A few more dip pens

[fingwe]

I've been busy recently (and have had more than my fair share of issues accessing the forum), so I haven't had much chance to get on here, but here are some of my latest turned penholders.

I originally cast the resin for my ergonomic pens, but thought I'd use a few of the blanks for turning. They're therefore shorter than I'd like (6 inch blanks), so I had to turn them between centres to try and preserve as much of the length as possible. They're oblique dip pens, used for holding the nib at an angle to make certain scripts easier, if anyone is wondering about the funny metal thing at the end!

 

[fortress]

They are excellent melanie, I like those styles.

 

[iandel]

Very nice pens Calligraphy is one of my hobbies and although I use dip pens I haven't made one yet. My pens are coming on for 35 years old and some of the nibs are pretty old too!

 

[fingwe]

Ian and John, thanks very much!

Ian, you should make one! I have a large collection of vintage nibs, many of them over 100 years old, they're generally much better than modern nibs.

 

[Bill Mooney]

These are beauties Melanie. Nowt much wrong with your turning. The seem to have a pleasing shape & a good finish.

 

[Graham_C]

My word, what a beautiful collection of pens, absolutely stunning!

 

[Sgreen]

Gorgeous. Love everyone of them. My wife wants a pen making out of one of these blanks

 

[fingwe]

Graham, Simon, thanks very much.

Simon, I still owe you a couple of metal flanges....I've been so busy over the past couple of weeks that they totally slipped my mind. I'm not sure that you could make a 'normal' pen out of these resins - part of the beauty of them is the depth that's created and in some places you can see right into the centre of them...I think that would all be lost on kit pens I had actually thought about making some blanks to sell, but figured that there wouldn't really be a market for them because of this.

 

[angelo49]

Those are beautifull!!!
Very Nicely Done!! Great Photos!!
You Cast Them!!! Oh WOW

 

[fingwe]

Thanks Angelo. Yes, all hand cast. Going to try casting with some different colours tomorrow.

 

[Penpal]

Beautiful casting and designs Melanie, to be admired. Love the rounded end I guess I was always on edge with six young hopefuls ready to perform unspeakable things with sharp topped pens in our house. Exceptional work there indeed.

Kind regards Peter.

 

[Terry Q]

Love the blanks. Is there a video using this style of pen. I just can't picture using them or why someone would do that in the first place.

 

[fingwe]

Peter, thanks very much.

Terry, thanks, there are several videos on youtube, just search for 'oblique penholder' Here's one Modern Script Calligraphy and Flourishing compilation by Kei Goodman - YouTube

 

[wm460]

Beautifully made and finished Melanie.

 

[fingwe]

Thanks Mark!

 

[Graham_C]

That video is marvellous!

 

[Penpal]

The video sure opened up the discussion in our house my wife was at 15 yrs old a ticket writer, window dresser,an accomplished artist she was awarded a position in Sydney at the El Supremo East Sydney Tech to become and Art teacher we courted for three years at distance and later on she turned to designing, making quilts by hand.

She use pens and brushes for the tickets. Every item in the big store had to have a price displayed, there was a staff of four employed for this purpose.

SWMBO was quite impressed remarking on the Video it was pleasing to be able to easily read the lettering sometimes people dissapear into another world when doing this and lose objectivity. She says thanks to you Melanie. Whilst in Ireland I was dumbfounded by viewing the Book Of Kells.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

I an curious how you attached the nib flange?
I guess you had to cut a slot?

 

[Les ELm]

Great work on the casting, turning and finishing!

Les

 

[fingwe]

I an curious how you attached the nib flange?
I guess you had to cut a slot?

Yes, a slot and some glue!