@ZGF Is satirizing it OK? Ads can be so unintentionally funny.

I was going to get a head start on Christmas crafting but decided it would be a pain in the ass.

@MookyTroubadour Projects are stacked up and I'm at least a couple weeks out on the new blanks but I'll have pics for you when I make them. Whatever it turns out to be will DEFINITELY be a unique, one-of-a-kind piece.

@MookyTroubadour Well, sort of. There's no Etsy or web store, but people see the pics and occasionally inquire about commissioning work.

Over the last couple of years I have made several pens, some bowls, cutting boards, signs, and even a spanking paddle (which I'm told "works REALLY well") on commission.

Favorite one was a guy who brought wood from a tree he swung on as a kid, then his kids swung on it growing up, and I made a set of bowls from it.

Got something specific in mind?

@LadyZurk Cool, thanks for the info. I bought some extra pen tubes to hedge against disaster but it sounds like I might not need them. Either way it'll be a fun experiment.

Used some MAS Tabletop Epoxy on my wife's new desktop and made some hybrid burl pen blanks with the excess. Up to now I've used Alumilite and Total Boat for turning blanks and I have no idea whether the MAS epoxy will turn well.

These are about 3/4 x 3/4 x 6 inches. Top is purple/black, then orange/green, yellow/blue, and the last one is the overpour from the first 3 blanks.

#CoSoPens

My wife has a perfume called Neon Moon but I had my glasses off and mistook the name as "Meow Moon." We had a chuckle then got to laughing about how Meow Moon might be branded, then this happened.

#humor

@Brisse I feel horrible, just HORRIBLE I say, that I turned you on to that web site. 😂

I recommend you add the following to your list of daily affirmations:

Elegant Emperor is a penguin, not a pen.

(Repeat thrice daily as needed. May cause headaches or irritability. Do not chant affirmations while operating heavy machinery.)

@Eponine #CoSoPens

@Eponine @Brisse The Jr. George kit from Classic Nib looks like a bit of an upgrade from the Berea kit. Metal threads, from what I can tell. Better looking nib but then I don't know what to look for. A bit higher priced but first one I've seen with metal threads.

https://www.classicnib.com/component-sets-kits/george-roller-ball-and-fountain-pen/george-ll-fountain-black-titanium-detail

#CoSoPens

@Eponine @Brisse Well, this thread took off while I was away! Last day of work. I expect to have some shop time between gigs and I'm itching to try making fountain pens.

Berea brags about the nib quality on their Baron kit so I'm guessing it's a bit better than the PSI and modestly priced. Good starter pen?

https://www.bereahardwoods.com/pen-kit/sets/baron-upgrade-gold-fountain-pen.html

#CoSoPens

@Brisse @Eponine I just need a kit for a first time build that isn't complete trash, and $200 is more than I want to go for that. But "not the best" sounds like it isn't the worst either. Can I assume that any of the PSI fountain pen kits would be a good start? And would one or both of you be willing to road test a pen for me (and keep it after) and give feedback?

@Eponine Ah, yes. That's quite a nice one. I think my needs are more modest because I never have more than a couple dozen in backstock.

By the way, did you see any fountain pen kits at PSI that looked good? I have steered clear because I do not use them and don't know anything about nibs, cartridges, etc. But I've had multiple ask and I think I need to stop declining those requests.

#CoSoPens

@VenomousHeroine @sfleetucker Pragmatist.

Optimist: The glass is half full

Pessimist: The glass is half empty

Scientist: Unless it is in hard vacuum, the glass is always completely full.

@Eponine I've used a few types of pen case, and make my own wooden flat boxes for the expensive pens. For bulk storage, I have a few sizes of tubes like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008RLPBFS

I recently obtained a threading jig for the lathe and want to try making round wooden pen cases with screw-top lids. At that level of effort, these would be for the expensive pens only, I think. But super cool if I can pull it off.

You made me go look at #CoSoPens - you've been busy! I'll have to start using it.

@Eponine turns out there's a gadget for everything. If it were possible, there'd be an app for that, too. 😃

@ErieMom In my case, it's her offering cilantro to me when she knows I'll decline that I take issue with.

As to parasites, I have yet to find *anything* that holds up to scrutiny under a microscope or dissection, including plain
vegetables. I just try hard to make 'em dead before eating them.

Wife [cutting fresh cilantro from herb garden]: Do you want some on your fish?

Me: You know I don't like it. Why do you keep offering it to me?

Wife: Just being polite.

Me: Taking the other person's preferences into account would be polite.

Wife: No, that would be considerate.

Me: Fair enough. Can you be more considerate?

Wife: No.

You'd think after 40 years I'd have learned.

Gee, I wonder if I'm missing anything now that I'm not on birdsite anymore?

<checks birdsite>

Nope. Not missing a thing.

@Eponine I could explain but a picture is worth 1k words. ;-)

https://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKPHANG24.html