Wooden Slotted Tray for FPs

[Mr Ink]

A friendly carpenter has kindly accepted to construct a slotted pen tray that would fit snugly in the drawer of my glass-topped coffee table. That will allow me to properly and safely display my steadily-increasing collection of vintage and modern-day fountain pens.

 

My questions are:

 

1. Should the slots for the pens be lined with some fabric, or can the pens be safely allowed prolonged contact with varnished wood?

 

2. Are some woods safer than others (I was thinking mahogany)?

 

3. If lining with fabric is mandatory, what would you suggest (e.g. velvet, felt, etc)?

 

 

[Pfhorrest]

I personally think it depends on what kind of enviroment or climate you live in. If your house has air conditioning, I don't think it'll be much of a problem, as long as it doesn't get too hot in there.

 

I'm not an expert, but that's my opinion.

[parilla]

Pens look magnificent on red felt and you dont have to worry about scratching them when you pick them up and put them down.

[dee]

I'm not an expert either but I would say a fabric lining would be safer. The varnish might have a chemical reaction with the pens with prolonged contact, and it's not something you want to find out too late. It will also prevent scratching.

 

dee

[Mrsal]

id get it lined in purple or green felt, or a mix of the 2!

[Tommy]

Fabric is impossible to apply and get a nicely finished result. I tried it.

 

Flocking is the best way to line the slots. Paint the slots with acrylic paint the same color as the flocking. Let it dry. Paint it again. Don't worry about staying precisely in the slots. Before it drys, spray on the flocking fibers. I used a squirt bottle that held dish detergent. Let it dry overnight. Run the tray through a planer to clean up any paint and flocking that got between the slots. Then vacuum up the loose fibers and sawdust.

 

Here's a sourse for flocking:

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=288

 

Here's a pic of a drawer in a pen case that I made.

 

 

 

[RayMan]

Fabric is impossible to apply and get a nicely finished result. I tried it.

 

Flocking is the best way to line the slots. Paint the slots with acrylic paint the same color as the flocking. Let it dry. Paint it again. Don't worry about staying precisely in the slots. Before it drys, spray on the flocking fibers. I used a squirt bottle that held dish detergent. Let it dry overnight. Run the tray through a planer to clean up any paint and flocking that got between the slots. Then vacuum up the loose fibers and sawdust.

 

Here's a sourse for flocking:

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=288

 

Here's a pic of a drawer in a pen case that I made.

 

 

 

Looks great! Thanks for the tip about flocking!

 

[Seville]

Thank you Tommy for that information.

 

I picked up a wooden paint brush case today to carry my desk pens in and I was wondering how to coat the inside of the cut out wooden holes. I will try the flocking and let you all know how it works.

 

Philip

[Pippin60]

I use these but I got them on ebay. I use it in a oak Gerstner tool case.

[Garageboy]

Line them! It stops the pens from moving around and scratching

[jmkeuning]

I think that raw wood will be fine. Mahogany, walnut, any hard wood, preferably kiln dried.

 

If you need to line, use silver cloth, not just plain fabric or velvet. All fabrics are not created equal.

[Mr Ink]

Thanks to all you helpful folks who provided suggestions.