Are All Pen Turners Copy Cats?

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Thanks all for you comments.

I told him I have no problems with some one copying or using any of my ideas. If I didn't want something to be copied then I don't post it for all to see.

We all copy each others work in one way or another, be it a variation in design or process.

The only problem I have is people who want to know how someone did something without even taking any initiative to try it on their own.

In the past I have done up many tutorials on my variations of process and design for all to share.

Les
 
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For the record... If I somehow come up with something original, you independent penmakers have my permission to copy me.

If, however, you are a company mass producing pens or pen making supplies, I want a cut and credit.

Not that there's any risk of that happening. :wink:
 
Texatdurango said:
After posting I got to thinking about this topic and have a few photos I would like to share to illustrate my point.

A few years ago when I was just starting to flex my little pen making wings, I saw a pen that totally mystified me and I just had to make one like it, so off I went.

I spent untold hours, ruined countless pieces of wood until I finally figured out a way to COPY another pen. The first photo below is the pen I made trying to copy a design I had seen on the forum.

I was so tickled that I had learned how to segment pieces to make some pleasing designs that I started trying other things, one idea led to another and I soon came up with some pens that in no way resembled the pen I COPIED but all of them were inspirations of the original in one way or another.

The second photo below shows some of the other pens that followed soon aftewards.

So you see, COPYING someones work IS NOT A BAD THING, IT'S MORE OF AN INSPIRATION! And if memory serves, the individual who inspired me more than any other on the forum was (I THINK!) Richard DeArment (randbcrafts).

Richard, if you read this and it was your pen design that I copied, please post a photo of it so others can see that pens posted here can be inspirational rather than be seen as simply ideas to be pirated.
Click to expand...

George,
Those are some phenomenal pens... do you mind if I TRY to copy them... I haven't done any segmenting yet, but I see all the guys who do and they are such nice work, when I get some more time and talent, would like to give them a try...

Like has been said here, sometimes my imaginarium doesn't work all that well and I look to the internet for inspiration... not to copy but to aspire to.
 
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Ok just my 2 cents worth please don't take this wrong ( I mean this in a good light ) The pen makers on here want to be copied. The way I get to that is how many times has someone argued about how much better their finish is that too fat does not look right too thin is not good either. And us newbies want to copy that's why we post pictures of our pens and ask "what yall think ? " The way I look at it is that I could either be happy because someone wants to be like me or that I want to be like them . Or they could be upset and feel like people are stealing from them . Personally I would be happy if someone thought I was that good. As for me I am just trying to make a good pen for a good price to make a profit.
 
I've done my best to imitate or knock-off the best segmented pen makers I have found on this forum and the web... and not one of my finished pens looks identical to theirs. In fact, most take a left turn somewhere in the creation and I go with a different design or color combination. BTW, if anyone wants to copy the pen designs I finally end up with at the end of the day, knock yourself out. It would be flattering.
 
TellicoTurning said:
George,
Those are some phenomenal pens... do you mind if I TRY to copy them... I haven't done any segmenting yet, but I see all the guys who do and they are such nice work, when I get some more time and talent, would like to give them a try...
Click to expand...

Chuck... and others,

I see comments like... "one day when I'm good enough..." all the time and I think most folks under estimate themselves.

Take my pens above as an example, they are no more difficult to make than any other pen, they just require a few extra steps.

Let's take one red blank and one gold blank and some thin black veneer material. Rip both blanks into strips about .200" wide then sandwich together the three different colors...red-black-gold-black-red! Now mix som epoxy and apply a coat of glue between the sandwich pieces and clamp using just enough force to hold the pieces together without squeezing the glue out and keeping the pieces square. When dried, simply sand the edges smooth and you should wind up with a "regular" blank about 3/" square.

Then it's just a matter of cutting the blanks into pieces to form the design you want then glueing those pieces back together then drilling and turning just as you would a common blank.

Sorry for the mini-tutorial but it just shows how easy it really is to make unique blanks... often from scrap material and doesn't require a master pen maker to accomplish the task!

So as a challenge of sorts, surf the library untill you find a design you like and try to make one then post in the SOYP forum for all to admire. I'll bet we could come up with some nice pens! If anyone is interested and gets stuck on something, just send me a PM and I'll be glad to help where I can since I am still "shopless" and have some time on my hands.
 
Texatdurango said:
TellicoTurning said:
George,
Those are some phenomenal pens... do you mind if I TRY to copy them... I haven't done any segmenting yet, but I see all the guys who do and they are such nice work, when I get some more time and talent, would like to give them a try...
Click to expand...

Chuck... and others,

I see comments like... "one day when I'm good enough..." all the time and I think most folks under estimate themselves.
Click to expand...

Hey George,
I wasn't underestimating myself... I was hoping to flatter you... I'm sure I could do one of the segmented blanks similar (not like) yours, and will try one in the near future... right now I have too many shows going on and need to concentrate on keeping inventory up to do much exploring new techniques.... I'll have plenty of time to play after Christmas. I do a number of segmented pepper mills and they sell very quickly...
 
copy cats??

I sure am glad some one copied the wheel design. They even improved upon it - so much improvement I now spend as much on my tires as I did for my first car. The biggest praise you can give is to want to "make one" I try them all. Of course I don't claim any as my own idea. My wife is tired of me telling her about a pen I saw and want to make. Gee keep the ideas coming. I am brain dead, but I love trying to be as good as everyone else.:biggrin:
 
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