Wood pens---passe?

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ed4copies

ed4copies

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In a recent thread, I read the comment that we could see what develops in the world of segmentation---an avenue not thoroughly explored yet.

This is absolutely true----but not especially new.

In 2005 through 2008, the IAP was a young site with far fewer members. One of the more visible members was a Ron Mc. His forte??
Segmentation!

When the IAP changed software, members needed to tell Jeff if they wanted their pictures on the new vBulletin (which we are using now). Ron apparently did not. So, here is the only picture I could find, trust me, there were dozens.

Enjoy----and, if Ron should stop by----man, I really miss you on IAP!!! Ed
 

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Making wood pens is one of the reasons I got into pen making. It is my personal opinion that a good burl will outshine an acrylic blank.
There has been a number of fads on the IAP in my time. When I first joined the blank that was all the rage was an acrylic called Dragons breath. Black and red mixed to look like flames. There was the HB360 fad, scallops, feathers cut into wood, and many others that don't come to mind right now. The humble wood blank is one of those things that has been around before all of these and will be here long after. Good segmentation takes time and planning. My pen making journey has me doing some casting presently, but I have been finding myself looking over at my stash of boards and planning my next adventure. Is wood passe? No, wood is like the tortoise. Man made a fridge and it was awesome. God made a tortoise and it was good. Twenty years later the fridge is in a landfill but the tortoise is still here.
 
Not passe. I think if someone looked at the posted pens of the last year I think wood would still out pace other materials. I don't think wood would eclipse other materials but it still seems to be material of choice.
 
scotian12 said:
Yes, I miss Ron's participation too. He certainly made some beautiful segmented pens. Is he still around? Darrell
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Looks like he has not "looked back" since he decided to be a stained glass artist. Last viewed IAP in 2008. No info comes up on Google for any stained glass artist by his name.

He would be about 50, had a couple kids, probably just living life!!:smile::smile:
 
One of Ron's favorite was a segmented blank he called "The Morning After" I happen to have one he made for me if I have a chance to photo it I'll post here.
 
Displaced Canadian said:
Making wood pens is one of the reasons I got into pen making. It is my personal opinion that a good burl will outshine an acrylic blank.
There has been a number of fads on the IAP in my time. When I first joined the blank that was all the rage was an acrylic called Dragons breath. Black and red mixed to look like flames.
Click to expand...

Dragon's breath......
I found a slab of it just the other day in my stockpile. Also found the green that was made.

It does bring back memories about where this hobby has progressed.
 
ed4copies said:
In a recent thread, I read the comment that we could see what develops in the world of segmentation---an avenue not thoroughly explored yet.

This is absolutely true----but not especially new.

In 2005 through 2008, the IAP was a young site with far fewer members. One of the more visible members was a Ron Mc. His forte??
Segmentation!

When the IAP changed software, members needed to tell Jeff if they wanted their pictures on the new vBulletin (which we are using now). Ron apparently did not. So, here is the only picture I could find, trust me, there were dozens.

Enjoy----and, if Ron should stop by----man, I really miss you on IAP!!! Ed
Click to expand...


I am not sure if Ed was quoting me or not but I will respond this way.

By all means wood will never be passe or ever be eliminated from use. Some of the best colors in the world are natural and wood has them. There are so many species of wood around the world and this being an international site you should see more spectacular wood pens. Or at least hope to. I think ordinary every day woods is mundane and boring in fact and yes there are those that like to see and use traditional woods. But look at all the big pen makers and see how many make wood pens and ask yourself why not??? I think it is because wood is so unpredictable and can be a crapshoot. It is small penmakers like myself and those here that use most woods and this can be a good thing or a bad thing. People looking for uncommon woods or woods with history may seek out pen turners like us moreso. But the rub is we need to be able to put out a stable product then and that can be tricky. Over the years we have found new ways to stabilize woods and protect them better but again wood is a living thing that moves so not always easy. There are some that want that look and feel of real woods and there is a market for this but again comes with pitfalls.

To sum up this part wood will always be used in pen making, moreso by people such as us. Mother nature provides some exciting woods to look at and even though they are used on such small objects such as a pen they still can be stunning.

Now as far as segmentation goes. Again this artform and I call it that because it is has been around for many many years long before this site was even thought of. When pen making became popular in the 1990's is where I think turning pens took off, people were looking for new ways to enhance their work. You did not have all the crazy colored acrylics you have today and yes segmenting was done. There are many artists out there that push it to other limits and Ron was one as well as many others. If you look back into the archieves you will see people such as Eagle and many others doing extrodinary things. The thing with segmenting it takes patience and today that is something that is just not found. Look at your own lifestyle and see what you do each day and what a ratrace we have come to live in.

I love the art of segmenting and i think that it still has such a tremendous potential just because of the new materials available and techniques that were not around when people like Ron and Eagle started doing things. I have tried to become somewhat of a pusher ( lack of a better word) into the relm of segmenting. I would love to see more and more types of segmenting. I just am so tired of seeing basic pens with basic acrylic blanks or wood blanks that I do not even look any more. Use your imagination and be patient and create, yes create, not copy. Segmentation has so many avenues that can be explored and I am sure just as Brad is doing with his creations and chemicals we too can use materials that are redily available and create some great works of art. Definetly not enough people doing it here and it is ashame. We are pen makers not robots.

I agree about one thing. Talent and I mean real talent has left this site. But that is not to say there are not up and coming talented people here now. But step forward and show us all something. Stop being afraid to fail.

These are my thoughts on this and someday I would hope to be remembered as someone who did a little segmenting too. :smile:
 
I talk with Ron Ron McIntyre (sp?) every once in a while.
Ron was the Guest of Honor at one of the first pen turning get togethers at my home.
Real nice guy. He'd gotten into stained glass.
As far as I'm aware, he sold his pen business and is taking care of his family.
He's the type of person I'd always welcome in my home.
 
Ron is a name that is very dear to my 'penturning'. I never knew the guy, but love his designs. He moved on not long after I got into things, but my #1 recollection was Ron would post a giveaway here every once in a while when a specific Phantom of the Opera song would come up on his playlist (put him in a good mood). Love the song myself so I always thought that was so cool!
 
I thought some of Ron's articles were here in our library but I couldn't find them. For those who are members of the Yahoo! group Ron's article about his "Morning After" pen is in the files area in the special techniques folder. Another of Ron's articles is in the articles section of the pen maker's guild website.

Ron had a unique way of cutting his segments using a chop saw, thin kerf blade, and a zero clearance stop/fence to hold the thin slices until the blade stopped and they could be safely fetched. I have a dvd of Ron demonstrating at the symposium (SWAT) here in Texas in 2005 and another at "Bubbasville" where we once met monthly.

I just bet his stained glass is as unique and beautiful as his pens. He did sell his pen making stuff and his website. The stained glass can be taken on his business trips. He travels often with his job and spends lots of time in hotel rooms. I think I will give him a call this week.

Do a good turn daily!
Don




alphageek said:
Ron is a name that is very dear to my 'penturning'. I never knew the guy, but love his designs. He moved on not long after I got into things, but my #1 recollection was Ron would post a giveaway here every once in a while when a specific Phantom of the Opera song would come up on his playlist (put him in a good mood). Love the song myself so I always thought that was so cool!
Click to expand...
 
I love the art of segmenting and i think that it still has such a tremendous potential just because of the new materials available and techniques that were not around when people like Ron and Eagle started doing things. I have tried to become somewhat of a pusher ( lack of a better word) into the relm of segmenting. I would love to see more and more types of segmenting. I just am so tired of seeing basic pens with basic acrylic blanks or wood blanks that I do not even look any more. Use your imagination and be patient and create, yes create, not copy. Segmentation has so many avenues that can be explored and I am sure just as Brad is doing with his creations and chemicals we too can use materials that are redily available and create some great works of art. Definetly not enough people doing it here and it is ashame. We are pen makers not robots.

I agree about one thing. Talent and I mean real talent has left this site. But that is not to say there are not up and coming talented people here now. But step forward and show us all something. Stop being afraid to fail.

These are my thoughts on this and someday I would hope to be remembered as someone who did a little segmenting too. :smile:[/quote]

:bananen_smilies019: I agree with John. For you newer penturners, PLEASE do not not take offence with my next statement. I learned the same way you are learning, but with a lot less help. When you buy a pen kit, and buy a blank from someone, you are not designing and creating a pen. You are assemblying the parts of a pen into a finished product. Not to say they are not beautiful or one of a kind. I think what John and myself would like to see, is some out of the box thinking of your own when it comes to pen design. I can put together and finish most pen kits in 15-30 minutes. To the non-penturner it looks fantastic. To the newer penturner, it looks great. To the experanced pen turner it looks so-so. They have been there, done that, and it's nothing new. When I do a segmented pen, it may take me a week before I am satisfied with the drawing itself, and than another week to cut, glue, turn, and finish it. As john points out it takes time and skill to do this work. You may still get the same reactions from pen people, but they know at least you tried something out of the norm. I also understand that you can not just jump into something new and expect perfect results the first time out. That is what this site is for. Remember the old saying " Ask, and you shall receive ". There are a lot of creative people on this site who are willing to share their ideas with others, and there are some very talented people here who are not. Some are in the business to make money and provide a living for themselves and their families. I have no problem with that, and more power to them if they can do that. If man doesn't improve on the ideas that surround him, he will never advance. Good Turning !!! Jim S
 
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I like wood - I also like simple finishes and polishes. Not that some of the plastics don't look great. Things come and go...when I first came a couple of years ago kitless was so rare we were debating what to call it and what "kitless" meant, now there are a bunch of people doing nothing else....
 
ed4copies said:
In a recent thread, I read the comment that we could see what develops in the world of segmentation---an avenue not thoroughly explored yet.

This is absolutely true----but not especially new.

In 2005 through 2008, the IAP was a young site with far fewer members. One of the more visible members was a Ron Mc. His forte??
Segmentation!

When the IAP changed software, members needed to tell Jeff if they wanted their pictures on the new vBulletin (which we are using now). Ron apparently did not. So, here is the only picture I could find, trust me, there were dozens.

Enjoy----and, if Ron should stop by----man, I really miss you on IAP!!! Ed
Click to expand...

I met Ron MC at a gathering in Georgia a few years back and got to watch one of his demos... he cut his segments on a chop saw.. awfully close to his fingers, but he did some amazing work.... I've heard that he's more or less moved on and isn't in the pen business anymore... heard he does cut glass now.
 
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