Wood Pen Case

[asiras]

I am in the final design, ready to enter the workshop stage to make a wood pen transport case. The bottom piece will be 7/8" teak. the top will be 3/4" maple. There will be an insert, of 3/4" cherry. This will be routed to hold 4 fountain pen & pencil sets. This insert will be 'inlaid' into the bottom piece. The top will be recessed as well. The overall size will be 6" x 8" x 1 5/8". Actually, this will be a companion case to one a little larger that will hold 4 vintage pocket watches that I use. I have never worn a wrist watch, but that is another story....... I am bringing this up now because I have been looking to add an ink supply to the case. If I could find an ink container that was 1" or less thick I could resize the case to hold it on its side, recessed into the insert. I have looked at a bunch of ink bottles on the internet, but of course people do not put the outside dimensions of their bottles in their descriptions. Any suggestions? When I get these cases finished, in the next week or so, I will post pictures if anyone is interested.

[lapis]

Well, Im definitely interested. I love wood!

 

Mike

[OakIris]

From your description of what you plan to make and the types of wood you will be using I think you are going to have a beautiful case. I do hope you show us lots of pictures as you make the box and of the finished product as well.

 

As for adding ink storage to it, one thing that comes to mind is the Visconti Traveling Ink Pot, at least as far as diameter is concerned. From what I have read, it is a bit more than 1/2 inch in diameter (15mm) and almost 9 inches long (228mm) - not sure the length will suit you and it is a bit pricey (~$70) but users seem to really like it.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21yB4RRWBEL.jpg

 

Visconti also had a metal version of their ink pot/inkwell but I think it has been discontinued; you may be able to find it on eBay or a similar site.

 

Visconti metal ink pots, pictures from Kaboodle:

 

http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/22/b/AAAAAvWLuMgAAAAAACK1Rg.jpg?v=1169166784000

 

Much cheaper, if you can find some place that doesn't sell them in bulk, would be a Nalgene or other polypropylene self-standing, leak proof centrifuge tube, such as this:

http://catalog2.corning.com/Lifesciences/images/costar_small/50mLcentrifuge_tube_self_stand_sm.jpg

 

I did a search and could only find them by the case. They are not very nice looking, but they would do, and maybe you could make a cloth sleeve or something so that they don't detract from the beauty of your wood case??

 

Holly

[my63]

Sounds like a really interesting project pictures would be great.

Michael

[Runnin_Ute]

Sounds like a great project.

 

I love the look of teak. I can only imagine the look of one that is 100% teak. (I grew up in a home with teak coffee and end tables which contributes to this)

[lapis]

Hey, did I ever tell ya that I just love the heck outta wood?

Sorry, I know this is not a wood pen case, but I just couldn't resist!

 

http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu264/peli46/IntuitionPlatinoPernambuk.jpg

 

Faber-Castell Intuition Platino Pernambuk

[asiras]

Still looking for a solution to the traveling ink issue but am about ready to start construction. I saw some small ink bottles on ebay - about 2" x 2" by 1/2" deep that I think might work for ink. I still need to put pen to paper to get final measurements, maybe later today. I will take pictures along the way and post them with the end product. I could do an all teak, or cherry, or maple case but I think the mixture will look nice. Teak bottom, cherry insert, maple top. I also have some dark blue pool table felt cloth that I will glue into the recesses routed for the pens.

[Runnin_Ute]

Still looking for a solution to the traveling ink issue but am about ready to start construction. I saw some small ink bottles on ebay - about 2" x 2" by 1/2" deep that I think might work for ink. I still need to put pen to paper to get final measurements, maybe later today. I will take pictures along the way and post them with the end product. I could do an all teak, or cherry, or maple case but I think the mixture will look nice. Teak bottom, cherry insert, maple top. I also have some dark blue pool table felt cloth that I will glue into the recesses routed for the pens.

 

Sounds gorgeous. I look forward to seeing the finished product and as you build it.

[asiras]

Started this string in March, and thought my wood case project would take a week or so - it is now May but I am finished and quite happy with how things have come out. Tomorrow I will try to figure out how to get the pictures of the project up so that you can see how it progressed from beginning to end.

[asiras]

Well the fountain pen/pencil and watch boxes are finished. The idea was to use "found" material that I had lying around and make a box for fountain pen and pencil sets that I use regularly when I travel and also make a case for the four pocket watches I use in rotation. I have several pictures that will show the stages up to completion. If anyone has questions I would be glad to answer them.

 

Picture 1 - Material and plans, teak for the bottom, cherry and oak for the inserts, maple for the top.

idea is to have routed inserts that will hold everything in place.

Picture 2 - routed wood

Picture 3 - finish being applied

Picture 4 - glue stage

Picture 5 - bottom of boxes

Picture 6 - top of boxes

Picture 7 - interior of the cases in use.

 

Finish is 5 coats of polyurethane, satin, and hard wood wax.

Insert material is wool felt pool table material - durable, nice finish, and easy to attach with wood glue

Brass hinges are inset, small sliding brass catch is used as well

Bottom has four small, clear plastic feet at corners to protect from scratches

 

I am off to Europe later this month so will be using these - at home they will live on my desk.

 

As usual my wife thinks I am crazy - but the making, and the using, will please me constantly, and isn't that what life is about??? asuras

 

 

[J.R.]

I'm rather "late to the party" on this topic, but just in case you should ever decide to build another case, and still wanted to add space for ink... Diamine sells their inks in a 30 ml plastic bottle, which measures exactly 1" square. 2 3/4" tall, should you lay them on their side. Wish I could have told you earlier... C'est la vie.

 

Your cases turned out very nice, indeed !

 

J.R.

[asiras]

I gave up on carrying the ink in the pen/pencil case. My research led me to believe if I did incorporate ink the result would be too little ink. Therefore, I am now in the design stage for an ink carrier. Perhaps a turned block and top that would encase a square bottle, a 3oz Noodler seems about the right size. A block of exotic wood - ebony, or a block with great grain, a walnut burl, so, my decision to not incorporate and ink holder brings me to another project. I am now on the hunt for an awesome piece of wood, 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" x 4 1/2". Any suggestions for source would be appreciated............... asiras

[Shangas]

What exquisite workmanship!!

[OakIris]

Your watch and pen carrying cases turned out beautifully!

 

Too bad you were unable to incorporate ink storage, but sounds as if you have a good plan for that as well. As for a source for the wood, where did you get the wood for the boxes? I would think the same place would have blocks of wood that would work for the ink.

 

I imagine there are other local places you can check as well, but here in Colorado we have a store called Woodcraft that has lots of very nice wood to choose from, both exotic and domestic. They do have stores in Massachusetts as well, though I don't know if they are close enough to where you live. The store I go to is about 30 miles from where I live, which I think is reasonable since no where else around offers what they do! Anyway, here is the website if you are interested in pursuing that: Woodcraft bowl blank page (You can order on line, but shipping might be costly.)

 

I look forward to seeing what you come up with for your ink storage. You are truly going to be traveling in style!

 

Holly

Edited May 7, 2013 by OakIris

[asiras]

The source of the wood was my wood scrap pile. Specifically, the teak came from wood left over from a boat my wife and I used to live on for 3 months every summer. It was a 39" cal, with lots of home made teak cabinetry in the cabin. The cherry was from some old furniture that I found and reused. The Maple was from a book case project I did for one of my daughters. I will try Woodcraft, and find out its location here in Mass. The size I am looking for is small enough to make retail, with or without shipping, affordable.

 

Thanks everyone for the nice words. It did come out nicely, and was fun to make - I had the time and inclination, and the tools, to be very happy with the result. I am now quite fired up to find the wood for the ink case!