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What makes a good winning pen?

Frederick

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Apr 8, 2018
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871
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Chatham
First Name
Frederick
Hi all,

I was wondering what people look for when judging a pen. Is it curves, colour, type of wood/finish or design/model/make ?

Obviously, the turning has to be good i.e no scrathes etc and the item fits together well.

What do members especially looking for?

Cheers

Frederick
 

Vic Perrin

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Feb 23, 2014
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Rugeley Staffs
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Vic
Hi all,

I was wondering what people look for when judging a pen. Is it curves, colour, type of wood/finish or design/model/make ?

Obviously, the turning has to be good i.e no scrathes etc and the item fits together well.

What do members especially looking for?

Cheers

Frederick

I can't help you with that one mate ! Despite numerous attempts at Pen of the Week I have not had one of mine selected :sob:

YET :thumbs:
 

Penpal

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Canberra AUSTRALIA
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Peter
Entirely personal methinks it is restricted in the popular vote to only a smallish number of participants using this method. The great difficulty is the diverse membership,what is popular etc. It represents a small number of participants who vote.

Peter.
 

fortress

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Astley
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John
Knees don’t count Vic, but maybe one day.... seriously I hope your feeling better now. :thumbs:
 

Bammer

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Cambridge
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Brad
For me, and this is purely my opinion and not in any particular order

Something I would like to make myself but can't
Unusual patterned wood.
I prefer Wood over Acrylic
Finish
Shape
Photography (important to show the pen and material at it's best)

Once again not in any particular order

Brad
 

Phil Dart

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Colebrooke, Devon
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If you are referring to Pen of the Week, I think a good photo counts for an awful lot. I'm not saying that's how I judge a pen, but the folks that regularly win all have in common the ability to turn out a good photo. Their turning styles, choice of blanks and kits are generally very different to each other though, and I've seen many fantastic pens get very few votes because of a poor photo. As to type of kit, I'm not sure that makes a great deal of difference - slimlines and streamlines win just as much as expensive kits. Penpal and Bammer for instance (sorry to pick on you guys) - are both extremely skilled pen makers, both are regularly successful in POTW, both command attention when they post a pen, but they are at completely opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to their preferred choice of kits.

The profile of the turning is important though, I would say - a great big, fat, bulbous profile will generally never do very well, unless there is something else about it, like a blank to die for or exceptional segmenting and so on. For me, and for most people I would guess, the profile needs to flow from the components so that they gel together as a whole, and make it seem that the pen is one you would want to write with, not look like a couple of sausages strung together of a french poodle's tail, which whilst that may show off a stunning blank or a perfect finish, is not particularly practical from a writing point of view.

Finish is hard to perceive from a photo in many instances, but something with clearly visible imperfections such as inaccurate sizing, or radial sanding marks, is not going to do as well as one that appears perfect.

At the end of the day though, speaking for myself I enjoy seeing them all, and seeing other people's journeys along the road. The pen that is not quite right, shown by a relative newcomer, is just as much a part of the forum as the best pens by the best makers in my view. We all had to start somewhere, and to be honest, I'm not sure my first pen was anything like as good as many folk's first pens I see here. Pen of the Week is just a bit of fun once a week to help create a bit of participation. If you want to win it, I would say you need to show endeavour and then be able to photograph it, so we can all clearly see your endeavour. As I say, complete beginners or near beginners have won it on more than one occasion. There are without doubt some fantastically good pen makers here, but quite apart from their skills at the lathe, they've also acquired some skills with a camera, or phone, or what ever it is they use to photograph their work.

You've asked a good question though Frederick, and it'll be interesting to see what others have to say
 

Lons

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Tongue in cheek answer :ciggrin:
Wait until everyone else is on holiday and yours is the only pen entered. :whistling:

I daren't do even that in case I still get no votes. :sob:
 

Frederick

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Apr 8, 2018
Posts
871
Location
Chatham
First Name
Frederick
Hi all,

I think I need to improve upon my photographic skills; well they can't be any worse that's for sure.
To win POTW week would be a feather in my cap, but in true honesty I am not that worried about it. I take it in fun and (like Phil)
I like to look at the designs and workmanship involved and admire the makers skill. I realise that it takes years
of practice, dedication and a very good eye to produce the excellent pieces displayed here. It is inspiring which (in my opinion) is the main
purpose.

I love it!!!
 

AllenN

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I look for something that requires a little more than the essential skills, something that I would struggle to do myself. I also think if a pen is to stand out from the crowd there has to be something more, either in terms of the blank itself ( figure etc.) or in the modelling. I agree with Phil, that a bulbous shape rarely does that for me ( it is of course purely a matter of taste). Pens that go a little beyond the ‘kit’ also appeal to me, so closed end and better still bespoke pens have great appeal.
I suppose I ask myself what is it about the pen I am looking at that tells me this is a hand crafted item and not just something turned out ( pun intended) en mass from some ‘factory’? Does it inspire me to try something similar or better still fill me with admiration at the level of skill shown?
Good presentation also helps of course although I try not to be too influenced by the quality of the photography since one really is trying to judge the pen rather than the picture.
Just my thoughts.
 

Dalboy

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Kent
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Derek
Other than POTW what makes a good pen is how the recipient of the pen likes and not necessarily the maker.

Does it feel good to use is the colour of the blank or the type of wood nice to look at. I think there is no hard and fast rule.

As for competition entry wether, it is here or elsewhere will also depend on the judge as many are influenced by what they as an individual like even when guidelines are laid down.

So as you can see not an easy question to answer. Just look at all the different points of view that have been posted already.
 

Penpal

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Every pen has courage to be shared on the forum. I have brow beaten the pages so many times with my photographic methods aimed at repeatability and time saving. Its time for others to help us in their special methods,I am backing off in survival mode feeling my stressing simplicity and repeat ability. Age will weary you and we are coming toward winter when much higher costings come into play. I am looking at 85 square on in the coming months. I set out to 1. Use an open box. 2. Use lighting available at my hardware store. 3. A point and shoot camera dedicated to pens. 4. Ten minutes from point and shoot to show and tell.5. Same background same ream of copy paper for the last thirty odd years.

I have a desire to continue with what time I can devote to pens and sharing. I apologise to my promised friends, promised ie to send blanks,this will happen after Easter. My Son has moved back here after many years in many places, starts next week in his new jobs.daughter number four has 16 GC and one will present us with a great grand child in August via one of her sons and his son the total of us roughly 72 ie Wilma and me and our mob..

Enjoy your Northern Spring,Summer and Autumn.

Kind regards Peter.
 

PetrolP

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Jul 12, 2015
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254
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Cambridgeshire
First Name
Peter
Interesting topic!

For me, since to show a pen or anything else on this forum, requires you to post a photo then that's
where to start.

We live in a very visual world!
Unless you have a well lit, clear sharp image you can't see how well it's made, colours, balance etc.

For me it's the first impact of the image is important, and I love seeing all the different interpretations of kits and the variety of materials.

A good photo is indicative of a good pen, it shows some skill, and attention to detail.

Few people would photograph a poor pen well, what's the point.

So why would you photograph a good pen poorly?

Peter
 

wm460

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Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia.
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Mark
For me, and this is purely my opinion and not in any particular order

Something I would like to make myself but can't
Unusual patterned wood.
I prefer Wood over Acrylic
Finish
Shape
Photography (important to show the pen and material at it's best)

Once again not in any particular order

Brad

Dont forget talent and skill, I'm lacking both.:2cry::2cry:
 

Frederick

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Apr 8, 2018
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871
Location
Chatham
First Name
Frederick
Hello Peter

I concur totally, but I just do not have the equipment to take reasonable photographs. All I have is an old portable phone. I can't even get the pictures to publish the right way up :sob:.

Why that happens, I just do not know. I must have been standing on my head :funny:

Cheers
Frederick
 

Penpal

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May 26, 2013
Posts
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Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
Hello Peter

I concur totally, but I just do not have the equipment to take reasonable photographs. All I have is an old portable phone. I can't even get the pictures to publish the right way up :sob:.

Why that happens, I just do not know. I must have been standing on my head :funny:

Cheers
Frederick

For sale ads should reveal masses of suitable cameras mate for around the cost of a couple of pen kits. OK so don,t quote this backward it will not wash for me. If you are in for the long haul as I have been since the 1980,s dedicate a camera for pen pics. I have used only three different cameras in this time for my pictures,someone elses would you likes and one new one for a remarkable sale price.. Its all relative and when amortised as you should against results and cost effectiveness this is what I call an asset

When I quit as a pro photographer I had 90,000 Bucks worth of Cameras none of them ever used for my pen pics because of the sheer cost involved with bulk of the cameras,film costs, processing and printing. Today even the youngest or like me older folk can acheive with ease pictures that exceed the norm when you settle down and standardise,location,24/7 availability. You do this in the workshop do it for pic taking.

So the last time is the best to forget failure and establish success with three feet square space footprint devoted to Pen Photography. You do not need a tripod for the camera, lighting. My camera is supported on a wooden rail with a home made threaded device simple as. My lights are fixed in position shielded by cardboard sleeves to prevent spill light to the lens of the camera, bought from Bunnings hardware with a strip light above 8 watt daylight fluro, background paper still from 1 ream of copy paper. In the 1950,s, 1960,s my processing of film was inside a black cloth to wind the film into a small stainless tank. I printed using a home made enlarger using the space under my stairs at night time (we had at that time 5 kids under 8 yrs so I worked three jobs).

Sorry beginning to sound off but be like Aristotle when holding someones head under the sea when you want breath that bad you will find a way.

Peter.
 
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