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DrD

Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2019
Messages
1,104
Location
Columbus, Mississippi
Hi All,

As the title says - just joined today. I'm retired, and am getting back to making pens after a 6 to 8 year hiatus. Love turning, bandsaw boxes, and cabinet making. While I can turn out fairly nice work from my shop, I no less than nothing about social media including blogs, forums, etc. I don't tweet, nor chirp, nor Facebook and whatever, and while is typing is slow, it sure is atrocious.

Why am I here? I want to make really nice fountain pens. In business, I always had Mont Blanc somewhere in my shirt or jacket. When you really look at a Mont Blanc, it, other than the nib, is nothing more than a big, in the case of the 149, black plastic pen. I feel one could take a Churchill, using the right blanks, and with the right craftsmanship, make a more elegant writing tool. So, I want to develop, hone and perfect my skills at doing just that - from the nib, to the body shape and materials, to the finish. And I need a lot of help; I have much to learn.

Well, thanks for letting me join your group!

DrD
 
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jttheclockman

Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2005
Messages
19,083
Location
NJ, USA.
Welcome to the site and any questions feel free to rattle them off. No need to go anywhere else because you found the best most knowledgeable and most concise material packed forum on the internet. I do not do fountain pens but there are many people who do and also do kitless pens so they will be able to help. I lend moral support. :eek:
 

magpens

Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2011
Messages
15,913
Location
Canada
Hi Don !! . Welcome to IAP !!

Be sure to ask us lots of questions ... general or specific ... lots of folks here have answers ... some differing but all worth considering ;) !

Sounds like you have already made a few pens. . Why not start by showing us one or two. . Here's how to do that .....

Showing pics of your pens always gets our attention ! Best place to do that is in the "Show Off Your Pens" section, under "Forums".
We usually refer to that section as SOYP. . You can start a new thread in that forum and just copy and paste pictures into your starting post in that new thread. . You may know this already, but a "Forum" contains "Threads". . Each "Thread" is about a specific topic and is started by some member, and then each "Thread" contains "Posts", which include the "Original Post" or OP (by the person who started the "Thread") and then replies, called "Posts", by any other members who want to comment or congratulate !!

Go for it ... give it a try !!
 

leehljp

Member Liaison
Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
9,314
Location
Tunica, Mississippi,
Welcome to IAP, Don. We have a fountain pen forum here and on top of that, we occasionally have a few people who do a tap and die order for specific sizes for making pens totally kit-less.

Here is a link to an old & long post that many replied to - about things they wish they had known earlier. It is about pens making in general but it is helpful: https://www.penturners.org/threads/if-i-had-known-this-earlier.46654/

There may be frustrations down the road but its something that just a little experience helps overcome. Again, welcome.

BTW, Are you DrD Medical or Professor? And welcome to another Mississippian.
 

DrD

Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2019
Messages
1,104
Location
Columbus, Mississippi
Hi Don !! . Welcome to IAP !!

Be sure to ask us lots of questions ... general or specific ... lots of folks here have answers ... some differing but all worth considering ;) !

Sounds like you have already made a few pens. . Why not start by showing us one or two. . Here's how to do that .....

Showing pics of your pens always gets our attention ! Best place to do that is in the "Show Off Your Pens" section, under "Forums".
We usually refer to that section as SOYP. . You can start a new thread in that forum and just copy and paste pictures into your starting post in that new thread. . You may know this already, but a "Forum" contains "Threads". . Each "Thread" is about a specific topic and is started by some member, and then each "Thread" contains "Posts", which include the "Original Post" or OP (by the person who started the "Thread") and then replies, called "Posts", by any other members who want to comment or congratulate !!

Go for it ... give it a try !!
Thanks! I'll try to get some pics up today. And yes, I have turned a few - not terribly many, maybe a few hundred but now I want to learn how to do this to make a truely professional product.
 

DrD

Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2019
Messages
1,104
Location
Columbus, Mississippi
Welcome to IAP, Don. We have a fountain pen forum here and on top of that, we occasionally have a few people who do a tap and die order for specific sizes for making pens totally kit-less.

Here is a link to an old & long post that many replied to - about things they wish they had known earlier. It is about pens making in general but it is helpful: https://www.penturners.org/threads/if-i-had-known-this-earlier.46654/

There may be frustrations down the road but its something that just a little experience helps overcome. Again, welcome.

BTW, Are you DrD Medical or Professor? And welcome to another Mississippian.
I'm going to spend a lot of time on that link today. Thanks for the heads-up. In answer to your question, I am not an MD, but am a retired professor and consultant, having spent most of my professional life teaching at the university level and working with the food, pharmaceutical, steel and automotive industries, with a smattering of time working with the old Atomic Energy Commission.
 

DrD

Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2019
Messages
1,104
Location
Columbus, Mississippi
To display my ignorance of using a forum, I have a burning question: has anyone turned a Churchill/El Grande pen using Tru Stone or M3? As all are aware, the caps and barrels on these 2 pens are quite thin. Thanks!
 

randyrls

Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2006
Messages
4,821
Location
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Don; Welcome; I just got some cocobolo from a member here and am going to start on some double closed end fountain pens later this week. My back is making it difficult to stand for long periods. Maybe I'll try for a black arcylic.
 
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Curly

Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
4,828
Location
Saskatoon SK., Canada.
To display my ignorance of using a forum, I have a burning question: has anyone turned a Churchill/El Grande pen using Tru Stone or M3? As all are aware, the caps and barrels on these 2 pens are quite thin. Thanks!

First off welcome.
You'll find that many pens after turning are thin so don't let that deter you. With the few hundred pens you've already turned under your belt you'll do fine with the Tru Stone or M3.
 

DrD

Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2019
Messages
1,104
Location
Columbus, Mississippi
Don; Welcome; I just got some cocobolo from a member here and am going to start on some double closed end fountain pens later this week. My back is making it difficult to stand for long periods. Maybe I'll try for a black arcylic.
Being on the near far side of 70, I certainly relate to the back/standing problems & have resorted to turning while seated in front of my lathe.
 

WarEagle90

Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2019
Messages
385
Location
Waverly Alabama
Howdy, Don. Welcome aboard. As you've seen already, lots of folks here willing to lend a hand and share their knowledge. It's a great place to be. Look forward to seeing some of your work.
 
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