Snake Themed Fountain Desk Pen
with short cap in Juma magma dragon acrylic.
Making the pen:
This special order desk pen was made with a unique acrylic called JUMA (see details below). Although the pen appears that it might be fairly simple to make, it was actually quite challenging. The diameter is only about 15/32″ (12 mm). But the total length was going to be quite long.
The material the client choose was available in a 12″ long rod, so it would be more than long enough or the pen. However the blanks in that length were a full 1″ diameter (they were actually marketed as pool cue blanks). It wasn’t available in anything thinner for the length I needed. That meant I had to remove more than half the material before I could even begin shaping the pen.
The blanks were round. If they were square, I’d saw off some of the waste first, but that’s really tough to do on round blanks. So with the large difference between the overall diameter of the blank and the pens finished diameter, it meant much of the turning time was going to be spent reducing the diameter of the blank.
However the large diameter did have an advantage. Because the pen was going to be quite long, the bulk would keep the blank stable. So I worked in short sections only reducing what I needed a little at a time. I also decided to use a ‘steady rest‘ for additional support. I started at the tail-stock end and adjusted the steady rest as I worked the length of the pen.
About the material:
This special order desk pen was made with a unique acrylic called JUMA. What is unique in this material is the Dragon scale pattern that runs through the entire blank– all along the length and down into the center. Many blanks with this type of an intricate pattern are created with a foil or photo layer encased in clear acrylic. But somehow the pattern is actually part of the material. The color is a dark reddish orange that they call MAGMA. (I also made a clipless pen with another Juma color called Pink Dragon that you can view HERE).
The customer wanted a pen that looked like one of her snakes (similar to the one shown above). Her final request was that the pen have a small cap just long enough to cover and protect the nib. To accomplish this, I added a short set of threads on the section collar for the cap to screw onto. The cap has a depth stop built-in so it can’t be screwed on too far.
Dimensions:
This Pen’s Specifications:
Color / Material: Juma Magma Dragon Acrylic.
Length: Capped 9.82″ / Uncapped 9.63″.
Diameter (max): Barrel .46″ / Cap .56.
Nib: #5 Polished Steel Tapered Jowo.
Filling System: C/C.
Fountain Desk Pen with Cap in Magma Juma Acrylic (pen capped)
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.
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