How do you display or store your pens?

[thx1138]

11 hours ago, Ceilidh said:

Ditto on the furry shop assistant. 😺👍

That is "Stir Fry" from the Klaw thread.

[DilettanteG]

12 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

When people ask me how many pens I have?  I say "Somewhere between too many and not enough....." 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I think that's the best answer. 👍👍

[tragique]

I store my pens in the 60 pen box from Toyocraft - https://www.toyocraft.com/en/home/product_detail/SC151

[Wahl]

[DilettanteG]

@tragique those Toyocraft boxes are so elegant. Excellent choice!

 

@Wahl The clear acrylic (I think?) on top of glass shelves really makes the most of your display. It lets in so much light so you can really admire all those gorgeous pens. I actually like it quite a bit better than the cheap , clear acrylic stands that I have as the pens fall off my upright stands with the slightest nudge. If you don't mind me asking, where did you get them?

 

It does make me want to go on a vintage pen shopping spree. Maybe I'll just ink up one of my trio (of P51s sad by comparison to your entire flight (flock? herd? cornucopia?) of pens. And is that a Caran d'Ache ink in the back? I love that series!

 

My inks say hi:

[Surlyprof]

On 1/12/2024 at 12:11 AM, Lam1 said:

As for the pens awaiting repair (all ~ 200 of them) they stay in various cigar boxes and any other storage I can find, in a room adjacent to our family room (as you can see I am not organized at all. But my wife puts up with me 🙃). Here is a small sample of the pens awaiting repair (I repair them myself):

 

 

Is that a Gerstner toolbox?  I only tend to see those in workshops.  Do you use it for storing pens or your repair tools?

[DilettanteG]

@Surlyprof  and @Lam1 being able to repair my own pens would save me so much heartache. Plus, now I want one of those cool toolboxes. Yours is such a smart approach to this hobby.

[Lam1]

@Surlyprof, no, thats a similar and much more affordable one. I bought it from Harbor Freight.

https://www.harborfreight.com/8-drawer-wood-tool-chest-62585.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiNzA0ODg1NjAiLCJza3UiOiI2MjU4NSIsImlzIjoiNzYuNDkifQ%3D%3D&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20938165408&campaignid=20938165408&utm_content=158476932660&adsetid=158476932660&product=62585&store=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAzJOtBhALEiwAtwj8ts3sz77frGCEAauX07SHNNK1gsEQC3EgC3YEPtNRUCEJRBl-6TnRJRoCXe8QAvD_BwE 

 

I use it for a mix of tool and pens. The pic below shows the drawers used for pens. All others have tools/supplies to repair the pens.

 

[Lam1]

1 hour ago, DilettanteG said:

@Surlyprof  and @Lam1 being able to repair my own pens would save me so much heartache. Plus, now I want one of those cool toolboxes. Yours is such a smart approach to this hobby.

 

Thank you, @DilettanteG!

 

I started to repair my own pens because a very famous restorer damaged two of my pens (one of them very rare), was unapologetic about it, and charged me the price of a new Pelikan M600 to "fix" the two pens.

So, doing my own work is better, cheaper, less risky and it has the added benefit of being sort of a therapy (I guess it saves money there too 😁). To be honest, for the most part (e.g., lever fillers, vacumatics, Touchdowns, Snorkels), it is not that hard if you have the right tools.

[DilettanteG]

1 hour ago, Lam1 said:

 

Thank you, @DilettanteG!

 

I started to repair my own pens because a very famous restorer damaged two of my pens (one of them very rare), was unapologetic about it, and charged me the price of a new Pelikan M600 to "fix" the two pens.

So, doing my own work is better, cheaper, less risky and it has the added benefit of being sort of a therapy (I guess it saves money there too 😁). To be honest, for the most part (e.g., lever fillers, vacumatics, Touchdowns, Snorkels), it is not that hard if you have the right tools.

That's heartbreaking, but you found the best possible work around. I sent a few pens out for repairs three years ago and wasn't too pleased with the very mixed results either. If I want them broken, I can do that myself thanks. 

[Lam1]

5 hours ago, DilettanteG said:

"...If I want them broken, I can do that myself thanks. "

 

Exactly!

[Wahl]

On 1/14/2024 at 8:30 PM, DilettanteG said:

@tragique those Toyocraft boxes are so elegant. Excellent choice!

 

@Wahl The clear acrylic (I think?) on top of glass shelves really makes the most of your display. It lets in so much light so you can really admire all those gorgeous pens. I actually like it quite a bit better than the cheap , clear acrylic stands that I have as the pens fall off my upright stands with the slightest nudge. If you don't mind me asking, where did you get them?

 

It does make me want to go on a vintage pen shopping spree. Maybe I'll just ink up one of my trio (of P51s sad by comparison to your entire flight (flock? herd? cornucopia?) of pens. And is that a Caran d'Ache ink in the back? I love that series!

 

My inks say hi:

 

 

These methacrylate (clear acrylic ?) displays were custom built by an artisan in Madrid, Spain.

 

He does all kind of displays for jewelers and art pieces, a real artist !

 

 

[DilettanteG]

@Wahl He did a beautiful job!

[DilettanteG]

16 hours ago, Lam1 said:

 

Exactly!

Just saw a M101N Brown Tortoise professionally fitted with a vintage nib and thought of yours. Of course, it's a pen I already own that version of. Sigh.

[Lam1]

8 hours ago, DilettanteG said:

Just saw a M101N Brown Tortoise professionally fitted with a vintage nib and thought of yours. Of course, it's a pen I already own that version of. Sigh.

 Oh, but you can always buy just the nib.

If it is one of the original 100, all you need to do is to change the collar (which is readily available on eBay, among other places).

[DilettanteG]

17 minutes ago, Lam1 said:

 Oh, but you can always buy just the nib.

If it is one of the original 100, all you need to do is to change the collar (which is readily available on eBay, among other places).

I will consult you first when I do, if that's alright. For now, these plain Jane modern nibs are pretty nice, if only a little flexy.

[Runnin_Ute]

I have converted four cigar boxes. Each one will hold between 11 and 13 pens. One is deeper and perhaps I could put another pen tray in it. But not sure if I want to. 

 

My inked pens (usually 8-12) go in a Girologio 12 pen case. So at least in theory I have room for 3 or 4 more before having to convert another cigar box.

 

Pens awaiting cleaning go in mug. 

[DilettanteG]

1 hour ago, Runnin_Ute said:

I have converted four cigar boxes. Each one will hold between 11 and 13 pens. One is deeper and perhaps I could put another pen tray in it. But not sure if I want to. 

 

My inked pens (usually 8-12) go in a Girologio 12 pen case. So at least in theory I have room for 3 or 4 more before having to convert another cigar box.

 

Pens awaiting cleaning go in mug. 

Ah yes, that’s how you do it when you have a sane, sensible number of pens. I vaguely remember that. It’s been a long while.

[Lam1]

23 hours ago, DilettanteG said:

I will consult you first when I do, if that's alright. For now, these plain Jane modern nibs are pretty nice, if only a little flexy.

I'd be happy to help!

[XYZZY]

On 1/15/2024 at 12:16 PM, Lam1 said:

@Surlyprof, no, thats a similar and much more affordable one. I bought it from Harbor Freight.

https://www.harborfreight.com/8-drawer-wood-tool-chest-62585.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiNzA0ODg1NjAiLCJza3UiOiI2MjU4NSIsImlzIjoiNzYuNDkifQ%3D%3D&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20938165408&campaignid=20938165408&utm_content=158476932660&adsetid=158476932660&product=62585&store=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAzJOtBhALEiwAtwj8ts3sz77frGCEAauX07SHNNK1gsEQC3EgC3YEPtNRUCEJRBl-6TnRJRoCXe8QAvD_BwE 

 

I use it for a mix of tool and pens. The pic below shows the drawers used for pens. All others have tools/supplies to repair the pens.

 

What’s the depth of the inside of the drawers on that chest?  In other words, the longest pen I could put there in the same orientation that you’re using?