The cone is not colored Steve/Pam. The resin is colored by Max before he poured it in. I wouldn't be surprised that if you took some pine cones and soaked them in dyed alcohol that they would absorb the color, but I think that would take away from the natural beauty that is the cone. People want to be able to easily identify what is in the pen. Notice too, that Max said he chemically colored the tube. That being just a different way of changing the tubes color, but the bottom line is you need to do something to the brass, like at least spray paint it so that no brass shows through the resin. He is pouring his resin so it is semi-translucent for a nice deep effect. You can also pour it a solid color/colors, but then you loose the depth. You still have an awesome pen either way, but the depth is more jaw dropping, as it reveals not only the exposed pieces of cone but the walls of the cone leaves as well.
So how many cones you have now Max? I have 25 ready for my next show.