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FPN has a very talented pen maker in the form of ManojD who is located in Pune, India. He shows his creations from time to time on FPN. His pen company is called Fosfor pens. A few months back we discussed the possibility of producing some fine fountain pens out of Sandalwood. The highest grade of this wood is local to India, we prize this wood and genuine Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album) will remain fragrant for decades. Sandalwood ballpens are made available through government emporiums to the common public but no one was offering uncoated fragrant sandalwood fountainpens. Manoj took up the challenge to make such a pen for me. He found the sandalwood billets with the provenance hammer marks. My design decisions were : Exposed uncoated wood for fragrance and tactile sensation of the Fine sandalwood.Inner core of the cap and barrel to be fully Ebonite, so that even if the converter leaks, the wood will not stain, if the nib leaks out into the cap, the cap exterior will not stain.Use of a Schmidt nib housing (Choice between JoWo housing and Schmidt).Clipless after much debate, since I wanted a wooden finial and not an Ebonite finial. I am trying to get a jeweller to make me an accommodation clip for this pen.Minimisation of the barrel to section step. The pen was delivered to me a few weeks back. i have been using it extensively at home and will carry it to work once I work out a means to clip it to my shirt pocket(no pen pouches for me) The pictures of the sandal wood billets used for my pen are kindly provided by Manoj. http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/DSCN4934.jpg The Hammer marks: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/DSCN4936.jpg The pen came in a nice wooden box: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/IMG_9828.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/IMG_9829.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/IMG_9830.jpg Cap top: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/IMG_9831.jpg Barrel end, he has tried to preserve the hammer mark: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/IMG_9832.jpg The pen writes well. http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/IMG_9833.jpg I was a bit worried about the step in barrel to section so we had an intense round of discussion with sketches flying back and forth, but I am very pleased with the final results. the section length moves the step out of the way for me, in fact, I don't feel it at all. The lightness, texture in hand and aroma of the wood and the pen, is wonderful. I am very pleased with the pen. It was also priced very reasonably for a sandalwood pen, in line with the other offerings on Manoj's website. Thank you Manoj. Cheers! Hari

I just want to share some pictures of my new Sandalwood (Chandan in Hindi) pen that I received today. I have already reviewed my flattop Sandalwood pen here. It is handmade by FPN member ManojD who has a pen making shop called Fosforpens. The fragrant Sandalwood is Indian. The rust red Ebonite is also Indian. The sterling silver clip is handmade by a Pune Jeweller for Manoj. The genesis of this second pen was during the recently concluded Mumbai pen event where I met with Manoj and saw his latest creations. He had got these sterling silver clips made and I liked them so much that I wanted one for my Flattop Chandan pen too. Manoj agreed to retrofit my existing pen and at the same time mentioned that he now able to make cigar shaped wooden pens with clips too. I placed my order for one more Chandan, this time in Cigar shape. I requested that the core of the pen this time be in this rust red ebonite material. I left the shape details to Manoj's discretion. Manoj started work on my Cigar and emailed me some pictures at each stage. Finally after some tweaking, my pen was ready. Here are the pictures: New Style Box: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/Cigar%20shaped/IMG_0273.jpg The box opened: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/Cigar%20shaped/IMG_0274.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/Cigar%20shaped/IMG_0275.jpg To show you the woodgrain: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/Cigar%20shaped/IMG_0276.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/Cigar%20shaped/IMG_0277.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/Cigar%20shaped/IMG_0278.jpg Opened: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/Cigar%20shaped/IMG_0279.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/Cigar%20shaped/IMG_0280.jpg Clip: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/Cigar%20shaped/IMG_0284.jpg Side: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/Cigar%20shaped/IMG_0285.jpg Top: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/Cigar%20shaped/IMG_0286.jpg The nib: a standard Schmidt nib unit. http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/Cigar%20shaped/IMG_0287.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/Cigar%20shaped/IMG_0288.jpg Compared to my FT Chandan pen: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/Cigar%20shaped/IMG_0281.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/Cigar%20shaped/IMG_0282.jpg Cheers! Hari