1st pen sold

[rjwolfe3]

Hey all,
Finally sold my first pen. This is to the customers spec not mine, btw. I think its a little too fat but then again, I hate real slim slimlines, too. The customer was giving it to her husband who has really big hands (her words). I had trouble with the lines, hence the darkening of the woods at each end. The BLO made it darken somehow. The wood is Padauk, I believe and had some small eyes in it that you can't see in the photo but look really cool. The customer seems happy so I'm happy. Thanks for the comments and suggestions.

 

[kennicka]

Congrats on your first sale! I'm with you on the shape, but as you allude to, the customer is always right!

 

[ed4copies]

Rob,

SOLD is GOOD.

Since you asked for suggestions, I will start with the obvious. Ditch the centerband!! Make one. Simple piece of contrasting wood, added to the top will allow you to make the "waist" more proportional to the pen size.

Your dark spots were PROBABLY (I do resin, remember) a result of your burn lines penetrating the wood and releasing oils that reacted with your finish. There are LOTS of people here who know more about wood than I, so I bow to later corrections!!!

AGAIN, sold is good. But, the next one could LOOK better, if you wish.

 

[Johnathan]

Wonderful News! and Congrats! I think it's easy to forget, after a while, the excitement of the first pen sale! I think your statement "it's a little too fat" made me smile...just a bit.

 

[Hello]

Congrats on the sale!
I felt guilty about my first sale.....it was an awful pen, but the person who bought it (father-in-law) was anxious to buy it because he thought the hobby is really cool and he wanted one of my first pens just in case I become "a renoun wood artist" or something.
I'm always glad to sell a pen...its REALLY exciting when you sell your first $100 pen...and your first $200 pen (I haven't made one that I'm willing to price at $200 yet)

 

[leehljp]

Rob,
You might want to warn your customer that Padauk has a tendency to change its color, over time, from less orange to a rich brown. Not always but often. I made a few pens from Padauk that were almost a good U of Tennessee orange, but over a year changed to brown. These were BLO and CA finished too.

 

[R2]

Well, you satisfied the customer. What else counts? Congrats!

 

[rhahnfl]

Congrats on your sale and hope you have many more satisfied customers.

 

[bitshird]

Congratulations on your sale, feels good doesn't it.

 

[Grizz]

Customer is always right. What ever they want as long as they pay for it... it is a good feeling.

The ugliest pen I've made was custom order by my wife. She stood beside me and feeling out the pen and telling me where to cut at. It is her 'office' pen. She says her hand doesn't get as fatigued like it use to. She didn't want a clip on it because it just gets in her way. The only thing I like about it, is the blank is pretty.

 

[JohnU]

Congrats on the sale and to many more! I make a lot of slim lines and like you, do not favor the skinny ones. Great Job!

 

[toolcrazy]

Congrats on the sale.

If the customer likes it, who cares what it looks like.

You did a very nice job on it.

 

[gwilki]

Rob: The first sale is a big hurdle. You're off now.

 

[Dalecamino]

Congratulations Rob ! Nice pen , and I don't mind the dark lines . [8D]