Thread: Pen Kits

Some interesting ideas coming up here.

JT, I like your train of thought on more stylish quality kits. A lot of whats out there now just doesn't appeal to my customer base, or me for that matter.
Everyone (almost) likes the Sierra, but the design drawbacks turn me off. I like the stylish overall look of the design, but I wish for a better design to make changing the refill a bit less troublesome for the general user.

I like the Aero design and variants, but it is a bit small for many hands.

Amos is right, there is a place for the cheap kits, without them pen turning would be too expensive for many who do it just for the enjoyment, and giving away the fruits of their labour. If someone receives a free pen, they are unlikely to complain bitterly if a problem arrises somewhere down the road.
But for those that make pens to sell, quality control is a bit more of an issue. I like to feel comfortable that any pen I sell, will give many years of trouble free service.

I have had a bit of a think about my previous post, some of my frustration is due to a few rough handed users that don't look after their pens as well as I would like, but some of the failures I have seen just shouldn't happen.

I noticed that some of the more prolific pen makers want a design that is elegant without the gaudy decoration. I don't particularly like the emphasis of Chinese style art on the pen kits we can buy. Oddly enough I was of this view over 12 months ago and I put a thread on the Forum suggesting that we have a competition to come up with a design. One of the members at the time said he would have the pens made through his friend or brother (can't remeber which) and they could be sold to Forum members exclusively for a low and non-profit price. Unfortunately, the majority of the members who responded were only interested in what was in it for them financially rather than for the benefit of members as a whole. I tossed the idea in the air and let it fall where it may as the whole intent of the process was destroyed by greed. I don't intend to go there again with any other sort of competition. Once bitten - twice shy

Originally Posted by plantagenon

I noticed that some of the more prolific pen makers want a design that is elegant without the gaudy decoration. I don't particularly like the emphasis of Chinese style art on the pen kits we can buy. Oddly enough I was of this view over 12 months ago and I put a thread on the Forum suggesting that we have a competition to come up with a design. One of the members at the time said he would have the pens made through his friend or brother (can't remeber which) and they could be sold to Forum members exclusively for a low and non-profit price. Unfortunately, the majority of the members who responded were only interested in what was in it for them financially rather than for the benefit of members as a whole. I tossed the idea in the air and let it fall where it may as the whole intent of the process was destroyed by greed. I don't intend to go there again with any other sort of competition. Once bitten - twice shy

Is there a thread that can be read about this somewhere??? I must have missed the whole conversation. Thanks.

I know Constance of Lazerline has a silver pen kit that is pretty basic and is a nice looking kit. It gets good reviews from what I have read. The thing I do not like about it is the metal to metal threads. I have found in recent purchases the cap comes unscrewed easily. Not sure with his but the thinking would be the same.

I am sure it is there JT but in all honesty I can't be bothered finding it again. Let's face it - beginners like the slimline because of the ease of making and the price. The coating will wear off eventually but for $2 you can't expect much more.

The more experienced pen makers use the more expensive kits with the better quality finish. However, I can't see one amongst them that truly look elegant - irrespective of the name attributed to the pen. It may just be me but a truly elegant pen to me is one with one or maybe two simple gold rings (irrespective of the width of the ring) that complement the timber or resin set in the pen, a gold nib and a gold cap (or any metallic finish for that matter). Basically, something that flows. Unfortunately, too many pens on offer have far too much Chinese art style about them.

As a challenge to myself, I will design one that I think looks nice and post it on here. However, all your ideas on what should be incorporated would be invaluable. Just PM me with them rather than post them on here or the idea will be stolen no doubt.

Originally Posted by _fly_

If you want to test a pen kit, give it to a high school kid.
They use them for hrs a day.
Lets start cheap, slimline or stream line, the coating comes off back to base metal in 4-6 weeks.
Sierra (not sure who's), mech can die quite quickly with constant use (at least these can be replaced).
Polaris (not sure who's), mine are quite a few years old so maybe they were better at the start, but the 3 I've given of those are still going.

I haven't gone past those in kit cost, not prepared to spend 20 bucks on a kit if its the same.

Maybe someone wants to add to this list

Mate, I disagree with your quality concerns. I first started slimlines about 5 years ago, some of my earliest pens I still use everyday, other than my inferior finish of the time, they are still looking great, it is the timber than looks aged. The mechanisms are all still working well
Polaris, same, they still look great, no probs
Sierra, have only got them, not sure
Bolt Action. All the PSI kits are great quality
Bullet twist, great quality

Sincerely
Willy

Most of them are good for average use Willy, but constant everyday use wears off the coating of the cheaper pen kits. The Rhodium and Titanium seem to withstand it a bit more. However, the point was more the style of the pen (the design) rather than the wear

I too have had no issues with the 150 or so slimlines I have made except for one that auto retracted

I prefer slim linen design in that it gives you plenty of timber Realestate. Not for the ones that have a large nib, plastic, rubber etc.

There are many I have yet to try so I can say I have.


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art

So tell me - a cross between a slimline and a streamline with a couple of gold rings and where placed? What do you think?

Originally Posted by plantagenon

So tell me - a cross between a slimline and a streamline with a couple of gold rings and where placed? What do you think?

Do you mean two bands instead of one?

Streamline - is that just a click version of a slimline?

I've only ever done slimlines or fancy kits which I think a basically the same


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art

What I would like is the option of a fatter band so you can make a slimline into a fatter pen


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art

Originally Posted by DaveTTC

What I would like is the option of a fatter band so you can make a slimline into a fatter pen


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art

That is the difference between a slim and stream, if you buy the slimline you can put the fatter streamline band and go up to half inch at the centre.
I buy just the bands from pops shed separate and put them on. Hate that design that people do that looks like 2 sausages or a strangled long balloon because they have to get down to the skinny centre band.

lol - fly. I agree. The "waisted design" just makes it easy to do and does look like 2 sausages squeesed between a band - but we all start off somewhere and in the beginning we think it is a great work of art. As fly said, the streamline is a thicker pen based on a wider band from the slimline - same pen really. But what I was getting at is a different band or 2 or 3 different bands. Think about it

Originally Posted by plantagenon

lol - fly. I agree. The "waisted design" just makes it easy to do and does look like 2 sausages squeesed between a band - but we all start off somewhere and in the beginning we think it is a great work of art. As fly said, the streamline is a thicker pen based on a wider band from the slimline - same pen really. But what I was getting at is a different band or 2 or 3 different bands. Think about it

They had a stand at my local shopping centre selling those metal beads (like pandora things).
I took a kit with me and a few of them will fit (had to take 1/2mm of the inside of a few).
they sell em for $1, the slimline band is 50c at pops shed, so I use them for the girls, you get patterns and with little coloured stones in em, even have one where an elephant hangs of the band.

Don't know where they are now but I've used all the ones I got last time.

The most elegant pen in the high end is the Statesman, lovely clean lines and not much bling at all. Of course, Bling is in the eye of the beholder, as to whether you like it or not; I don't mind bling, but I also truly appreciate the beautiful lines of a blingless pen. I understand that Timberbits sells a kit without any bling at all, it is up to the maker as to how it will be finished. Amos