Leonardo
Member
Hello Folks,
My name is Leonardo and I am a calligrapher and new pen maker. I've been a fountain pen enthusiast since around 2019 and have been studying calligraphy for a couple years now. I work a day job in IT, am a loving father, husband, dogfather, catdad, and chicken papa. I spend my free time on the nights and evenings making pens and studying calligraphy. I'm also a moderator for the Discord Calligrapher server. My other hobbies are BBQ smoking, carpentry, reading, and occasional gaming.
For the past several years I've day dreamed of owning a pen store, and with the uncertainty of the future of my industry and career, I decided to just give it a shot as a side hustle and see how it goes. I just soft launched my pen company, Black Magic Pen Co. and I am starting off with calligraphy nib holders while I learn to make kitless fountain pens and will be putting any proceeds towards additional tools, materials, and education. I'd eventually like to learn to pour resin blanks as well, but one step at a time.
I'm working on a JET 1015vs lathe with a Nova G3 lite, 4 jaw, pen jaws, and a Harbor Freight Jacobs chuck. I also have a mandrel saver and wormwood screw that came with the Nova chuck pen kit. I'm using carbide tools to start, but am interested in learning HSS tools as well. I also have a mitre saw and dremel press, but otherwise, am starting a workshop more or less from scratch.
It looks like I was just a couple months too late on this journey to join the group buy for taps and dies, so I am currently working on some pen designs and deciding what to purchase and from which vendor(s). I'm looking to add a collet chuck system, tenon cutter, taps and dies (JOWO 6 and various sizes for caps, barrels, sections), a resin 3D printer for custom nib housings that I design in tinkercad, and possibly a niche system, or at least some tap and die holders/adapters for the lathe. I am open to any advice and welcome any constructive criticism!
I have turned a few wood pens, however have really enjoyed working with alumilite resin the most.
My pen website will be blackmagicpens.com and is still under construction, but I also have a personal blog/website: Writing At Night.
I'm looking forward to learning from you all, and it's an absolute pleasure to be here and to meet you.
I'll attach some pictures of some of the pens I have made so far.
All the best,
Leonardo
My name is Leonardo and I am a calligrapher and new pen maker. I've been a fountain pen enthusiast since around 2019 and have been studying calligraphy for a couple years now. I work a day job in IT, am a loving father, husband, dogfather, catdad, and chicken papa. I spend my free time on the nights and evenings making pens and studying calligraphy. I'm also a moderator for the Discord Calligrapher server. My other hobbies are BBQ smoking, carpentry, reading, and occasional gaming.
For the past several years I've day dreamed of owning a pen store, and with the uncertainty of the future of my industry and career, I decided to just give it a shot as a side hustle and see how it goes. I just soft launched my pen company, Black Magic Pen Co. and I am starting off with calligraphy nib holders while I learn to make kitless fountain pens and will be putting any proceeds towards additional tools, materials, and education. I'd eventually like to learn to pour resin blanks as well, but one step at a time.
I'm working on a JET 1015vs lathe with a Nova G3 lite, 4 jaw, pen jaws, and a Harbor Freight Jacobs chuck. I also have a mandrel saver and wormwood screw that came with the Nova chuck pen kit. I'm using carbide tools to start, but am interested in learning HSS tools as well. I also have a mitre saw and dremel press, but otherwise, am starting a workshop more or less from scratch.
It looks like I was just a couple months too late on this journey to join the group buy for taps and dies, so I am currently working on some pen designs and deciding what to purchase and from which vendor(s). I'm looking to add a collet chuck system, tenon cutter, taps and dies (JOWO 6 and various sizes for caps, barrels, sections), a resin 3D printer for custom nib housings that I design in tinkercad, and possibly a niche system, or at least some tap and die holders/adapters for the lathe. I am open to any advice and welcome any constructive criticism!
I have turned a few wood pens, however have really enjoyed working with alumilite resin the most.
My pen website will be blackmagicpens.com and is still under construction, but I also have a personal blog/website: Writing At Night.
I'm looking forward to learning from you all, and it's an absolute pleasure to be here and to meet you.
I'll attach some pictures of some of the pens I have made so far.
All the best,
Leonardo
