Pen Turning

Acrylic Pens

As with most handcrafted items, the starting material choice will dictate how the final product will take shape.  When handcrafting pens, more specifically, there are several choices the pen turner can turn to.  Besides wood, the pen crafter has alternative choices.  There is stone material processed specifically for pen turning.  Lately, there is a combination of wood and plastic combined.

The old standby for pen crafters is still one of the most viable choices, outside of wood.  That choice is acrylic formulations.  Acrylics turn similar to wood that wood workers have been using and are available in an infinite combination of colors and designs.  There are single color choices that run from white to coal black.  There are vivid hues added to some colors to bring back designs that remind one of childhood.

Pen crafters select their acrylic formulations from many different sources, or prepare their own.  This takes considerable time, which takes time away from turning a pen, so many pen crafters will purchase blanks in the styles and colors they wish to use.  Many will concentrate on one style, say, for example, neutral tones and hues.  They may include subtle color striations throughout the blank or a complimenting dash of color throughout the pen blank.  Many others will use more vivid color schemes and patterns for their pens.

No matter what design is chosen, the pen crafter will turn several types of pens.  They will produce a twist pen, a pen with a twist off cap or one with a snap cap.  The type of pen dictates the style the pen is turned.  There may be bowed upper and lower barrels on some of the slimmer models of pens that provide a good grip, but also highlight the color patterns and designs in the acrylic. 

There are straight sided pens that are used in the larger barreled pens so that the pen is not over weighted and has excellent balance.  Balance is key to a good solid pen.  The pen must feel right and as one writes, a well balanced pen makes writing a breeze and not a chore.  This balance can be achieved most effectively when using acrylics as the pen base.  They have relatively the same density throughout the blank, so there is less likelihood of trying to balance out the pen on the lathe.

Also in the acrylic category are the newer poly resins and polymers that reflect light and provide the pen crafter the ability to use brass pen tubes and not having the brass show through the lighter colored pen blanks.  As they are relatively new on the market, there are only a few designs and colors available for the pen turner to use.  As more designs are marketed, pen crafters will begin using them more often.

The basic acrylic formulations are still the pen crafters best choice when handcrafting pens on their lathes.  Their ease of availability and infinite colors and color combinations, allows the pen crafter to work with acrylics, just as they do with wood.

© Paul Witmer 2010

About the Author

Paul Witmer is a pharmaceutical engineering professional and an avid wood worker specializing in fine pens.  Paul is also co-owner of www.WitmerEnterprises.com

Pen Turning is Easy