Pen Stands

[Komitadjie]

Thanks! I think I might set up a multiple pen stand this afternoon, just to see how it comes out.

 

Finished up the prototype crescent-on-a-stand one! I'm definitely liking how the wood came out here, the finish is absolutely gorgeous. The geometry of this stand isn't quite as good as the previous ones, I certainly wouldn't want to use a pen any more top-heavy than the 580 here, but for smaller pens this is just about ideal. I'm going to have to make another one of these with a slightly more "upright" position, to allow heavier and longer pens, I think.

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150815_112533_zpsc1f1dojk.jpg

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150815_112526_zps3py4syzy.jpg

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150815_112612_zpsyjn9muxk.jpg

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150815_113827_zpsboaddxxk.jpg

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150815_113846_zps0yrh4wc9.jpg

[Komitadjie]

This is what I'm thinking for the next one:

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/Pen%20Stand%20Crescent_zpsirlbs0jz.jpg

[Manalto]

Simple and elegant. It's really interesting to see how this stand has evolved.

[PaperQueen]

This is what I'm thinking for the next one:

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/Pen%20Stand%20Crescent_zpsirlbs0jz.jpg

 

Ooooh. Really like the lines on this one. Verging on Scandinavian chic.

[Komitadjie]

Well, now just have to see if I can turn 3d computer model into solid wood!

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150815_174617_zpsbsjwcpor.jpg

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150815_174642_zpssmle7iyt.jpg

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150815_174659_zpsautjfp4t.jpg

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150815_174710_zps5wnb2e0k.jpg

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150815_180252_zpsonho1ahy.jpg

Edited August 16, 2015 by Komitadjie

[kazoolaw]

Well, now just have to see if I can turn 3d computer model into solid wood!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150815_174710_zps5wnb2e0k.jpg

 

 

Black/ebony disc at the bottom of the slot: I'll take two please.

 

gary

[Komitadjie]

Black/ebony disc at the bottom of the slot: I'll take two please.

 

gary

 

If you look closely at the bottom of the slot in the last photo on the page, you can see the black suede that they're bottomed with.

 

I've tried black and tan suede for it, and I like the black the best with the walnut, I think.

 

EDIT: Here's a shot that shows it better, not a particularly awesome shot so I didn't include it before. I really need to set up my light tent again, this "back of the truck" photo set is rather poor.

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150815_180411_zps8xhx7dea.jpg

Edited August 16, 2015 by Komitadjie

[Komitadjie]

And physical reality of the electrons has been achieved!

 

I went with cherry this time and tried to go as "light" looking as I could. This one is about the same level of stability as the original "triangular" design in both X and Y axies, as far as I can tell. Perhaps SLIGHTLY less stable against rolling "backwards" but certainly it won't tip over easily. The photos with the pen are after sanding, the photos without the pen are after the first coat of polyurethane. I'll be adding another coat tonight, I think, which should shine it up nicely.

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150815_214735_zpsrugymwtm.jpg

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150815_214747_zpszk0lh9ui.jpg

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150815_214530_zpsxedw2po7.jpg

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150815_214538_zpsv53w9ovy.jpg

[Manalto]

I love the crescent moon version! (But I'm biased.) It must be only about 3" high. Are you happy with its stability? Are you going to try multiple-pen versions? Would you like me to put on a pot of coffee?

[Komitadjie]

Yep, it's the exact same height from the base to the cradle as the other one, just a little better distributed geometry-wise than the triangular variant. The stability seems to be pretty good so far, anyway, about the equal of the previous version. You can definitely bump it by ~5 degrees and not have it fall over, I was playing with that. I'm still playing with the base-and-ink-pocket idea for one of these, I just haven't gotten around to trying it out as yet.

 

Off to the shop, to add another coat of poly!

[kazoolaw]

If you look closely at the bottom of the slot in the last photo on the page, you can see the black suede that they're bottomed with. ]

Nope, not suede or fabric.

 

A wooden disc, black/ebony. I am not afraid of it damaging the barrel of a pen, and

I think it would look classier and would last longer.

 

gary

[Komitadjie]

Hmmm, I can certainly see what I can do there. I'd have to acquire a plug cutter for 5/8, but I don't think that would be too hard to do. Let me see what I can come up with!

[Komitadjie]

And finished up the new version! I'm really liking this iteration, the smoother, curved lines feel a lot more modern. Plus, it doesn't hide the pen nearly as much.

 

Both sides, just kind of showing off the cherry grain

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150816_134031_zpsyx1jx5ao.jpg

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150816_134047_zpshccbslfg.jpg

 

 

 

 

And the suede in the pocket, I chose natural tan for this one, to match the wood better.

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150816_134156_zpsquq18zzv.jpg

 

 

 

And this is how it looks with a TWSBI 580 in it, for scale. It's fairly well balanced, the truck bedliner here is a very uneven surface, and the truck itself is parked on a fairly decent slope front-to-back, so overall I'm pleased with the stability. Certainly, it will be good and solid on a desktop.

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150816_134123_zps8l65adhz.jpg

[Manalto]

It's really beautiful in its simplicity, and the grain of the cherry wood is exquisite.

[WirsPlm]

You've really made some beautiful stands here, I'm not usually a fan of pen stands (sad pet-related experiences) but these are gorgeous and small enough to not have a huge footprint!

[Komitadjie]

Thank you, James!

 

Just set up a run of seven pieces, (was originally eight... D'oh!) and I thought since I had my camera handy, I'd put together a quick montage.

 

Here is where they all start, with a piece of hardwood, sourced from Lombard's Hardwood Supply, here in town. The first thing I did when I converted this from a computer drawing to wood was to make a plywood template, and that template is traced over a squared line from each end of the piece.

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150816_155427_zpsjsx5x4d6.jpg

 

 

 

I find the center, and extend the centerline across the end of the board, then clamp it onto a square block on my drill press, to keep it perfectly vertical while I bore out the pocket with a forstner bit. (It's not sitting flat here, obviously, because I have both hands off of it to take the photo. In operation, it's pressed solidly to the bed of the drill press.

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150816_155527_zpsqpfi5cqb.jpg

 

 

 

The drilled out pieces head over to the band saw, to be cut out to rough profile. At this point, I'm doing them one board at a time, to give the forstner bit time to cool between bores, that poor bit gets really warm when I'm doing this many in a row!

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150816_155902_zpssj234p5p.jpg

 

 

 

And here's the whole batch, rough cut and ready for final profiling. From this point on they are processed as a whole bunch at once.

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150816_160854_zpsvkbn0owd.jpg

 

 

 

Next stop is the oscillating spindle sander, to finish-profile the inside curve.

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150816_160943_zpssc6r1zv6.jpg

 

 

 

And here's the lot, with the inside curves sanded to finished profile.

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150816_162215_zpso1upb2dt.jpg

 

 

 

From there, I swap the spindle drum on my sander to a belt, and they all go back to the sander to have the outside profiles finished and squared up.

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150816_162442_zpszymql8i5.jpg

 

 

 

And here's the batch, with all of the power-tool work completed. You'll note that my batch of eight is reduced to seven pieces. I was slightly less careful than I should have been, and the belt sander decided to turn one of them into a ballistic projectile. They're not really *designed* to be used as bullets, so when it found the far shop wall it was rather detrimental to the wood. So seven!

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150816_164202_zpswwl2rfrt.jpg

 

 

 

One ton of hand sanding later, they're ready to head over to a final wipe-down to remove the dust, and off to finish.

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150816_172337_zps2kvvjeee.jpg

 

 

 

And here they are, sitting out on my high-tech drying rack (fusion powered drying, no less!) with the first coat of polyurethane curing on them.

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150816_172844_zpsotbqrjax.jpg

 

 

 

A fairly simple little process, but I just couldn't resist bringing you guys along for this one.

[Tasmith]

Very nice!

[Komitadjie]

Thanks!

 

Second finish coat, they're coming along nicely! Starting to shine up decently.

 

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p603/Komitadjie/IMG_20150816_185457_zpsgwl6cbnr.jpg

[mmg122]

Thanks for giving us a tour of your process. They are really great pen stands. I love seeing how creative folks do things as I have neither the tools nor talent to duplicate...but appreciate living vicariously thru you.

[Komitadjie]

You are most welcome! I had some fun doing the step-by-step thing, at some point I really should set up a camera and try to make a video of the whole thing. More or less just for giggles.