Shopsmith Forums

Hi,

I'm in the process of putting together another batch of pens. Hope to begin turning tomorrow or Friday. This batch of 8 will take care of two friends I want to give pens to and the remaining 6 are for the younger grandchildren.

The issue at hand is that this group of grandchildren is age five and below. I'd like them to be old enough to keep them in to adulthood which means these might have to be stored for some years.

My thought was that the only thing that might be effected would be the pen refill. The rest of the pen should hold up fine just being stored in a drawer in a gift bag.

I can't be the only one planning for the future so what say you planners? How do you plan to handle this situation?

Ed

How about Felt Pen Drawstring Pouch? They come in different colors. I have a couple stored in these. I would think the refill should still be good.

I'd remove the refills, store them in a plastic bag then place them along with the pens inside a cloth bag, cardboard or wood box.

The ink might act funny over a long period of time. Perhaps leaking or the tubing getting stuck inside the pen.

Good idea to remove the filler from the pen. I might also suggest a note be included as the the type of refill, i.e. Parker, Cross. Also instructions on how the refill is loaded into the pen. Unscrew the tip? Pull apart the upper and lower barrels? Also a note of the wood used if applicable and if it had any significance (wood from shop class project you made in school for example).

Regards,
Dwight

Thanks for the reply's!

Well as a the best plans go my eight pens turned out to be six pens.

The batch of kauri wood blanks I got had a couple that were questionable, a natural flaw in the wood that I was wondering about. I saved those two until today, one turned fine, one broke apart..... That happens.

Something I had not had happen to me before got the other one. The wood turned and finished fine. When I assembled it I thought things were OK but when I put the refill in to test the amount of exposure it was fine but it would not retract. I tried a few things but it was not going to work, so I figured I might as well try to save things my removing the insert. That turned out to be a bigger task then I planned. I got it part way then resorted to tapping on it with a washer by the end and an open wrench on the shaft, all held in a vice. A couple taps in and the vice let go........ It flew off somewhere but I could fine it. Might be wrecked or still stuck who knows???

I already have presentation bags, while from another supply I have a feeling they are all the same. I will store the pen in that bag, it should be good for years. The refill I will put in a plastic snack bag and seal. If it were to leak the ink should be contained by the bag. It should also keep the refill "fresh" at least for a while. On the out side of the plastic bag I'll write down the make and model of the refill.

I was thinking of finding a small box to put it all in and a note about the pen and when it was made etc. I'm also thinking I give it to the parents to store with the child's name on the box.

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If anyone thinks of some other great ideas I'm still open to change for a while yet.

Ed

Those are some nice looking pens.

Very sleek design.

idcook wrote:Very sleek design.

That is called 'slim line'.

Hi,

YFI about these pens.....

In this particular series pen slimline are 3/8" these shown are 7/16" one step up so to speak. They have 1/2" and then "cigar" at 9/16" and "gentleman's" at 5/8". Other series may or may not have the same sizes and labels.

The way I took the photo makes them appear thinner then they are. By way of reference a Bic pen I have here by my desk is .320", (across the octagon) of a wood pencil .285", one of the pictured pens .438".

Ed