Fire Alumilite Desk Set
This fire alumilite desk set was made from acrylic called Alumilite that I special ordered from Jonathon Brooks. If you don’t know Jonathon, he’s one of the premiere custom pen blank makers and is known for his beautiful Alumilite colors.
I first contacted Jonathon to ask if he could make the large custom-sized blocks or slabs I needed for the bases. He was more than willing to work with me on the base sizes as well as the matching pen blanks.
But, as it turned out, that was the easy part– the hard part was deciding what color to order! After looking over many of his own projects, I chose this FIRE (the name he gave to the color) for my first Alumilite desk pen. As with many acrylic colors, the photo’s don’t do justice to how beautiful the material is.
About the base & funnel:
The base & funnel on this desk pen are new styles I’ve been working on. The base begins as a square slab. Then I cut it into a triangle. Then I drill a hole in the center for mounting it on the lathe with a screw chuck.
Top first:
Because it’s a triangle I have to be careful of the three spinning points! So I wrap the the points with red tap so they stands out. Then I’ll shape the outside by working from the outside toward the center. The outside edges will get weaker the thinner it gets. So I have to remove as much material as possible from the outside edges as I move inward. Once the outside profile is completed, I sand with progressive grits of sandpaper before I flip it.
Bottom next:
This was my first time making a funnel with metal accent bands. Because the top band is ‘captured’ between the acrylic, the funnel must be made in two parts. The top cap (the part above the band) was turned first, and it gets two tenons. One tenon for the band, and a second smaller glue tenon for attaching it to the main section.
After most of the main section is shaped and finished, the band and cap get installed. Then the inside is step-drilled for the pen. The final step was to flip the funnel and round over the bottom and then drill and tap it for the swivel.
About the pen:
Johnathon made double length pen blanks, so I took advantage of the long blanks and turned the main section of the pen from a single piece of Alumilite. Only the section is a separate piece. So whereas most desk pens have two joints, this one only has one.
The pen is a C/C, so it accepts a converter or disposable cartridges.
Pen and base dimensions:
Pen dimensions:
Length: approx 8.375″.
Diameter: (widest) .46″.
Nib: #6 2-tone Steel Meister.
Weight (w/o ink): 14.4 grams.
Inking system: cartridge/converter.
Base dimensions:
Size: Approx 5″ x 5 ” x 1.25″ high x 3/8″ thick.
Funnel dimensions:
Size: .62″ dia. x 2.25″ long.
Top band: 2mm wide.
Bottom band: at first glance this band looks like two separate bands divided by a black acrylic spacer. However, it’s actually a single .375″ wide band. The lower section is about 3/16″ wide, and the upper section about 3/32″, with a painted black enamel band between them.
Miscellaneous items:
I also offer a variety of hand-made pen-related items. Pen Props, pen cap Buttons, Pen and Ink Trays, Cufflinks, and Button Covers. Use a Pen Props to display a pen or temporarily raise the nib. Order in a pen-matching material or a wooden style in a variety of finishes. Cap Buttons are small pieces of cap jewelry you can add to a clipless pen to keep it from rolling. Use a Pen & Ink Trays to display your favorite pen and ink. Trays are available in several styles and in your choice of natural wood. Cufflinks and Button Covers are timeless favorites that dress up a shirt. Order them in pen-matching material.
To custom order any of the pens you see on my website for yourself or as a gift, please contact me at jeb<@>jebspens.com.
If you need fountain pen maintenance help (cleaning, refilling, or general issues), please visit my “Fountain Pen Help Line” page. If you’re having a problem and can’t find a solution, use the contact form or send an email.
For pricing, shipping, and warranty information, click the CONTACT link in the footer menu.