Jump to content

Do You Guys Like Exotic Materials? I'm Making Some Neat Stuff ... But There Is Still A Lot To Be Done. Check Out My Progress So Far.

TactileTurn

By TactileTurn
in Pen Turning and Making

 Share

Recommended Posts

TactileTurn Dipped Only

TactileTurn

Posted
Posted

Here is a gallery of the grips I currently have made:

 

http://imgur.com/a/ceCO6

 

I should probably go introduce myself in the introductions area, but I am Will Hodges. I'm the designer and machinist at Tactile Turn. Some of you probably know my click pens. I've been working on and off on a fountain pen for almost two years. The last few months I've been keeping my business going while doing a ton of research on materials and processes to make everything I do the best way possible. It's taken me so long (and plenty of bugging Ed Jelley) because I know fountain pen users won't like just anything. I've looked at every possible way to do these and how other people make theirs. By the time these are done I think most of you will like something I am making.

 

I absolutely love the designer Deiter Rams. His ethos "less, but better" is paramount in my designs. If it doesn't add functionality it isn't necessary. I don't add things to design because I can, but because they will aid in functionality. That said, I don't have any design degrees or engineering letters after my name - I just study what works and try to improve where I can. Amazing materials and simple design made to absolute precision speak the volumes I hope you ladies and gentlemen appreciate.

 

I'm still working on bodies today and I hope to have caps sorted out next week. These parts are all CNC machined to absolute perfection and precision. They will use Bock #6 nibs and come with international converters. There are a few details I can't quite reveal yet, including price as I haven't quite worked those out yet. These will be on Kickstarter when I am done, but I hope you guys are patient as I am taking my time on these. This is not a sales post, but I hope to get some of you interested in what I am making.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 45
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • TactileTurn

    16

  • J85909266

    4

  • sirgilbert357

    3

  • FinalEleven

    2

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

shawndp Vintage

shawndp

Posted
Posted

That's some excellent work! I really like the Damascus Steel - haven't seen anything quite like it and your choice of a matte grey nib is nice touch. All the very best on Kickstarter!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
perfaddict Vintage

perfaddict

Posted
Posted

One of my favourite and most comfortable grip section shapes. I like the polycarbonate and damascus steel a lot. Are those titanium Bock nibs?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TactileTurn Dipped Only

TactileTurn

Posted
  • Author
Posted

One of my favourite and most comfortable grip section shapes. I like the polycarbonate and damascus steel a lot. Are those titanium Bock nibs?

They are, though I also plan on offering steel and gold in EF, F, M, and B.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
AAAndrew Antique

AAAndrew

Posted
Posted

I like the look of many of your sections, but I'm one of those who can't abide a metal section. Just a thing. I'm not alone either. So, keep that in mind and maybe find some other interesting materials like the polycarbonate. Some of the cork composites out there might be interesting, especially if it could be fitted with a plastic liner to give it strength.

 

Good luck!

 

“When the historians of education do equal and exact justice to all who have contributed toward educational progress, they will devote several pages to those revolutionists who invented steel pens and blackboards.” V.T. Thayer, 1928

Check out my Steel Pen Blog. 

"No one is exempt from talking nonsense; the mistake is to do it solemnly."

-Montaigne

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mmg122 Collectors Item

mmg122

Posted
Posted

Best of luck to you with your Kickstarter project, Will. Hope you'll let us know when you put it up. Most of us are always willing to support a good pen project...and do take AAAndrew's advice. Metal sections aren't too popular with most pen people from what I've read on the forums.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TactileTurn Dipped Only

TactileTurn

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Best of luck to you with your Kickstarter project, Will. Hope you'll let us know when you put it up. Most of us are always willing to support a good pen project...and do take AAAndrew's advice. Metal sections aren't too popular with most pen people from what I've read on the forums.

That is mostly due to corrosion problems and metals being slippery, correct? Most of the metals above are either easily polished (copper and brass and aluminum) or so corrosion resistant that after months of having Baystate Blue on them the ink wiped right off. As far as being slippery, I'll have plenty of reviewers weigh in on the texture on the grip that provides just the right feedback while also looking excellent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Trebster Extremely Rare

Trebster

Posted
Posted

Truly a fine execution there! Truly commendable.

 

My own personal gut reaction is my unease with the material(s). It's the metal* ... The pens in my stable with metal sections don't get used. Therefore now I don't buy pens with metal sections.

 

 

* The feel of Makrolon gives me the creeps, therefore no Lamy 2k.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MrThoth Extremely Rare

MrThoth

Posted
Posted

Please keep us posted on the Kickstarter -- I definitely like the look of several of those, particularly Copper and Damascus Steel. :)

MrThoth

Scribe, Master of Mystic Lore, Young Curmudgeon

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TactileTurn Dipped Only

TactileTurn

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I'll absolutely keep people her updated. The grips are kind of boring. The rest of the pens are really where these will be special. I'll post more as I make progress. So far I'm really excited as a few of these materials are REALLY hard to work with but I was able to get some great looking parts so hopefully the rest of the machining goes as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
J85909266 Extremely Rare

J85909266

Posted
Posted

I'm a big fan of your work with ball pens. I don't use ball pens anymore, or I would have already purchased one of your Movers.

 

The fact that you seem to be fully invested in releasing a fountain pen is very exciting, to me. I'm so glad you are going to offer Ti Bock nibs. I'm oh so tired of Jowo nibs.

 

I will be watching this thread with vested interest. Will there be a Kickstarter campaign?

Fountain pens forever and forever a hundred years fountain pens, all day long forever, forever a hundred times, over and over Fountain Pen Network Adventures dot com!

 

- Joe

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TactileTurn Dipped Only

TactileTurn

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I'm a big fan of your work with ball pens. I don't use ball pens anymore, or I would have already purchased one of your Movers.

 

The fact that you seem to be fully invested in releasing a fountain pen is very exciting, to me. I'm so glad you are going to offer Ti Bock nibs. I'm oh so tired of Jowo nibs.

 

I will be watching this thread with vested interest. Will there be a Kickstarter campaign?

There will definitely be a Kickstarter. It helps me to offer lower prices. People that are willing to essentially pre-buy a pen or two grouping together to help me buy materials and tooling in larger quantities to get discounts deserve a discounted price! It also helps gauge interest so I can plan accordingly how many I should make to meet demand. These will be reviewed by a few trusted reviewers so people can buy in confidence. I really like being completely transparent about what I make and the ups and downs of any production and Kickstarter makes a great platform to share those setbacks and successes.

 

The sad part is that there have been plenty of overfunded yet underperforming Kickstarter projects where the project creator has someone else make their product and the community of supporters doesn't get to see progress, or projects are seriously delayed and the creator doesn't share what is going on.

 

I got some more progress done Friday and I hope to show you guys something resembling a pen here real soon!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TactileTurn Dipped Only

TactileTurn

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Made some progress getting a few bodies made. Just aluminum and titanium for now:

http://i.imgur.com/MCBeL2H.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/kVRvmGp.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
casualmerlinconstant Extremely Rare

casualmerlinconstant

Posted
Posted

Very pretty body. The nib size is a bit out of proportion with the body imo. Looks a bit too big and kind of ruins the lines of the pen for me. I reckon a no.5 nib would be a lot better in terms of size - just my feelings on the matter, I'm by no means any kind of expert or authority in these things

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TactileTurn Dipped Only

TactileTurn

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Very pretty body. The nib size is a bit out of proportion with the body imo. Looks a bit too big and kind of ruins the lines of the pen for me. I reckon a no.5 nib would be a lot better in terms of size - just my feelings on the matter, I'm by no means any kind of expert or authority in these things

I think it will make a bit more sense with the cap when they are finished.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
J85909266 Extremely Rare

J85909266

Posted
Posted

Very pretty body. The nib size is a bit out of proportion with the body imo. Looks a bit too big and kind of ruins the lines of the pen for me. I reckon a no.5 nib would be a lot better in terms of size - just my feelings on the matter, I'm by no means any kind of expert or authority in these things

NO! I could not disagree more!

 

The flow of the lines into the big, number 6 nib is perfect! I love it!

 

I am very into this design, so far. Link to the Kickstarter page?

Fountain pens forever and forever a hundred years fountain pens, all day long forever, forever a hundred times, over and over Fountain Pen Network Adventures dot com!

 

- Joe

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TactileTurn Dipped Only

TactileTurn

Posted
  • Author
Posted

NO! I could not disagree more!

 

The flow of the lines into the big, number 6 nib is perfect! I love it!

 

I am very into this design, so far. Link to the Kickstarter page?

I am probably about a month away from having all versions of these pens finished, but I'll definitely post a link when the Kickstarter is up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33559
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26744
    5. jar
      jar
      26101

  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      Links to web pages or articles about Chinese typesetting, signwriting, etc.

      By Shanghai Knife Dude · Posted

      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By A Smug Dill · Posted

      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By adamselene · Posted

      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By A Smug Dill · Posted

      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By adamselene · Posted

      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o

  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More

  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...