Maple Slimline Desk Pen
with custom engraving area in maple with natural finish.
This desk pen was made from domestic maple hardwood and has several coats of a durable clear wipe-on polyurethane finish.
I cut the base from a larger piece of stock using a method called picture framing. Picture framing allows you to be selective in picking out just the right area of the board to use the woodgrain to create an effective feature pattern.
The result here creates an attractive cathedral effect in the wood-grain behind the engraving.
To use picture framing, you first need a template. Use a piece of paper and draw out the dimensions of the piece you intend to use. Then cut out the center. This is your picture frame.
Next you place the picture frame over the wood you intend to use. Then move the frame around until you get a pleasing grain pattern framed inside. Once satisfied with the pattern, draw around the inside of the frame. Then cut out the wood. That’s all there is to it!
Material options:
This desk pen is just shown as an example. It can be ordered in your choice of domestic or exotic woods or in a variety of acrylics. Email me for details on the available materials.
Pen styles:
As with most of my other products, this Desk Pen is fully customizable, so if it’s not quite what you’re looking for, it can be tailored to suit your needs. You can change the size of the base, or order it with a different or multiple pen options (ballpoint, roller-ball or fountain).
About custom engraving:
I created the shape of this desk pens base in order to have a nice large area to place a custom engraving. The area is about 2 1/2″ wide x 1 1/2″ high and is large enough for a name and/or business logo.
Type of engraving:
If you’re not familiar with engraving and how it’s done, most of it these days is done with computer aided lasers. Computer aided laser have several advantages. One they’re very precise. And two, you can engrave on a variety of materials. In the past your choices were a flat metal plate. Now you have more choices. You can even engrave on round items! So now on desk pens, instead of the old style bases that you had to use a brass plate, now you can engrave directly onto the base material.
Besides being very precise, laser can engrave on a variety of materials. And because the engraving is generated through a computer, virtually any design can be used. Either create it directly on the computer, or create it on paper then scan it into a computer. Here I added my own logo as an example. If you have something in mind but need help creating it, I can help you put it together.
Color or not to color:
The laser does the engraving with a very directed stream of light that is very hot. On acrylics, it melts the acrylic away. On woods, it burns the wood away. So the result you get with the engraving will depend on the type of material you choose.
On wood, like this maple, the burned effect leaves the area darker, so on most light to medium colored woods you can get a nice contrast between the engraving and the various colors of the natural woods.
If you choose to use acrylic, rather than having a dark burn area, the laser melts the acrylic. So you simply get the void and the engraving is the same color as the surrounding area. So on most acrylics it’s usually a good idea to add a colorfill to the engraving. As the name implies, colorfill is filling or flooding the engraving void with color. Usually a contrasting color. There’s a line of paint marketed specifically for this purpose, but most any paint will work. So your color choices are nearly limitless.
You can use colorfill on wood, but you must prepare the wood first to seal the surrounding wood. If you don’t seal it first, the paint will seep into the woods grain in the surrounding area. And in order to seal the woodgrain fully, I recommend using spray polyurethane.
If colorfill isn’t used, I’ll finish the wood with a few coats of wipe on polyurethane after the engraving is applied.
Pen and Base Information:
| Pen Specifications: | Base Specifications: |
| Material: Maple with clear finish. | Material: Maple with clear finish. |
| Length: 6.50″. | Size: 3 ” w x 5 ” d x 3/4″ thick. |
| Diameter: .36″. | Engrave area: 2 1/2″ x 1 1/2″. |
| Style: Twist Ball-point. | Funnel: .53″ dia. x 3.25″ long. |
| Refill type: Cross. | Swivel: solid brass. |
Ballpoint Desk Pen with Engraving in Maple (image-3)
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.