What Non-Pen Related Things Have You Used For Your Pens?

[Technomancer]

I just started my fountain pen collection recently and don't have the budget to get the paraphernalia for my collection I wish I could, so I've had to be inventive. For example at a local second hand store I picked up a shaving instrument stand that can hold four pens in style (cost me $1). Next to that in this picture is a PET bottle pre-form (what they make plastic bottles from) I bought years ago (for battery storage while camping), but I find it could make a single pen display (that's a Jinhao x750 in it) or a pen shipping container with some padding.

 

http://s32.postimg.org/vrt8uds45/P_20160515_182353.jpg

 

Soon I will be buying a cigar case that can nicely hold 5 pens. My question to you is, have you repurposed anything for your collection?

[Sailor Kenshin]

Naaah, unless you count the endless collection of jars and drinking glasses that hold my pens.

 

That shaving instrument stand is VERY stylish!

[usk15]

Biscuits box for ink storage:

 

 

Tobacco wooden case for pens:

 

 

Yeast tin for pens stand:

 

 

Lego pen stand:

 

[inkstainedruth]

I bought a couple of copper pipe connectors which have a hex-nut on one end and about an inch and a half of straight copper pipe on the other. I use them to stabilize ink sample vials for filling from them. Cost me about $6 US each at the hardware store.

I bought a heavy, straight sided glass votive candle holder to use when I'm flushing pens or nib units, and a small glass jar which looks like a mason jar with a handle (it was I think a salt shaker), which I stuff paper towel into -- I use that to let pens air dry and drain into the paper toweling. About a buck apiece.

I bought a set of three rectangular wicker baskets with handle openings and use the largest one to carry pen-related supplies to club meetings (note pads, ink bottles, etc) (the other two I use for stationery supplies and bills that need to be paid and mailed). I think the set was around $15 at Kmart.

I've bought a number of raffia (?) covered fold out cloth boxes from IKEA to store inks in. And a couple of nice looking 3 shelf bookcases from Pier1 to store the boxes on. Don't remember offhand what they cost. Plus a larger one to store back volumes of my morning pages journal in.

Pens in rotation but not being used at the moment live in an empty canister from a hot chocolate set (the canister, a mug, and packet of cocoa mix). I didn't buy the set (I got it in a gift swap, but I had to buy something of a similar value to swap -- so, $10-$20 maybe.

Oh, and I've bought bulb syringes (I cut the nozzle partway off one to try and get it to fit over the ends of the capillary fillers on parker 61s; the other one Is a bit smaller and I left all of the nozzle part intact); I think they run about $3-4. And hypodermic needles -- also for flushing out pens.

Also bought a small soft bottle brush, and some cleaning tools for baby bottles.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

edited for typos

Edited May 16, 2016 by inkstainedruth

[zaddick]

Leather cigar case and eye glass cases for secure traveling pen holders, a bean filled pillow as a pen rest, a leather write rest as a pen rest, binder clips as pen rest/roll stopper, and the like. Wooden cigar boxes for pen storage and a wooden tool chest for pen storage. You see, there comes a point where you have to start stuffing these pens all sorts of places.

[OCArt]

12 gauge shotgun shell case that holds 20 sample vials. I learned this trick from someone here on FPN; I wish I knew who it was to credit. I also have a short candle stick holder that holds one sample vial firmly while filling a pen. And finally a small stainless steel tray from Daiso that I use when filling my pens to catch any spills from user error.

http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/515/515918.jpg

[Sailor Kenshin]

I have the shell boxes, too. This was after I got a lipstick tray for vials, but you can't stack those. The shell boxes stack neatly.

[Octo]

Great uncle's shaving mug as a pen cup.

[mhguda]

Two (!) CD/floppy drawers store part of my ink collection. Out of sight but NOT out of mind, and within easy reach, but can't be knocked over and spilled. And I made a pen stand from my computer's microphone by cutting off an ink sample pipette to hold the section; that fits into the small holder where the mike is supposed to stand. Made another from one of those banker's ballpoint stands.

Cutoff PVC pipe about half a pen length, tied together, house some of my inked pens when not in direct use.