new El Grande

[Glenn McCullough]

El Grande plat FP in bianco nero. added an oops band but looks better as the blanko has no graino.

 

[pastorbill1952]

Looks great to me, more like a piece of marble. You would think for such a nice pen there would be less plastic in the kit and more mettalic sections. The oops band works well with the kit.

 

[Old Griz]

Nice pen .. I really should turn some of the trustone I have...
I have to agree about the plastic in that kit... it is a shame... such a good looking and feeling pen but way too much plastic...

 

[wayneis]

I wonder how much that kit would weigh if they made it with metal. All of the parts are rather large so by the time you add the wood or acrylic or whatever it seems to me that it may just weigh to much.

Wayne

 

[scubaman]

Originally posted by pastorbill1952
<br />You would think for such a nice pen there would be less plastic in the kit and more mettalic sections.

Interesting that this aversion to plastic keeps popping up. That's what pens are made from, traditionally. Hard rubber, celluloid, acrylic acetate, etc. Why? Metal weighs too much for one thing. Of ocurse we don't all have to agree on looks. Personally, I like elegant black plastic. And luckily there are lots of choices out there, even smaller pens with more metal that weigh more that this one. []

If these plastic parts were made from metal, and powdercoated black, would that be better?

 

[driften]

You did a nice job oobak! I think the black band looks fine but would have been better if you did not need to have used it.

I agree with Rich, after making a couple El Grande I am happy with the kit. I don't mind the plastic parts in this case.

 

[ed4copies]

Regarding plastic vs metal.

Casual customers "weigh" the pen in their hand. They don't see plastic or metal, they feel "good" or Light or Heavy.

Collectors are a different story. But, if the pen is for the "general market (under $50 in my market)", weight is the issue. So, give me both plastic and metal and I will try to please all the people some of the time.

 

[scubaman]

Originally posted by ed4copies
<br />Regarding plastic vs metal.

So, give me both plastic and metal and I will try to please all the people some of the time.

To be sure: There is no 'right' or 'wrong'. There are many collectors that love heavy pens! People that actually WRITE (more than just a few signatures a day []) tend to prefer lighter weight, but there is no rule there either.

 

[Rudy Vey]

For me also a lightweight pen is mandatory for writing without getting writers cramp. I personally think that the plastic section has a much nicer (and less tiring) grip than a metal section, but this is just my personal opinion.

 

[wdcav1952]

Careful, remember the great "Weight of the Pen War" that was waged here and at Yahoo!

 

[Glenn McCullough]

I am glad to have sparked such a debate. Personally, I think that the EXPOSED plastic parts should be something better such as black chrome. My customer is not the general public, not if I am selling my work properly. The general public, that could care less about how much plastic is in a pen, will buy the 5/ $1.00 jobs. I am not that guy, nor do I want to be. I understand about weight, but most comments on the Elgrande and the Havannah are " It looks much heavier"(even if they dont like that sized pen). Usually, the hand that uses those pens, are gonna handle a heavier pen and they expect and are willing to INVEST a bit more...but if it feels like a cheaper, lightweight pen, it will turn them away. IMHO, it should have a bit more weight and metal to it.

 

[btboone]

&gt;There are many collectors that love heavy pens!

I was tempted to make a tungsten pen for the ultimate in a heavy pen, that is until the price DOUBLED! Tungsten is twice the weight of lead. It doesn't seem possible to have something that heavy.

 

[scubaman]

Originally posted by btboone
<br />&gt;There are many collectors that love heavy pens!

I was tempted to make a tungsten pen for the ultimate in a heavy pen, that is until the price DOUBLED! Tungsten is twice the weight of lead. It doesn't seem possible to have something that heavy.

At the Boston pen show, a guy approached me to make a pen out of solid Sterling silver. Weight was not a problem! He showed me one that a doctor in Brazil I believe made for him. WOW! Also, some of the really jewlery-like pens out there are EXTREMELY heavy. Knowing all this won't make me like heavy pens any better, but I will make them. As long as others like them, I'm happy. I just don't find black plastic in a pen objectionable. Heck, I make (some) plastic pens also, after all [] This one adds even more black plastic (well, ebonite, as it were)(same effect, though []

<br />
And I don't find the combination with wood all that bad either. Oh, were we talking wood or trustone?[] Anyway, I am not trying to convince anyone, I was just curious because I imagine plastic is the most common material in pens, is and was.

What do you figure the raw material for a tungsten pen would cost? I presume you are able to machine it? There *ARE* people that buy the extreme and unusual because it is that.

 

[btboone]

I just got a foot of 1" diameter tungsten for a little over $700. In theory, the material for one pen might be a couple hundred dollars if you started with the right size bar. It's nasty to machine and finish. It would definitely be the heaviest pen that most people have ever picked up. It might sell just for the "extreme factor."

Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

 

[ed4copies]

Bruce,
If you build it, they will come!!

Just make sure you are in Hollywood or at a high end casino in Vegas.[]

 

[scubaman]

Originally posted by btboone
<br />I just got a foot of 1" diameter tungsten for a little over $700. In theory, the material for one pen might be a couple hundred dollars if you started with the right size bar.

Now that's up there!

It's nasty to machine and finish.

Exactly. That's an understatement.

Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

ROFL!!! Agreed!!! [8D] (This quote is actually the only reason I'm responding, it did have me rolling)

 

[woodscavenger]

I agree with Rich and Rudy that a lighter pen for writing. I have a nice Gent and a nice ligero. Both FPs. Hands down the Ligero gets my nod when writing although I have a PSI traditional FP with a CSUSA caligraphy nib that I am getting very attached to.

BTW Bruce, I wish I had seen your site many years ago when I was in the market for my wifes ring.