I have been looking around at pen rests and stands, and it seems to me that pen stands would be bad for your pens.

They seem to primarily hold the pens upright, at an angle. Frequently with the weight of the pen held up completely by one end or the other. Doesn't that greatly increase the likelihood of the body warping, or the blind cap being damaged?

I actually really like the look of the glass pen frog an Pendemonium, but I'm afraid to put my pens in it.

What do you think?

I think using a glass flower frog is a stroke of genius.

Being a collector of Depression Glass you'd think I'd
have thought of that.

I didn't.

Husband made me this, this morning.

Well ... I had made one initially but the pens weren't
placed symmetrically (cause I can't be exact to save
my life) and he got out the compass, the protractor, his
Dremmel and saved the day.

Be very careful when using foam. It often usually contains "plasticizers" who's function is to keep the foam soft. Unfortunately, it may also melt the plastic barrels of your pens. I wouldn't take the chance. The glass idea would work well though, if the holes are big enough.

Dan

Really?

I never would have thought of that
since Levengers sells pen stands that
use foam.


Thanks.

Back to the drawing board, I guess.

Some foams might be safe, It would depend on how the chemistry of both foam and plastic pen bodies get along. It's just something to be careful about. I had a foam lined guitar case that when the flocking on the foam wore off, started to eat the lacquer finish of my guitar! I hadn't played it in a while, and am lucky I caught it when I did. I also had a piece of plastic in a the cap of a pen melt the plastic thingy on the top of a Parker ball point refill. You never know with plastics.

Dan

I had (notice past tense?) a couple of pen frogs I purchased at the Dallas Pen Show last fall. The problem I had with them was that the holes were of various sizes, and only about two or three pens would stay put in the holes, and those were likely to fall out if the frog was jostled while removing another pen. I have considered making a custom stand, of wood, and drilling holes.

Probably best way to go would be to get a test tube stand. You could get one here, (not affiliated) but there is a $25 minimum order. An enterprising individual would order enough to make the minimum, and sell off the ones he/she doesn't use. I just haven't gotten around to it.

The test tube racks come in your choice of plastic, wood, or metal, with various numbers and diameters of places to put the pens (or test tubes). With the prices they show, it would be less expensive to buy theirs than to buy the wood to make my own. The interesting thing about the wood racks is the drying pins, which would be a handy place to put the cap, if one does not post pens.

Donnie

Those are great.

Bill Jackman makes the best pen stands evah! http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=61178

I have been trying to do the same thing for my leather (Office Depot) pen/pencil cups, but without success. Foam pillow padding just doesn't "drill well and seems to only come in white - whte/yellow. Thought about florists foam, but that seems to shed with the slightest amount of friction. I have several Levenger pieces with their foam that are great, but are fully occupied!!

What kind of foam did he use?? Where can you get the dark gray?? Finally. how did he drill it without shredding the foam??

Guess I can always head to my shop and put together some of the "test tube" like stands. Also thought about coating the wood with "liquid plastic" the kind they use for tool handles available at Lowes, HD, and Menards. Have some concern how this would chemically react with various pen barrels.

enough rambling............. TIA
...Scott

It's the kind of foam they use for packing delicate instruments in and he
says he used a carbide router bit in his Dremmel - he says use the
highest speed you can.

I do worry about some sort of chemical reaction with the plastic on my pens though.

They have one on sale at the moment at Levengers - I'll probably break down
and buy that (even though it isn't big enough - only space for six and I need nine)
or have him make me a wood one.

I've seen some great ideas at jewelry counters and even at my drug store for storing pens and pencils.

Get a nice glass container and fill it with either dried mung beans (those beans have a nice olive green color) or raw rice. Stick your pens in that.

My drugstore uses a container of dried black beans to park their pens at the counter.

Wanda

That would work pretty well, but considering the wear over time of the beans or rice on the pen's finish, it's kind of a frying pan/fire thing.

Which were probably researched to be safe for the plastics Levenger uses, but not necessarily the ones that happen to be in non-Levenger pens.

Test tube stands sound like a good idea. Because that site requires a $25 minimum order, I thought I'd throw out this site: http://www.sciencecompany.com/ I've used it before for lab equipment and chemicals, and I've never noticed a minimum order requirement. They have some basic test tube holders for $5.25. Unfortunately, the selection is limited and not very aesthetically pleasing. If anyone is seriously interested in a test tube rack, I'd probably try checking Amazon.

I wasn't expressing doubt, merely the fact
that I never would have thought of that particular problem.

Sorry for any misunderstanding I may have caused.

I noticed some decent ones on Tryphon, also.

I have test-tube racks for test tubes.

They are made for a specific size of tube, and will be unforgiving with pens that are the wrong size.

I've gone the glass frog route. Here are photos of the glass floral frog that I just purchased yesterday at the local antique mall. I ran across about five at the mall. Three of them either had too small of holes for my Visconti Van Gogh Maxis, or the depth was too shallow to adequately support the pens. Two frogs were just right--this one and another one. The other one, however, had some sticky residue in the holes and felt somewhat rough in some of the holes. Be sure to check those things out if you're thinking about a floral frog. It was $15.00--a little pricey, I thought. The one I purchased didn't have any of these drawbacks. Moreover, it was broken off on one side (see second picture below), so it was only $3.00! The broken part isn't sharp although it may appear so in the photo. I think the depth is just right. I have room for eight more pens. I recommend these as pen stands. It's also fun looking for them. (Photos don't show my pens at their true colors).


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How long have you been using it? Have you seen any tendency for your pens to warp?

Ebay has tons of these, you search under flower frogs or pen frogs. You can ask the seller if their description is accurate when they say not chips, I would as them if they would check the holes for you, tell them what you want to use the frog for.

It's day three using the floral frog, so I certainly can't give a definitive answer regarding "warping" of the pens. But I'm pretty confident that won't happen. The frog I'm using is a good depth for supporting the pens--the holes are about 1 1/2 inches deep. The pens lean maybe about 87 degrees, which means they do lean but not that much. Additionally, my collection is currently so small that none of the pens stay in the frog too long. If (when) the collection grows and some of the pens are not used regularly, I plan on putting them in a pen box (that I've yet to get). The frog is handy to temporarily store the pens on my desk at my reach whenever I want them. Lastly, I believe that if the fountain pens are strong enough not to warp based upon my repeated use of them with a constant writing angle, then they shouldn't warp under their own strain in a frog. I highly recommend trying it. If you can find a cheap but suitable frog, there's not much to lose. If it turns out negatively, you can always use it to arrange flowers are use it as a door stop.

Well, as my pen collection is rapidly outpacing my pen box, some sort of stand for my currently-inked pens will be necessary soon.

My Dad is making one for me out of a block of walnut wood. He'll drill holes in it for my pens to rest in. It'll have to be sanded really smooth, of course.

I have several glass frogs, of various depths, and have been using them for pens for at least a couple of years. Some hold pens I don't ever use (broken, or pens I just never got around to inking - which should give you some idea of how many I own!). Others hold my users of the moment. I have yet to notice any warping in any of my pens.

I also use pipe stands (got a couple of great Lucite ones that really sow off colorful pens), and three Frankoma toothbrush holders (which hold four pens at an fully supported angle). No warping with those, either.

Sharon in Indiana

I liked the glass pen frog idea, and found a cheap one on eBay, but alas, the holes aren't deep enough to support the pens. Oh well. I probably knew better than to take this risk on Ebay, but at least I'm only out 4 bucks!

Yes, that is the risk of buying the frogs on eBay-
there is such variation in diameter and depth
of them it's hard to know what will fit
and what won't without holding one
in your hands. (even then you should
take some pens with you, I've found,
just in case because some hole sizes
will vary in the same frog)

You can always use it for cut flowers, if
you are a cut flower kind of person.

I was constantly searching for new and innovative ways to display my pens and I finally hit upon the idea of showing them off in wine flutes that I keep on the shelf with my pen display cases. I do not store my BCHR pens in this fashion because I don't want to expose them to too much light. The flutes are pretty and it's fun to see the pens and have them handily within reach!

I do not have any pets, cats or otherwise. I imagine that a cat would quickly destroy this type of display!

Although I neglected to mention it, the test tube racks can be ordered in different sizes, specifying which size hole you desire for the [test tube] pen. They come up to 19-20 mm, which is fairly large. Hopefully nobody would attempt to force a larger pen into a smaller diameter hole.

Donnie

I love to fool around with ways of having a variety of my pens at hand when I'm journalling or writing letters. I've started watching out for small ceramic or other pieces which will allow me to insert a piece (or pieces) of wood with holes drilled to accommodate the pens. I'm attaching a sample that I leave on my kitchen table for quick access.

I love seeing what others are doing along these lines. This network has been an inspiration and a joy - from learning about pens, paper, ink and even the notes on the Artist's Way. I just never know what I will find here, but it's always fascinating. Thanks to all who share so generously!

Betsy

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Those pen stands are beautiful! Can you give me an idea of prices? And how does one contact Bill? Thanks!
Tom

You could take a look at what is offered at www.dickblick.com