PenWorks
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Here is the new Zen Pen just released by CSU. You might say it is the cheaper cousin to the Stretch Pen. The Zen pen is available in Chrome 11.99 and 10K & Black Ti for 14.99
The kicker to this pen is the magnetic cap. No threads to mess with, no guessing, should I pull or twist. and posting is a breeze, get the cap anywhere in the neighborhood of the end of the pen and whamo, its posted.
Here is the kit, very simple and to the point. tube that is 3.351" long and takes a 10.5 drill bit for the hole. Matching end couplers, both are the same size, so you can't screw this up. There is no taper to this pen, both ends are .508 where as the Strech pen had a slight taper to it.
Very basic pen turning skills to make this pen. The most difficult part, is drilling the longer hole. Turn and finish just one barrel and assemble. Nothing to align as the cap is metal.
Below are some finished Zen pens in black palm, white horn (ed4copies) and cocobolo (Bill's). If you look closely, I shorten the tube a little on the horn pen to get a slightly more compact look.
Some of the subtle differences in the Zen & Stretch pens are.
The cap on the Zen pen is plain on the sides and the top, the Stretch as engraving on the side and an emblem stamped on the top.
The biggest difference is no threads on the Zen. I must say the magnetic ring that is inside the cap works really well. I do not see the cap coming apart in your pocket and posting is a breeze. The picture above with the three pens is as close as you can put these pens without them grabing each other from the magnets. Kinda hard to loose the parts when they stick together out of the bag
The front sections are very different.
So in conclusion as stated in another thread. some will like the looks of this kit and others wont. I think it will have its place in my pen shop. I have already sold several Stretch pens and have had favorable comments on it. I like how the cap works, the magnet is definatly strong enough to keep it together. Now if I only could figure out how to get a fountain pen nib in this pen. I tried every front section and feed I have around here. CSU is not bringing in any FP's at this time. Maybe a little shouting for the cheer leaders around here may change their mind. I am sure a disclaimer needs to go out with this pen because of the magnet in the cap.
Well I'm off to the shop to still figure out how to cram a nib in this pen and shorten it some more
The kicker to this pen is the magnetic cap. No threads to mess with, no guessing, should I pull or twist. and posting is a breeze, get the cap anywhere in the neighborhood of the end of the pen and whamo, its posted.
Here is the kit, very simple and to the point. tube that is 3.351" long and takes a 10.5 drill bit for the hole. Matching end couplers, both are the same size, so you can't screw this up. There is no taper to this pen, both ends are .508 where as the Strech pen had a slight taper to it.
Very basic pen turning skills to make this pen. The most difficult part, is drilling the longer hole. Turn and finish just one barrel and assemble. Nothing to align as the cap is metal.
Below are some finished Zen pens in black palm, white horn (ed4copies) and cocobolo (Bill's). If you look closely, I shorten the tube a little on the horn pen to get a slightly more compact look.
Some of the subtle differences in the Zen & Stretch pens are.
The cap on the Zen pen is plain on the sides and the top, the Stretch as engraving on the side and an emblem stamped on the top.
The biggest difference is no threads on the Zen. I must say the magnetic ring that is inside the cap works really well. I do not see the cap coming apart in your pocket and posting is a breeze. The picture above with the three pens is as close as you can put these pens without them grabing each other from the magnets. Kinda hard to loose the parts when they stick together out of the bag
The front sections are very different.
So in conclusion as stated in another thread. some will like the looks of this kit and others wont. I think it will have its place in my pen shop. I have already sold several Stretch pens and have had favorable comments on it. I like how the cap works, the magnet is definatly strong enough to keep it together. Now if I only could figure out how to get a fountain pen nib in this pen. I tried every front section and feed I have around here. CSU is not bringing in any FP's at this time. Maybe a little shouting for the cheer leaders around here may change their mind. I am sure a disclaimer needs to go out with this pen because of the magnet in the cap.
Well I'm off to the shop to still figure out how to cram a nib in this pen and shorten it some more
