Matching Blanks with Plating Options

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Donnie Kennedy

Donnie Kennedy

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Joined
Nov 9, 2010
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291
Location
Benton, Arkansas
I just wanted to throw this out for discussion. I'm sure it's been done before, but some fresh ideas would be nice.

When your planning to make a pen, how do you decide what plating option to go with in a kit?

I ask because I'm having trouble selecting blanks that I think look good with gold ti. I know it sounds rediculous, but I'm never satisfied with the end result. I have several finished pens in a drawer that I just can't bring myself to show and I've got to the point that I don't make them anymore.

As always, any advise would be greatly appreciated.
 
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from some of the shop photos on this site they actually match the blank to the plating and style of pen prior to machining. you can use the pen program to see what it will look like with the pen design program I think is on the penn industries site.

good luck, most of the skill in doing this is personal and artist eye for colors a nd kits.
 
Really dark wood, deep blue acrylics, reddish wood, darker shades of green, black and gold matrix trustone, deep red acrylic, or purple. That's the first few to pop in my head.
 
I do several concept shots and decide what does go and if I can see it then it's a done deal. Sadly there are those that are not up to par and it becomes very difficult to finish the project.

This is one of the reasons why concept shots exist in the first place.

I.e. Dragon sceptre on a gent sadly misses the boat entirely.
1240394_10200554974618743_1477127733_n.jpg


Same tubes one on a venus, same results to.
1235492_10200546968338591_2009285921_n.jpg


End result was a Nouveau Sceptre. Also worthy of note is the above 2 concept shots does not bring out the details and beauty of the tubes.
1185235_10200550160378390_2144005216_n.jpg



Plating, trim and style are key factors to look at when considering things. Many just slap something together and try to push that out the door as fast as they can.

Now if a customer wanted something specific, this tube in this trim and this plating then that to is a done deal. they are buying it and they are going to get what they want.
 
Are you talking wood or non-wood blanks? There are a lot of woods that look great with the gold. cocobolo, rosewood, mesquite, white oak, just to name a few. I have a eucalyptus burl turned for a gold Jr. Gent that is ready for finishing. It is going to look great. Of course, these same woods can also look good in silver.

I cannot really describe how I pair up the kit with the wood. Sometimes I start with the blank and choose the kit to complement it, sometime I start with the kit. Sometimes I go by what I think a particular person would like. Sometimes I end up changing my mind after I turn the blank and see whats inside.
 
I think I'll just have to go with something other than wood or the typical AA type blanks. I see some Tru Stone colors that really float my boat from as far as color is concerned... the Malachites and some of the other colors with the gold matrix.
 
In photography there is a rule of thirds, it also holds true to pens and other arenas as well. The eye is first drawn to 1/3 from the top and 1/3 from the bottom. Which in a pens case is the blank (if its a 2 part blank, i.e. gent) The details from the blank are picked out according to what is in the area around the blank, i.e. background, plating, patterns (emblems etc). So from this you can influence the viewers impressions by creative matching of color, trim and style.
 
So I've been looking into this situation for the past couple of hours or so, and looking at a lot of pictures and such... I definitely have to expand the colors I'm working with.

A friend dropped by a little earlier and I brought out a few of my golden rejects and asked for some constructive criticism from him and my wife and it seems that my problem is more me than the pens.

I appreciate all of the advise and opinions.
 
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