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Would you like to know a little about us? Then read on to find out…

The first thing to know about us is that there is no us. Just me! I work out of a modest home shop on the east coast of the United States and have been creating customized, bespoke fountain pens for over a decade.

I got the fountain pen bug after seeing pictures of some handmade pens online. Intrigued, I inquired about creating one on a penmaking forum. But I was promptly shut down and told: “You can’t do that on a wood lathe!” All these years later, I still have an image of the guy’s comment in my head. But instead of dropping it and moving on to something else, I decided I wanted to try and to prove the guy wrong.

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It took some time and a lot of trial and error. But eventually I discovered that, like so much of the information you read on the internet, not all the advice you get is reliable. Since I was using a different type of lathe, I needed to create new methods and design my own jigs for mounting and turning parts and scour the Internet for supplies (you can read more about the process below).

I began with a simple clipless pen, then advanced to more complicated designs. Fast forward to today and now I offer an extensive variety of fountain pen styles and sizes. But if you have a really unique project in mind, please let me know! I’m always interested in making something unique. One example of a unique project is the submarine pen found on the 1x projects page that I was asked to create. It took a lot of planning, but together, we came up with exactly what the client wanted. Another example is some of the unique desk pens.

I’ve been a woodworker all of my life, but I never considered woodturning until 2003, when I attended an open house at the local hardware store. Among the tools that were being demonstrated was a small wood lathe. I was intrigued. So I decided to give it a try, and I purchased one. Because it was a completely new endeavor, I figured the midi lathe would be a practical starting point (and easier to get past my wife). I also have to admit that I’m a self-proclaimed clean freak, so I wasn’t quite sure if I’d be able to adjust to wood chips everywhere. But I eventually got the hang of it and enjoyed the entire process, including the wood chips!

As with most newbies, I dabbled in a variety of turning projects. One of those was turning a pen that came in “kit” form. These are pens sold as a disassembled kit, and it includes all the parts you need to assemble a pen once you turn the barrels (turn or turning is the term used for shaping parts on a lathe; barrels are the two main parts of a pen turned on the lathe). So then, once you turn the barrels, you use a pen press to press the other metal parts onto the barrels, completing the pen.

At that time, the pen-turning “craze” was just beginning, so there weren’t a lot of pen styles available yet or much of a selection of material. So I soon became bored and wanted something that was more challenging.

One day, I came upon some handmade fountain pens online. I liked how they looked, and I was quite intrigued. The designs were simple yet elegant, with all of the components made of acrylic. The nib is the only metal part. After doing some research, I decided I wanted to try making one. But I had to start from scratch—from determining the size of the pieces to how to cut the threads. And, most crucially, how to turn the parts on my wood lathe. I joined a couple pen forums and asked about how to get started. But I was swiftly shut down and told I needed a metal lathe to create the parts.

But rather than abandoning the notion, I chose to make it a personal challenge. And, as I was unable to ask anyone for help, I just started experimenting with different methods to produce the parts. I gradually worked out the procedures for creating each of the individual elements. First, I had to figure out how to mount the parts on the lathe. Then, learn to shape the parts by hand. Sometimes I was successful on the first attempt, but other times it took numerous efforts before I could get a part made correctly. But I didn’t give up.

The next challenge was finding parts. I started looking online for sources for the various pieces of hardware the pens would require (such as clips and nibs). Then, I had to find some of the unique tooling that was required for operations like cutting threads. But after several months, I was able to accumulate most of the necessary supplies. Then finally, I was able to complete a few rudimentary fountain pens.

I placed my first pen online in 2011, and people instantly asked if it was for sale or if I could create one for them. Eventually after some additional prodding, I decided to try selling a few pens to recoup some of my initial investment. I wanted to buy a few additional specialized jigs and tools to make some of the processes easier. And after developing a few basic techniques, I challenged myself to create more complex pens by exploring various sizes and designs, adding metal accent bands, and even attempting alternative inking systems. I eventually enhanced some of the pen designs with accent bands and added button and piston filler inking systems. I am always creating and releasing new pen styles, so please check back frequently to see what I have added recently.

I haven’t stopped trying to improve. I’ve continued to challenge myself by adding new features to my standard pens as well as taking on more challenging projects. I now offer a variety of inking systems: button, lever, bulb, and my latest vacumatic. I’m always looking for new ones (I recently mocked up a crescent filler). I’ve also been working on more complex pen styles or ways to add features.

I recently released a new BCHR-style surface embellishment. With the technique I’m using the patterns are endless, and they can be added to most pen styles and materials. I posted a few patterns I created, but those are just the beginning. With this method, I think the sky’s the limit!

Another idea I’m working on is adding a pair of metal accent bands to the acrylic band of my Dhaulagiri. It’s a popular pen just as it is, but I think the bands would make a nice upgrade option.

But besides wanting to add new features to pens, I’m also constantly striving to make each pen a little better than the last. And one of the best ways to improve is to get direct feedback. So if you ever have a problem with one of my pens, please be sure to let me know about it.

If you see a pen you like or want someone to create something unique, please feel free to contact me with your request. Use the form on the contact page, or email me directly. There’s a contact link at the bottom of every page. So send your request, and I’ll get back to you as quickly as possible. Please note that all pens are made-to-order. Because I offer a variety of styles and options, I only stock samples. So if you order a pen, one will be made for you.

As long as the materials are readily available, I can usually turn a standard pen order around in 2–3 weeks. Payment is easily made through PayPal, and all orders are shipped via Priority Mail (overseas can be standard Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express depending on that country’s insurance limitations). USA shipments are usually received in two to three days. Overseas shipments vary depending on the amount of time it takes to get cleared through customs.

Here are a few examples of my work. Click the images to see more.


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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.