Show Us Your Oblique Penholders!

[mvarela]

So much talent condensed in this thread. I could stare at that script for hours, mvarela.

 

Thanks! But even better than staring at it, try it! I went from zero to this (which admittedly, still needs a lot of work) in about a year of more or less regular practice.

[hzsimms]

A big shout out to Howard! Thank you so much!!!!

 

 

Martin,

 

Glad you liked it! You seem to be putting it to good use! (Those are terrific photos, btw. What kind of camera are you using?).

 

Howard

[hzsimms]

It's nice to see the Excelsior style back with a modern look. They're very nice penholders, both the originals and Howard's revivals.

 

PS. The nib on that one may need to come back in the flange a bit. It looks like it may be a bit too far forward but that may just be due to the angle the photo was taken.

 

Your photos of the original have been an immense help!

[hzsimms]

Wow, Howard and Brian, you guys are making some awesome holders there.

 

Just a thought, has anyone done a guitar shaped holder yet? If a blade can be turned into a pen holder well then........................

 

 

 

That's a thought. However, as my only experience with guitars is similar to the John Belushi scene in Animal House, I'll let Brian cover that one! I haven't had a lot of time to spend in the shop the last few weeks, but I did take apart an old watch the other day (the reason why escapes me now) which gave me the idea to do a steampunk oblique. There are a lot of neat gears and wheels and cogs and "stuff" in there that I think would look really good in some sort of an inlay. Further bulletins as events warrant.

 

Howard

[Mickey]

 

That's a thought. However, as my only experience with guitars is similar to the John Belushi scene in Animal House,

 

That may be just about my favorite movie scene from the 1970s.

[mvarela]

Martin,

 

Glad you liked it! You seem to be putting it to good use! (Those are terrific photos, btw. What kind of camera are you using?).

 

Howard

It's a Nikon D600 (here used with a Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro; the new version).

 

It's a pretty neat camera, if a bit bulky. Here's a sampling of what can be done with it: https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=nikond600&user_id=22727242%40N00&sort=interestingness-desc

Edited April 23, 2014 by mvarela

[legume]

 

That is most probably due to the difference in the diameter of flange and the nib. You will need to adjust the flange i.e. make it rounder or flatter to match the nib. Make sure you insert a piece of thick paper (or an old nib) in the holder before you reshape it (with needle nose pliers) so as not to totally close the gap. It takes a bit of careful fiddling so don't lose patience.

 

S.

 

 

Yes...you need to adjust your flange a little for the nib. If the nib is too tight for your nib (which is what it sounds like)...you need to make the arc a little "rounder". Make sure you have some kind of nib inserted in the flange while you bend it more "round" to prevent it crimping and closing up on you. Once the flange is "rounded" out a bit more, that nib will snug right in there! Push it through until the point of the nib is approximately at the center of the pen holder (as Salman said). In other words, if there were an imaginary line running straight through the center of your pen's handle, picture that line continuing out of the front of your handle (like a laser firing out of the end of it). Well, line the point of that nib right on that imaginary centerline.

 

I used to have a Century holder and the problem wasn't with the curve of the flange, but that there really wasn't any space between the brass sheets for a nib. I had to take the flange out to widen the space, eventually resorting to just placing the nib in the fold and shaping the flange around it.

[Mickey]

 

 

 

I used to have a Century holder and the problem wasn't with the curve of the flange, but that there really wasn't any space between the brass sheets for a nib. I had to take the flange out to widen the space, eventually resorting to just placing the nib in the fold and shaping the flange around it.

 

The easier way is two put two nibs (stacked together) in the flange to open it up, stuff the flange with nibs back in the holder, remove the nibs, replace one, then pinch the arc slightly till it stays in.

Edited April 29, 2014 by Mickey

[hzsimms]

It's a Nikon D600 (here used with a Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro; the new version).

 

It's a pretty neat camera, if a bit bulky. Here's a sampling of what can be done with it: https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=nikond600&user_id=22727242%40N00&sort=interestingness-desc

 

Martin,

 

Your photographs are absolutely spectacular! If that's not how you earn a living, it d**n well ought to be! No wonder my iPhone camera and a magnifying glass don't quite measure up. I am apparently photographically deficient in two areas, equipment and talent.

 

Awesome stuff, seriously.

 

Howard

[hzsimms]

 

The easier way is two put two nibs (stacked together) in the flange to open it up, stuff the flange with nibs back in the holder, remove the nibs, replace one, then pinch the arc slightly till it stays in.

 

Well, I just had a "why didn't I think of that a long time ago" moment.

[mvarela]

 

Martin,

 

Your photographs are absolutely spectacular! If that's not how you earn a living, it d**n well ought to be! No wonder my iPhone camera and a magnifying glass don't quite measure up. I am apparently photographically deficient in two areas, equipment and talent.

 

Awesome stuff, seriously.

 

Howard

Thanks for the kind words, Howard!

[MusinkMan]

Whew...been away for a bit. I thought I'd throw up a couple photos of some recent holders I built.

 

Redheart and Holly wood, offset inlay angles; custom turned handle design:

 

 

Ebony, Pink Ivory (an exotic wood), and simulated ivory (white stripes). This pen is named "The Wasp"

 

 

Gabon Ebony and simulated ivory rings. This pen is named "8 Ball"

 

 

Brazilian Ebony longhandle (very thin), stripes of Osage Orange, sim ivory, redheart, ebony, and a cocobolo foot:

 

 

5A flame maple aniline dyed peacock blue, synthetic mother of pearl grip & custom turned handle design

This one is named "Bluebird of Paradise":

 

[Algester]

Here's the result of my latest bout of lunacy. My son, who helps me work on these things every now and then (he's 16, has a truck and a girlfriend...I take what time I can get!), asked me if I would make him a pen. Seeing this as an opportunity, I told him that, if he'd learn to write with it, I'd make him "any kind" of pen he wanted. Well, he said he wanted one that looked like a "Daedric (sp???) Blade". WTH is a Daedric Blade, I asked? Apparently, it's some kind of really, really bad knife/sword from a video game he plays. Being a Space Invaders video game kind of guy, I asked him to get me a picture of the thing. This, then, is my interpretation of the "Daedric Blade" (and I still have no idea how to spell it).

 

http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/p743/hzsimms/IMG_3168_zps785e449a.jpg

 

While it looks long, it's actually a bit shorter than some of the long tailed pens I've made, about 11 inches. It's not exactly well balanced, but it doesn't feel horrible when you write with it either. The "blade" portion, while you can't really tell it from this photo, has a silver metallic pigment on it that gives it a very nice sheen. The good news is, he was very pleased. The bad news is I told him that he had to practice with something a bit more practical until he got the basics down. He took it pretty well. Then got in his truck and went to see his girlfriend!

 

Howard

 

The Elder Scrolls heh... Ohh lol how the hell do you write with it is a matter of mental agony, I won't see the day I'll ever write with that one

[smk]

Brian - All of them are beautiful but I just fell in love with the 8 Ball. Your holders just keep getting better and better. The Wasp is a special looking one too.

 

Thanks for putting the pictures up. It is a treat to see so many lovely holders.

 

S.

[pavoni]

Very nice pen holders Brian but.....................

 

have you seen mine?

 

 

 

My Brian Smith collection

 

Pavoni.

[smk]

Wow - luck you. I just have one of Brian's early ones - it gets regular use. I know there are more in my future - just waiting for the right time :-)

 

S.

[Stompie]

Wow B, your stuff is still amazing!

 

Any chance of an entirely Mother of Pearl holder? my collection of Smithy pens is lacking one!

[hzsimms]

Whew...been away for a bit. I thought I'd throw up a couple photos of some recent holders I built.

 

 

Gabon Ebony and simulated ivory rings. This pen is named "8 Ball"

 

 

Very nice work Brian. This is my favorite. The angled cut fits this pen well.

 

Howard

[hzsimms]

 

The Elder Scrolls heh... Ohh lol how the hell do you write with it is a matter of mental agony, I won't see the day I'll ever write with that one

 

Yeah, it's an adventure! But it's fun to look at.

[Algester]

just a couple of question but this would seem off topic has anyone of you guys ever managed to make an oblique penholder for lefties? Im just curious as well I'm a lefty and I might someday try my way of going to Spencerian... funny thing is I think my left hand is unconsciously going into side writer mode and then overwriter hooked

Edited May 25, 2014 by Algester