What would you use?

[ngeb528]

Here's a question that I haven't seen posted.

What type of wood (or acrylic) would you prefer to use on a high end kit?

Domestic or exotic wood?

Domestic or exotic burl?

Fancy Acrylic/Bakelite or similar?

I was thinking a higher end kit, like a Majestic, would rate some material that is less prevalent. A special burl or something rare.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Dalecamino]

Nancy , I had the same thoughts awhile back , only in reverse . I bought a blank of 1930-40s black Bakelite from Ed & Dawn (Exoticblanks.com) and decided to use it with a limited edition Emperor FP from CSUSA . I think you're on the right track . FWIW

 

[ed4copies]

The Emperor and Majestic can't go wrong with Black or White. (Ivory or bone alternatives)

Live a little, madreperlato or a Trustone (however, trustone gets pretty heavy, so you need the right buyer).

 

[NewLondon88]

I agree on playing it down a bit.. Some of the 'higher end' kits are so busy that
the wood might compete with them. On a plain kit, burls look good. On a more
ornate kit, classic black can't lose.. same for cocobolo if it's dark, holly, ebony,
very dark burls (rosewood?) ivory, pink ivory .. things that don't try to draw the
eye in too many places at once.

Of course, some of the kits do that all by themselves..

Hey! I got through that whole post without saying 'blingy' or 'pimped out' even once.
oops . .I take that back.

EDIT: In view of George's post (next one) I should mention that I do NOT sell pens.
so I have no idea what sells or does not.

 

[Texatdurango]

Nancy,

I found that it DOESN'T MATTER!

Other than a Sierra here and there with some coffee bean blanks, about the only kits I make anymore are emperors, imperials and now the lotus with the occasional Jr Statesman. On my website I usually have a mixture of burls, truestone and acrylics and I NEVER know which will sell next.

Some consider all of these to be "over the edge with bling" but they sell and sell very well!

I sell more emperors than anything and if I had to sit down and count how many were burls, acrylics or truestone it would be a waste of time since I have sold quite a few of each, to the point I don't shy away from any material other than "plain jane" straignt or mild grained wood.

Don't get caught up in the "special material" high dollar blanks because they may or may not sell any better than a nice shiny $2 acrylic blank!

 

[jedgerton]

I have to agree with the thread here. Classic materials like black, white or bone set off the kit. Busier materials look better on less ornate kits.

John

 

[bitshird]

Most of my better pens are done in Acrylics either black or white. my personal Emperor is in IBO, the Lotus I just pulled from stock since they are discontinued is Black Acrylic.

 

[jkeithrussell]

It depends!

I don't sell many pens, but I only use higher end kits on blanks that are special in some way. I take Ed's advice of planning to make a Jr. Gent and, if the blank ends up being really special, put it on a Jr. Statesman instead. The Jr. Statesman is the fanciest kit I've used.

 

[ngeb528]

I take Ed's advice of planning to make a Jr. Gent and, if the blank ends up being really special, put it on a Jr. Statesman instead. The Jr. Statesman is the fanciest kit I've used.

Good advice. I hadn't thought about that.

Thanks all for your input. Getting other perspectives is very helpful.

I have a Majestic Jr sitting on my desk that I haven't turned a blank for. I'm waiting for the one that says "ME, ME, USE ME!"

 

[glwalker]

I've done one in Purple Heart. Very "regal" looking. I like the color and its not at all busy/varied like a burl would be. Suprising to me, it also turns well. But I've also done one in Amboyna Burl. Its beautiful. The size of the pen really shows off the nice burled wood.

 

[rlofton]

If the pen were for my own use, a very nice burl (like amboyna with a lot of figure and eyes) would be my choice. Carrying a teak burl fountain pen now and it gets lots of comments.

 

[Jgrden]

George in Azle, Texas. I went to your website to see if there were too much bling on your pens. They look very good and show allot of workmanship, craftsmanship in their development. Good work.

 

[Texatdurango]

George in Azle, Texas. I went to your website to see if there were too much bling on your pens. They look very good and show allot of workmanship, craftsmanship in their development. Good work.

Well thank you, I try!

 

[Dario]

I prefer wood but that is all (personal preference). Due to kit plating available, I believe darker wood sets the pen better (again personal preference).

I agree that higher end, more ornate kits show better with less busy blank. That said, I will still use a blank with character that only shows on closer inspection and not a plain blank.

 

[Texatdurango]

If your customer base will be folks that are used to buying and collecting vintage pens for hundreds of dollars, they are used to seeing lots of metal (bling) with acrylics and rubber but not used to seeing wood in their collection so might not take to it too well.

Something to consider since the person with $150+ to spend on a pen more than likely collects them rather than just a one time deal. Not everyone thinks wood looks good on pens and believe it or not, some even think beautiful wood burls are actually unatractive!