quality? I went to a craft fair today and a guy was selling the usual slimline pens but also some really nice (and expensive) pens.

Just wondered?

 

[stewart]

What kits are they and where do you get them :?:



Mike C

Hi Mike - they are about the cheapest slimlines you can find! From The Turners Workshop run by a nice bloke called Vince. These particular ones are about £1.40 each I think. Website here.

Can I ask where the very very best quality pen hardware (kits) come from. I'm talking Most Blanc quality? I went to a craft fair today and a guy was selling the usual slimline pens but also some really nice (and expensive) pens.

Well, Vince has got some Majestics that ain't cheap! Turners Retreat sell some of the more expensive end kits too. I've only gone up to a Baron so far - just under a tenner a go.

 

[mikec]

Thanks Stewart.

How do you find these wear, do they chip or wear off :?:

Mike C

 

[stewart]

They wear ok - my wife has one made in yew that's been used for a few months now without any damage. It doesn't get used everyday but it does also live in a house with three teenagers who don't always treat everything with love and affection! I might think twice about selling them though until I had used one everyday for a while.