Amboyna Fountain Pen

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hokie

Member
Joined
May 29, 2017
Messages
316
Location
Falls Church, Virginia
Hi everyone!
I've been working on this one little by little for the past few weeks because there were a series of firsts technique-wise I wanted to implement to take my game up a notch. These included the clip (and its mounting), the trim rings, and the gold plating... all done by hand, at glacial speed, with many-a-failed-attempt . Totally worth the effort though! I look forward to improving and incorporating them in all of my future pens. They really add another dimension I think I've been missing from my kitless pens.

Some selected specs...
Capped length: 5.9"
Cap Diameter: 18mm
Body Diameter: 15mm
Thread Diameter: 14mm (triple start)
Section Material: Japanese Ebonite
Finish: Mercury Flexible CA
Clip Material: 18K Gold Plated Stainless Steel
Cap and Body Trim Rings: 18K Gold Plated Brass
Nib: Gilded Steel Bock #6

I hope you like it and I would love to hear any feedback!

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sorcerertd

sorcerertd

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Joined
Sep 30, 2019
Messages
2,731
Location
North Carolina, USA
Wow, that's a beautiful pen!! That was definitely work the time and effort. The trim rings really add an extra touch of luxury. What an amazing piece of wood, too. How did you secure the clip?
 
H

hokie

Member
Joined
May 29, 2017
Messages
316
Location
Falls Church, Virginia
sorcerertd said:
Wow, that's a beautiful pen!! That was definitely work the time and effort. The trim rings really add an extra touch of luxury. What an amazing piece of wood, too. How did you secure the clip?
Click to expand...
Thank you! Yeah, I've owned the amboyna the blank came from for at least four or five years before I got brave enough to break it down into pen blank size I needed as a gift for someone that deserves the extra special nature of it.
The clip is essentially screwed into a threaded mount up inside the top of cap. One of those firsts for me I mentioned. Cutting that slot in just the right spot was nerve wracking!
 
sorcerertd

sorcerertd

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Joined
Sep 30, 2019
Messages
2,731
Location
North Carolina, USA
hokie said:
The clip is essentially screwed into a threaded mount up inside the top of cap. One of those firsts for me I mentioned. Cutting that slot in just the right spot was nerve wracking!
Click to expand...
That was kind of how I pictured it in my head. I'll bet it was nerve racking after getting the rest finished so well.
 
duncsuss

duncsuss

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Joined
Jun 29, 2012
Messages
2,162
Location
Wilmington, MA
I'm really digging this pen, it's great.

Unless I'm seeing things that aren't there, it looks like you lined the cap (at least for the threads) - did you use ebonite?

Did you make the clip yourself as well as plate it?
 
H

hokie

Member
Joined
May 29, 2017
Messages
316
Location
Falls Church, Virginia
duncsuss said:
I'm really digging this pen, it's great.

Unless I'm seeing things that aren't there, it looks like you lined the cap (at least for the threads) - did you use ebonite?

Did you make the clip yourself as well as plate it?
Click to expand...
Thank you!
Yeah, the cap and body are lined with delrin. The threads are delrin as well. Cuts so nice and clean. No polishing necessary!
The clip I did make myself. I had a batch of them laser cut to my design. They come to me essentially raw cut metal, so there's a lot of shaping and polishing to do. I did plate it as well! Time will tell if it holds up. I don't think this will be a daily driver of the person that ends up with it, so it should do well enough.
 
duncsuss

duncsuss

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Joined
Jun 29, 2012
Messages
2,162
Location
Wilmington, MA
hokie said:
I don't think this will be a daily driver of the person that ends up with it, so it should do well enough.
Click to expand...
I can understand that - the special pens I've received all get white-glove treatment. The special ones I've made myself get daily use - I'm proud of them and like to show them off 😂 (And yes, I've had a couple of commissions based on the pen I was writing with👍 )
 
jrista

jrista

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Joined
Aug 12, 2021
Messages
2,250
Location
Colorado
Phenomenal pen! Truly! The wood is exquisite, and I really like the design. The gold and black go so well with the wood. Excellent presentation as well!!

You mentioned in another post that you used Delrin for the threads. Curious, how does that hold up? As good as Ebonite? Better? Worse?
 
H

hokie

Member
Joined
May 29, 2017
Messages
316
Location
Falls Church, Virginia
jrista said:
Phenomenal pen! Truly! The wood is exquisite, and I really like the design. The gold and black go so well with the wood. Excellent presentation as well!!

You mentioned in another post that you used Delrin for the threads. Curious, how does that hold up? As good as Ebonite? Better? Worse?
Click to expand...
Thanks so much! As far as I can tell from the pens I started making with it a few years ago, it holds up very well. I have more confidence in its longevity/durability than I do acrylic or other typical resins. My only complaint (if I had to find one) is that you're limited to black or white, for the most part. I think you can dye white delrin, but I am not sure about the color fastness.
 
CjG78

CjG78

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Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Messages
759
Location
Australia
Wow! Incredible pen mate! Very nicely executed and credit for trying new techniques, very cool
 
P

PenHog

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2019
Messages
255
Location
Mississippi
Wow, that is a really nice pen. The detail that I like the most (and there's lots to choose from) is the cap ring, which appears to taper slightly and cover the lip of the cap. Super nice touch and something I'd like to try doing someday. Thanks for sharing.
 
H

hokie

Member
Joined
May 29, 2017
Messages
316
Location
Falls Church, Virginia
PenHog said:
Wow, that is a really nice pen. The detail that I like the most (and there's lots to choose from) is the cap ring, which appears to taper slightly and cover the lip of the cap. Super nice touch and something I'd like to try doing someday. Thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...
Thank you! Yeah, I wanted to leave enough meat on the cap wood so it wouldn't risk cracking too too easily, but I didn't like the idea of a large, sharp step-down from cap to body, so I tried to create that transition with the ring. On a straight-grained piece, I might be able to get away with a thinner cap and trim ring.
 
A

Abdulla

Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2022
Messages
5
Location
Bahrain
hokie said:
Hi everyone!
I've been working on this one little by little for the past few weeks because there were a series of firsts technique-wise I wanted to implement to take my game up a notch. These included the clip (and its mounting), the trim rings, and the gold plating... all done by hand, at glacial speed, with many-a-failed-attempt . Totally worth the effort though! I look forward to improving and incorporating them in all of my future pens. They really add another dimension I think I've been missing from my kitless pens.

Some selected specs...
Capped length: 5.9"
Cap Diameter: 18mm
Body Diameter: 15mm
Thread Diameter: 14mm (triple start)
Section Material: Japanese Ebonite
Finish: Mercury Flexible CA
Clip Material: 18K Gold Plated Stainless Steel
Cap and Body Trim Rings: 18K Gold Plated Brass
Nib: Gilded Steel Bock #6

I hope you like it and I would love to hear any feedback!

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Click to expand...
Beautiful
 
Ironwood

Ironwood

Member
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
1,228
Location
Mackay. Australia
That's such a nice pen, well done on all aspects, very inspiring.

I am curious about the delrin, I have used it before for making tooling, so I know how nicely it cuts on the lathe, and takes a thread. But I am wondering how well glue will stick to it, I am assuming you glued it inside the timber barrels.
It's something I might look at when I start turning pens again, Ebonite seems to be getting more difficult to source, my original supplier doesn't sell it anymore.
 
H

hokie

Member
Joined
May 29, 2017
Messages
316
Location
Falls Church, Virginia
Ironwood said:
That's such a nice pen, well done on all aspects, very inspiring.

I am curious about the delrin, I have used it before for making tooling, so I know how nicely it cuts on the lathe, and takes a thread. But I am wondering how well glue will stick to it, I am assuming you glued it inside the timber barrels.
It's something I might look at when I start turning pens again, Ebonite seems to be getting more difficult to source, my original supplier doesn't sell it anymore.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the kind words and thanks for the question.
I typically rough up the delrin with coarse sand paper and that has never failed me so far. If I am feeling dangerous, I sometimes forgo the sandpaper as long as there are tool marks on the surface that will offer a mechanical grip. Might also be worth noting I only use epoxy, never CA for adhesive.
 
Ironwood

Ironwood

Member
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
1,228
Location
Mackay. Australia
hokie said:
Thank you for the kind words and thanks for the question.
I typically rough up the delrin with coarse sand paper and that has never failed me so far. If I am feeling dangerous, I sometimes forgo the sandpaper as long as there are tool marks on the surface that will offer a mechanical grip. Might also be worth noting I only use epoxy, never CA for adhesive.
Click to expand...
I also never use CA as an adhesive in my pens, only as a finish. I might source a couple of bits of delrin and run a few tests.
Oh, and congratulations on the front page. You really deserve it with this pen.
 
PenPal

PenPal

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Joined
Nov 29, 2006
Messages
2,708
Location
Canberra, A.C.T., Australia.
I learned a lot from your pictures, the commentary,amazed at your clip making ,timber selection and the coordination needed in the stages,truly individual pen of great quality. A Samoan friend from my Church brought two young,strong young men from the Island of Savaii to my place and they literally picked up my large drill and moved it for me. Trying to get my act together again,been making pens since the 80,s. I thanked my helpers who would not accept any reward. I now have a clear space for my three disability scooters,celebrated my 89th first week in this month. Love the pen.
 
H

hokie

Member
Joined
May 29, 2017
Messages
316
Location
Falls Church, Virginia
PenPal said:
I learned a lot from your pictures, the commentary,amazed at your clip making ,timber selection and the coordination needed in the stages,truly individual pen of great quality. A Samoan friend from my Church brought two young,strong young men from the Island of Savaii to my place and they literally picked up my large drill and moved it for me. Trying to get my act together again,been making pens since the 80,s. I thanked my helpers who would not accept any reward. I now have a clear space for my three disability scooters,celebrated my 89th first week in this month. Love the pen.
Click to expand...
I'm glad to hear you're a fan of the pen and my pictures! Much appreciated.
That must have been a heck of a drill to require imported strength. haha. I'm sure it's nice to have some space back. It's a constant struggle to find/make more space in my home
Happy birthday!
 
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