Translucent Or Striped Blanks

[holgalee]

I really like the look of the Parker Vacumatic and Pelkian White Tortoise, and am wondering if there are any blanks that can create the striped kind of look, while remaining see-through in the non-stripped areas? I'm also keen on see-through pens, but not competely clear demonstrators, such as Scriptorium's recent tortoise lucite.

 

So pen turner gurus, can you point me to any websites or vendors that have such blanks? I'm thinking of getting a pen custom made but would like to choose the material myself if possible. I do not like blanks--whether acrylic or ebonite--that have obvious swirls or piebald patterns, and I can't afford expensive blanks.

 

Thanks in advance. I hope this is the right place to post this question.

[duncsuss]

The blank vendors I know of change their stock on a fairly regular basis -- it pays to check them out once a month if you are looking for something special. Vendors I've used include:

 

www.exoticblanks.com

www.pennstateind.com

www.bereahardwoods.com

www.woodturningz.com

www.logstolumberexotics.com

www.classicnib.com

 

Others that have interesting materials (though I haven't used them):

 

www.americanartplastics.com

www.rhinoplasticblanks.com

www.ptownsubbie.com

 

Hope you are able to find something you like!

[Joseph B]

Maybe you could use a binde over transparent barrel, like Pelikan pens have used.

[Scriptorium Pens]

I agree with duncsuss. Just haunt the vendor sites looking for something you like. I don't recall seeing any striped transparent blanks, but it would certainly be cool!

[duncsuss]

I just remembered one that might fit your description -- casein, or a "casein substitute" (think it's actually acrylic). Not completely clear, but partially translucent stripes down a milky-white material.

 

Here's a link to real casein, and an alternate casein blank (bottle stopper size).

Edited April 7, 2014 by duncsuss

[holgalee]

Thanks, Duncsuss, for the links. I have a hard time visualising what a pen will look like from the blanks. Will they look almost the same? The casein one, for example, doesn't look like it would be translucent, though it's gorgeous. Will it be possible to catch a glimpse of the ink level?

[duncsuss]

Thanks, Duncsuss, for the links. I have a hard time visualising what a pen will look like from the blanks. Will they look almost the same? The casein one, for example, doesn't look like it would be translucent, though it's gorgeous. Will it be possible to catch a glimpse of the ink level?

 

I haven't used either (real) casein or the alternates made to resemble casein. A search for "casein fountain pen" throws up hundreds of images (many with links back to this site!) that you could browse to form an opinion.

 

Not translucent, is my guess, and it would be a bad idea to use a (real) casein body as an eye-dropper pen, IMO. You probably wouldn't be able to see the ink level. The other plastics would probably be less sensitive to contact with ink, but I'm not sure whether you'd be able to judge ink level (perhaps by holding it against a light source, but that's true of many acrylics (even the cobalt blue that I'm working with at the moment.)

[duncsuss]

Also ... I didn't mention this material originally, because you specifically stated you don't like swirls ... this is an acrylic acetate pen that I made when I was learning how to make a bulb filler. The white part is opaque, and it has clear (or close to it) threads that do show the ink level. It's one of my daily-use pens.

 

 

[holgalee]

That's a beautiful pen! I don't mind swirls if they are really subtle, like in this case.

[duncsuss]

That's a beautiful pen! I don't mind swirls if they are really subtle, like in this case.

 

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