A Sandalwood Custom From Fosfor Pens Made By Manojd

[hari317]

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

Edited April 28, 2014 by hari317

[basterma]

Nice.

[Faisel]

A lovely pen. I am quite jealous. Happy writing.

[subbucal]

Can imagine the fragrance around when the pen is used or even when stored. Excellent pen...Kudos ManojD!!

 

Great pen hari..enjoy it ...

[Mesu]

Excellent pen and design Hari. Inner core of ebonite is a great idea.

 

Sandalwood being light color, is it likely to stain without polish?

[manojd]

Thank you Hari for the review.

[Sridhar]

Thanks Hari, for the introduction ! Very nice work Manoj - just went through your site.

[Brian C]

Just ordered yet another pen. An Islander in teak. Amazing prices. Hope quality is good.

[Tinjapan]

Thanks for introducing this maker, I may be making a few purchases from them in the near future.

[manojd]

Excellent pen and design Hari. Inner core of ebonite is a great idea.

 

Sandalwood being light color, is it likely to stain without polish?

One has to be careful not to stain it. However, if you polish it, meaning, if you coat it with CA, then you run the risk of completely blocking its natural fragrance. Defeats the purpose of making a pen in sandalwood IMHO.

[hari317]

Manoj has now installed a sterling silver handmade clip to my pen.

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/IMG_0283.jpg

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/ManojDChandan/IMG_0289.jpg

 

I have also received a Cigar shaped sandalwood pen from him today, you can read more about that pen at the following link:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/273319-my-new-chandan-sandalwood-pen-made-by-fosfor-pens/

 

Regards

Hari

[maverink]

thats a nice minimalistic silver clip looks so unique. i have also got a sandalwood pen with a clip from manoj

[manojd]

Hari,

 

Thank you so much for the review. With the clip, I hope that you can carry these pens easily.

[hari317]

thats a nice minimalistic silver clip looks so unique. i have also got a sandalwood pen with a clip from manoj

I agree, I would also like to see pictures of your pen if you share some images.

 

Hari,

 

Thank you so much for the review. With the clip, I hope that you can carry these pens easily.

Thanks Manoj, yes, I was carrying the FT in my shirt pocket to work today.

[Trom]

Thanks for the review. Beautiful pens. A few I would be interested in.

However, when I go to the shop online page and want to order an exotic burl, it's not clear what I will get.

[manojd]

Thanks for the review. Beautiful pens. A few I would be interested in.

However, when I go to the shop online page and want to order an exotic burl, it's not clear what I will get.

PM sent.

[TimLawNYC]

Well done, both of you! I am a sucker for great-looking wooden pens, so I may need to save up for a future Fosfor order. I'm LOVING the look of the Rosewood Islander, but those beautiful burls are hard to resist...

[Trom]

I ordered two fountain pens from Manoj. Great to communicate with him.

I'll post some pictures when they arrive.

[maverink]

some pics of the sandalwood pen i got from manoj

it has schmidt fine nib unit

[hari317]

Your pen is lovely, very nicely made.