Reasonably Priced Pen Storage!

[vdiantonio]

I've been looking for some reasonably (ok, cheap) pen storage options. At the Washington pen show I spoke with the fella located in the first spot in the first inner isle in front of Richard Binder's table, as he had some excellent pen storage boxes with drawers. He bought his from nilecorp.com. I checked on their site and they had the storage boxes pictured for about $37 ($31 for the box and drawers, and $5 for all of the inner trays)! This box holds 50 pens the way I've configured it and cost only $37 plus shipping. I bought two and the total cost was just over $80!

 

They have lots of inner tray options, the inner trays I chose were less than $1.00 each. If you chose to, you could also cut pen trays to size.

 

Edited September 7, 2014 by vdiantonio

[CoolFool]

Uh oh... something to make it easier for me to buy more pens!

[bulbboy]

Looks great! I couldn't find it on the website - could you post the link?

[Surei]

This looks like it. It's actually a jewelry box.

 

http://www.nilecorp.com/product/1394/Jewelry_Storage_Cabinet_15_1_8_quot_W_x_8_3_8_quot_D_x_7_5_8_quot_H.html

[vdiantonio]

They have this type too.

 

http://www.nilecorp.com/product/177/Jewelry_Storage_Cabinet_8_1_2_W_x_14_5_8_D_x_16_1_4_H.html

[Runnin_Ute]

You could easily structure this for pens and watches.....

[mwpannell]

Nice. Seems just bigger than a bread box ...

[bulbboy]

Thanks!

[dbarron]

Great find! I like the idea of different uses for each tray. I like the cigar box I converted for pens, but my wife would love it if I could consolidate a few boxes on the dresser. Watch tray, knife tray, pen tray, flashlight tray...

[Surei]

Uh oh... something to make it easier for me to buy more pens!

My thoughts exactly

[Glenn Atkins]

What's it made out of? Thanks.

 

Glenn

[de_pen_dent]

Thanks for that heads up - i was looking for some boxes. Just ordered 2 - one for pens, one for watches and misc stuff.

[pen2paper]

What's it made out of? Thanks.

 

Glenn

Important question.. Also, just how airtight does this case become when closed?

Including this as these drawers could be a very reasonable low cost option to store pens.

They have another option in which these trays slide into open wood rolling case. Were it me, I might choose this airy option.

 

The reason to consider materials and storage is, (for new ones who haven't heard past discussions), the easy explain is: plastics off-gas, gas = moisture, moisture corrodes metal. Understand that some plastics are inherently not stable. Others affect other materials when enclosed together. Plastics stored in an airtight environment, and along with metals, along with plastics than tend to deteriorate, can begin the deterioration process, with plasticizer migration, color shifts, breakdown to crazing, and goo. That reads as extreme, and it can be a slow process, but once it's started, there's no going backwards. To see the process place a mix of low end, no value plastics, include some celluloid, and metal into airtight ziplock bag or pvc for 6 months and see what happens. Open the bag and sniff the odor, see the actual bag become cloudy, see the color changes, texture changes.

 

You can see some photos of a long, slow event in a recent thread about an Omas pen enclosed in original packaging that was damaged by contact while enclosed. The point is, the process is slow, but is occurring, so when its time for You to choose how to store your plastic/metal objects, know what will, or will not begin a deterioration process. The storage does not need to be based upon Cost, it needs to be made upon what type of storage is safe for These Materials that require storage.

[FayeV]

Thank you for this bit of info about what can happen when storing plastics/metals in an airtight environment.

 

The last pen I received in the mail came wrapped in plastic before it was placed in a clamshell pen box. I opened it to take a brief look before placing it on a shelf for who-knows-how-long (I wasn't ready to ink it or add it to my rotation). I will go back later today and remove the plastic wrap.

[oregano]

Important question.. Also, just how airtight does this case become when closed?

Including this as these drawers could be a very reasonable low cost option to store pens.

They have another option in which these trays slide into open wood rolling case. Were it me, I might choose this airy option.

 

The reason to consider materials and storage is, (for new ones who haven't heard past discussions), the easy explain is: plastics off-gas, gas = moisture, moisture corrodes metal. Understand that some plastics are inherently not stable. Others affect other materials when enclosed together. Plastics stored in an airtight environment, and along with metals, along with plastics than tend to deteriorate, can begin the deterioration process, with plasticizer migration, color shifts, breakdown to crazing, and goo. That reads as extreme, and it can be a slow process, but once it's started, there's no going backwards. To see the process place a mix of low end, no value plastics, include some celluloid, and metal into airtight ziplock bag or pvc for 6 months and see what happens. Open the bag and sniff the odor, see the actual bag become cloudy, see the color changes, texture changes.

 

You can see some photos of a long, slow event in a recent thread about an Omas pen enclosed in original packaging that was damaged by contact while enclosed. The point is, the process is slow, but is occurring, so when its time for You to choose how to store your plastic/metal objects, know what will, or will not begin a deterioration process. The storage does not need to be based upon Cost, it needs to be made upon what type of storage is safe for These Materials that require storage.

Thank you for that helpful information. Is this the rolling type cabinet you were referring to? http://www.nilecorp.com/product/7611/Wooden_Cabinet_22_x_16_1_4_x_8_1_4_D.html I've always mistakenly thought that air would create the problem, not be the solution to it. Anyway, forgive my ignorance, but what would create a sufficient amount of air circulation? For ex, if there was a slight opening in the lid, say from the wood warping, would that be enough? Or only trays with openings in between them?

[luhkey]

that is some good and frankly troubling information, pen2paper.

i use one of these http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-3-drawer-plastic-metal-portable-chest-red-black/p-00965628000P?prdNo=27

mostly because i needed something that held ink bottles and sample vials aswell as pens.

 

the chest is plastic, the drawers and slides that hold them are metal.

i lined the drawers with a rubbery shelf liner and put the pens in silicon trays.

i wouldn't say anything about it is airtight save for the top section that holds my ink.

however now im worried that im not giving my pens a safe home.

 

i wonder what would be an ideal replacement .

i don't want anything wood because of degradation, pests and moisture susceptibility.

a full metal chest might be better if i can keep any moisture away from it and keep it's paint intact.

 

i just don't know..

 

[pen2paper]

Thank you for that helpful information. Is this the rolling type cabinet you were referring to? http://www.nilecorp.com/product/7611/Wooden_Cabinet_22_x_16_1_4_x_8_1_4_D.html I've always mistakenly thought that air would create the problem, not be the solution to it. Anyway, forgive my ignorance, but what would create a sufficient amount of air circulation? For ex, if there was a slight opening in the lid, say from the wood warping, would that be enough? Or only trays with openings in between them?

Not an expert here, but have seen 20+ years of wrong storage, and correct storage results.. Also had the privileged, and great relief to open a 70 year old collection of mixed material objects, and because of cautious storage, very little deterioration was evident. Note that the original collectors had pre-planned, ad so the collection was initially sorted by Metal With Metal, Glass With Glass, Plastics With Its own type of Plastics, and even within that sorting, Celluloid With Celluloid, And, Celluloid With > Metal trim was stored by its own separate storage. IOW's the potential to deteriorate was limited by well considered early planning. Air-circulation is essential, as is temperature, and in the case of hard rubber, storage in darkness is a strong factor. My late mentor was vehement that she would sleep in the basement or attic before her high end, irreplaceable historic collection would go there. In fact, she sold every last bit of it before her passing just so that inheriting family members would Not have the opportunity to ruin her life's work collection, by carelessly tossing it in the basement or attic in uncontrolled conditions. Please do read the suggestions by those who have intensely studied pen material storage. David Nishimura is one, there are several other experts who can suggest storage for the long term best outcome. The reality is: stored correctly, well cared for writing instruments should last many generations.

[oregano]

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, pen2paper. I'll have to read more about it. I definitely don't want even the few pens I have to deteriorate as a result of my storage!