Fountain to learn from - Woodworking Talk

PTownSubbie · 10-03-2009, 10:09 PM

I have been wanting to learn to write with a Fountain Pen so I made this one. It is Zebrawood and CA finish. It was a bear to get finished and put together. I blew the end apart when I started with the pen mill and screwed up the CA finish once during the process.

Writes nice though......

Zebrawood on a Gold Jr Gent II kit.

firehawkmph · 10-03-2009, 10:58 PM

Fred,
pretty cool pen. I like the zebrawood. Back in my early years in school we actually used these. What feeds the ink, is it a cartridge? The early ones we had filled up out of an inkwell. They had a little lever on them you used like a pump.
Mike Hawkins

jdixon · 10-03-2009, 11:48 PM

Fred, that is really sharp! I too like the zebrawood. Haven't done a fountain pen yet, afraid I'll end up with ink stains all over.

John

Jeff4woodturning · 10-04-2009, 09:03 AM

Very nice pen, how many coats of ca? makes me want to get out a kit and do a pen. Jeff

PTownSubbie · 10-04-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firehawkmph

Fred,
pretty cool pen. I like the zebrawood. Back in my early years in school we actually used these. What feeds the ink, is it a cartridge? The early ones we had filled up out of an inkwell. They had a little lever on them you used like a pump.
Mike Hawkins

Mike,

The kits come with both a cartridge and a refill pump. The cartridge is sealed and is punctured by the nib when it is installed.

Like I said, there is a refill pump and cartridge for filling. When the original cartridge is empty, I will have to learn to use the refill pump.

PTownSubbie · 10-04-2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff4woodturning

Very nice pen, how many coats of ca? makes me want to get out a kit and do a pen. Jeff

Jeff,

Tough to say the total number of coats because I had a problem after coat #3. I got too impatient!! The CA was still wet and I tried to wipe it and got papertowel all over the pen finish. Had to sand a little and then put on another 3 coats of Medium.

I have been using a more rigid foam padding as an applicator. I don't think it reacts with the CA as rapidly as papertowel. I just cut a small piece and put some Medium CA on it and then wipe it on the pen while turning at 300-500 rpm. The most recent thing is I have been using DNA between coats. I don't know if it is good or bad to use it yet...... Time will tell.

Jeff4woodturning · 10-04-2009, 09:20 AM

Well Fred it looks great, I use shot gun cleaning pads to apply my finishes. I also went and looked at your website very nice work.

slatron25 · 10-04-2009, 01:04 PM

Nice work Fred, that pen has class written all over it.

PTownSubbie · 10-04-2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff4woodturning

Well Fred it looks great, I use shot gun cleaning pads to apply my finishes. I also went and looked at your website very nice work.

Thanks Jeff! I am interested in making more than just the pens and stuff that are on my site.

I am working slowly at expanding my boundaries....