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Longfellow

Longfellow

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Joined
Apr 6, 2005
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St. Cloud, Fla.34769
At the risk of being called a heritic or creating a controversy I must admit that after 70 years of working with many mediums, I can be turned on by a beautiful piece of wood but left cold by most of the pens I see on this site made from man made materials. I worked for over 40 years as a modelmaker, patternmaker using all types of materials. Some projects were best suited to man made materials but for true beauty and warmth, give me a piece of beautiful wood everytime.
When I look at some of the pens, I know a lot of effort and time went into creating the material, and the turning and finishing, but they still look like Flea Market merchandise to me.
Just one old mans opinion.
 
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I appreciate your sentiments, however, 98% of all pens sold are other than wood. It seems like the public has different thoughts. I still make pretty (mostly) wood pens, though.
 
I make what the customer wants. Show me the $$$ and that's what material gets used, man-made or mother nature's.
 
I agree, we all are entitled to our opinions and our beliefs. But...by reading your comment and then reading your tag line quote from Robert Browning...you are contradicting yourself. He is saying that you should always strive for more, come up with new idea's, be inventive, not just settle for the simple things in life.
 
I really love using wood and most of my pens sold are wood BUT next season I will have a good supply of acrylics, also one thing I have learned in 30 years of building custom rods first there is no accounting for peoples taste in colors and if you want to make a sale you better have the color and style they want
 
workinforwood said:
I agree, we all are entitled to our opinions and our beliefs. But...by reading your comment and then reading your tag line quote from Robert Browning...you are contradicting yourself. He is saying that you should always strive for more, come up with new idea's, be inventive, not just settle for the simple things in life.
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I blocked signature lines to help lower my blood pressure, so I didn't notice this. Interesting observation.
 
How chintzy and glitzy of God to make things like rocks and bones and antlers -- He should have stuck to wood! And those things like coal and metal ores -- what in heaven was He thinking of? And rubies and sapphires and emeralds and diamonds! Seems to me you just look like a hooker if you wear those things.
:)
I like jazz, my wife likes classical, my kids like rock and roll. Everyone likes something different, and personally, I'm glad that not everyone shares my tastes (I like green, not red for you New Mexicans). I try to be pretty careful about putting labels on other peoples' preferences, tho, other than to say "Vive la difference!"
Doug
 
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"Mr." Longfellow,

After 70 years of woodworking experience or 70 years of anything else for that matter....I RESPECT your opinion.:wink: Interestingly enough, my opinion (in the case of pens) is the polar opposite of yours. Art is great, isn't it?:biggrin:
 
I respect all opinions but try to remind myself that when i make a pen, it will appeal to some and not others. I like to spike a bit of interest in all groups... antler for outdoorsmen, corncob for farmers, feathers for bird hunters, BOW for religious persons, acrylic types of colors for people with favorite colors, wood for those who like it...I think you get the hint. :) (and Im a wood guy but still love to creat my own pr blanks).
 
dgscott said:
How chintzy and glitzy of God to make things like rocks and bones and antlers -- He should have stuck to wood! And those things like coal and metal ores -- what in heaven was He thinking of? And rubies and sapphires and emeralds and diamonds! Seems to me you just look like a hooker if you wear those things.
:)
I like jazz, my wife likes classical, my kids like rock and roll. Everyone likes something different, and personally, I'm glad that not everyone shares my tastes (I like green, not red for you New Mexicans). I try to be pretty careful about putting labels on other peoples' preferences, tho, other than to say "Vive la difference!"
Doug
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I was in no way trying to demean anyones pens, choice of materials, lifestyle, or create a furor. I was merely expressing my preferences and opinion. I thought that was the purpose of an open forum.
If I wanted to offend anyone I would have expressed my political or religous leanings. That would really create open warfare
 
Longfellow said:
I was in no way trying to demean anyones pens, choice of materials, lifestyle, or create a furor. I was merely expressing my preferences and opinion. I thought that was the purpose of an open forum.
If I wanted to offend anyone I would have expressed my political or religous leanings. That would really create open warfare
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No problem -- you can express all you want! Don't be surprised, tho, when others respond to your expressions. Wasn't Newton's First Law "every action has an equal and opposite reaction"?

I think the purpose of an open forum is not just to make statements that we expect to be unchallenged, but to enter into lively give and take.

By the way, I personally feel that the phrase "Flea Market Merchandise" is a little closer to the "demeaning" pole than the "each to his own" pole. As for me, I'm glad you love wood. I do, too. I'm also glad that others see beauty in many other things. I also like spontaneity that is well planned and diversity that lacks sameness.

Peace.
Doug
 
My thinking is actually almost completely opposite. I see wood as the novelty type material while the acrylics and other materials are better suited to what I consider a "High End" pen. other materials such as horn, antler, stone or bones in many ways even have an edge over wood for me. in some cases a more stable and reliable material with an equal or even greater appeal to that of wood. they often even have a greater Novel quality as well.
My experience has also been that a good quality stabilized Buckeye burl is pretty much a guaranteed seller. it does not have a traditional wood look though. Most of the pens I have made from regular looking wood I still own. they do not sell well at all.
 
i too like the look of some of the man made blanks, laser cut jigsaw kits, acrylics, resins amongst others, but i do love using the beautiful woods god put on this planet of ours. If i was to pick between a highly burled amboyna burl blank or any other burled blank and an acrylic blank, the burled would get my vote everytime. Don't get me wrong i love using both, and i agree that people have differing tastes.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dgscott
Wasn't Newton's First Law "every action has an equal and opposite reaction"?
Doug



thewishman said:
I believe Wayne Newton's First Law is, "People will pay almost any price to hear poorly pronounced German words sung in Las Vegas." :tongue:
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Damn, I ruined another keyboard!!!!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
 
Damn, I ruined another keyboard!!!!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:[/quote]

My keyboard is okay, but I hurt my back rolling on the floor laughing!
Doug
 
I just like making pen, I don't really care what material as long as it will sell, of my personal pens I'd say is about a 50/50 mix Both of my favorites are wood, one an IBO Emperor the other just a crappy old Ipe Baron FP with the plating worn off. Now making pens out of bullets is just plain silly, but I've sold a bunch of them, What's next pens out of hand grenades, What about greeneyed blackcat's beserker pens, and Mr Rats fine and beautiful metal and acrylic master works.
NOPE no preferences I just like pens, Wood Stainless Aluminum Copper, Acrylic Phenolic, Ebonite, Dare I say it I've even seen writing instruments made from Fimo clay that had something going on.
 
Longfellow said:
At the risk of being called a heritic or creating a controversy I must admit that after 70 years of working with many mediums, I can be turned on by a beautiful piece of wood but left cold by most of the pens I see on this site made from man made materials. I worked for over 40 years as a modelmaker, patternmaker using all types of materials. Some projects were best suited to man made materials but for true beauty and warmth, give me a piece of beautiful wood everytime. [quote Longfellow]

I really enjoyed the banter back and forth on the subject of Natures way of creating beauty as opposed to the beauty created by our artisians.
It brought to mind a very special live oak that grows around the corner from my buddys house. As any of us penmakers do, I alway find myself looking at every piece of wood or tree as I drive along. One day I noticed this tree in a way no one else noticed her. TLOML said I had a demented mind when I asked if trees had gender. If they do, theres no doubt what gender this oak is. Speak about a beautiful piece of wood. Just wondering if anyone else sees what I see?
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I too like the look of a great piece of wood. The prettiest burl or grain gone stray. Even the different colors of the different species. To me what seperates what we make and what you find at the local stationary store is the media we use. I personally put wood over the acrylic for my own collection because 50 years from now my Grandkids will know that the wooden pen was handmade but that plastic one looks neat and walmart probably had a sell on them because there are 5 of them just alike in the drawer. Also with the different kinds of wood there is, you have to know how to treat it to bring out the warmth and beauty that it has. Not each piece brings that warm glow with a CA finish. A true craftsman can make it look and feel warm.

I believe that is what Mr. Longfellow is trying to say. At least that is how I feel. Yes the man made acrylic is nice and I will make it and sell it, but for my personal taste and putting in my collection it's wood or antler or some of the manmade stuff that looks manmade like snake skin or computer board. Not that the acrylic isn't pretty but not for my collection.
 
I make pens of wood and other things. I agree with Longfellow. But my spirit loves wood. I love touching and turning it and seeing what is hidden inside. It reminds me of a secret package. I love the feel of it as I turn, feeling it with my finger tips to see where it still needs some sanding. I love how it looks and glows when it is burnished and waxed. This thread is interesting we all like different things and turn pens out of anything that we can think of that will work. When it comes to bowls we all turn them out of wood. Why is that? Just another thought
 
nava1uni said:
I make pens of wood and other things. I agree with Longfellow. But my spirit loves wood. I love touching and turning it and seeing what is hidden inside. It reminds me of a secret package. I love the feel of it as I turn, feeling it with my finger tips to see where it still needs some sanding. I love how it looks and glows when it is burnished and waxed. This thread is interesting we all like different things and turn pens out of anything that we can think of that will work. When it comes to bowls we all turn them out of wood. Why is that? Just another thought
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Cost that is why we turn them out of wood. Too expensive to turn them out of resin. You cut a tree down and wood is free. :)
 
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