One issue I had with the pen was with an effect called ghosting with the section. Ghosting is where the material was transparent enough that the parts insider would show. This is a fairly common issue when making kit pens when the material has a transparency. Kit pens are made by gluing brass tubes inside the acrylic, so if the material is too transparent, then you paint the tubes before gluing them into the acrylic.

So I followed that same guidance here, but I painted the inside of the section. The paint easily hides the nib housing so it doesn’t show through. The photo at right shows a before and after comparison (top before painting; bottom after painting).

One issue I had with the pen was with an effect called ghosting with the section. Ghosting is where the material was transparent enough that the parts insider would show. This is a fairly common issue when making kit pens when the material has a transparency. Kit pens are made by gluing brass tubes inside the acrylic, so if the material is too transparent, then you paint the tubes before gluing them into the acrylic.

So I followed that same guidance here, but I painted the inside of the section. The paint easily hides the nib housing so it doesn’t show through. The photo at right shows a before and after comparison (top before painting; bottom after painting).

Originally, the order was only for the pen. But while I was in the process of making the pen, the customer emailed a photo of an old base he had, and ask if it was possible to make something similar. It was a small base about 3″ square x 1″ tall. A very simple shape–BUT, it had a checkered pattern made with two squares each of black and white marble.

Still, I thought, it might not be too difficult. But the issue would be making the blocks. Since the base was only 3″ square, it meant the blocks were only 1 1/2″ square. So I’d have to find material that was at least 1 1/2″ square, plus in a color that would compliment the copper and white I was using for the pen.

After doing a little research, and digging through my material inventory, I ran across a piece from a large turning blank that looked like it was the same color as the Copper. I normally use what are referred to as ‘pen’ blanks for making pens. Most pen blanks are about 3/4″ square, so those wouldn’t do. However some suppliers also offer the ‘turning’ blanks, which are larger at about 1 1/2″ square blanks.

When I looked up the color of the turning blank I had, I also saw they had another off white color that I thought might work for the light color blocks. So I placed an order, and waited.

Once the blanks arrived, I compared them to the pen and the copper match was spot on. The ‘white’ I ordered though was a little darker (a dirtier white, so the name ‘snowball’ they used for it was quite accurate). But I thought it would be close enough for the base, and after informing the customer he agreed. See the bottom of the page for the base’s dimensions.

When I was working on the first two Eversharp desk pens that I mentioned at the beginning, the customer sent an original (vintage) Eversharp desk pen so I could take accurate measurements from it. He also sent along a vintage Eversharp funnel to use to make sure the new pens would fit the funnel. It turns out this was a funnel that I had admired for a long time and always wanted to try making one. So while I had it I took careful measurements of the funnel in hopes I could make one sometime in the future.

I relayed my interest in making one of those funnels to my customer, and he said if I could make one in the same colors as the pen, he’d buy it to complete the set with the pen and base.

About the funnel: Wahl (the company that sold the Eversharp line of pens), offered quite a few different styles of pen funnels over the years. This one was very unique because it had a very wide top that flared backwards. It also has a pair of metal bands at the top, along with unique wide band at the bottom. So the style would present several manufacturing challenges.

Making the funnel: I had visited this funnel several times over the years, working on a layout to figure out how to build it. So I already had an idea of how I could make it. The sample the custom sent me also allowed me to recognize the unique band that was on the bottom. Turns out it wasn’t so unique and I already had some! It was a near match to center band used on a kit pen.

So I got to work making parts. And after a few samples, I was able to figure out how to make the parts. I made in several pieces to make it easier to install the top bands.

See the bottom of the page for the funnel’s dimensions.

Desk Set Specifications:

Material Used: