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View Full Version : Boxes (not cigar boxes) repurposed for pen, ink, paraphernalia storage



OakIris
April 30th, 2013, 10:09 AM
We already have a couple of threads about cigar boxes being modified for pen, etc., storage, so thought we should have one for non-cigar box storage too! Please show us the boxes that you have repurposed for our hobby/obsession/addiction.

Here are some photos of the only one I have done so far; it started out as a Naken Mfg. flatware or silverware chest:

A few of pictures showing the original box:

2264

2265

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A detail showing exterior of box after the old finish was sanded, steelwooled off and wood finished with a mixture of walnut oil and beeswax:

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Here you can see the lid of the box; I replaced the original pulls/handles with these pulls (there are two more of these used as handles on the side of the box) with nice solid brass ones that, to me, look like stylized fountain pens. I replaced the original rectangular metal name plate that was on the lid with some brass stampings - oak leaves and an Iris, of course, to make it mine (you know, user name OakIris, I had no choice! :p)

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The front of the box showing the bottom drawer, black pot metal knobs replaced with simple brass knobs:

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Interior of the lid; it (and the rest of the box's interior sides) were lined with microsuede cloth, and then I glued on cloth, pigskin leather and, just for fun, a reproduction of a Georgia O'Keefe poppy painting that was used for a USA postage stamp issued in 1996; I had had this framed picture for a while and this seemed the perfect use for it!

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The drawer, all finished and ready for pens:

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Here's the top compartment:

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The small square section on the left is for dip pen nib storage - here it is with a tile and an Altoid tin (full of nibs) in place:

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FPGeeks only allows 10 attachments per post so I will continue this in the next post. (Don't worry, not too much longer to go!

Holly

KrazyIvan
April 30th, 2013, 10:11 AM
Thank you! You gave me ideas for a flatware box I have been saving but really did not have an idea what exactly to do with such a large amount of space.

OakIris
April 30th, 2013, 10:17 AM
Part II, showing some pens in place:

2275

2276

This was a lot of fun to do, I did it in my spare time, mostly on weekends, and it took about a month from start to finish including ordering/finding/receiving the supplies and "pretties" I wanted to use for the box. I hope you enjoyed the tour of my new pen storage box and weren't too annoyed with the length of my posts about it. :redface: (You are lucky - I posted about this on FPN with a complete tutorial on how I "made" this pen storage box, so I spared the folks on FPGeeks from that!)

I know I am not the only one that sees things and thinks, hmm, that would be just perfect for this that or the other thing for my pens, etc.. Please post photos of your creations, too, to share with and to inspire the rest of us!

Holly

Uncle Red
April 30th, 2013, 10:26 AM
That's a great idea and you did a wonderful job. I think I need to look for one of these.

KrazyIvan
April 30th, 2013, 10:43 AM
Please don't spare the details. I would love to see the tutorial.

OakIris
April 30th, 2013, 11:28 AM
That's a great idea and you did a wonderful job. I think I need to look for one of these.

Thank you, Uncle Red! (And glad to see you are here, too!) I won the flatware storage box on eBay but I bet you would be able to find one in a local thrift store or antiques store for a better price and save on the shipping cost as well. I really enjoyed doing this work (play??) and would do another one or two if I had the room, and enough pens to justify doing so.


Please don't spare the details. I would love to see the tutorial.

I would gladly link to the thread I posted on FPN so that you could see more details, but, surprise, surprise, the site is still down, or down again, or....otherwise unavailable. When - or if- it stays up for more than a day, I will post the link, rather then duplicating it here and using up FPGeeks space. :)

Holly

OakIris
April 30th, 2013, 11:34 AM
Thank you! You gave me ideas for a flatware box I have been saving but really did not have an idea what exactly to do with such a large amount of space.

By all means, do it! I don't know what to do with all of the space either, the box is empty now except for my dip pens, but I figure that sooner or later as I continue down this slippery slope of fountain pen addiction, I will acquire enough pens to fill it up!


Holly

thagbert
April 30th, 2013, 11:54 AM
Nicely done Holly!

MY63
May 5th, 2013, 01:57 PM
Hi Holly

Nice box
Here is my latest project I finished it a couple of days ago I really hope that you like it.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8254/8709906091_2a34080874_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/8709906091/)
IMG_0471 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/8709906091/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8127/8711031490_d604b19f4b_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/8711031490/)
IMG_0480 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/8711031490/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

The outside is American Madrona and the inside of the lid is fumed oak in your honour.
Regards
Michael

Bogon07
May 5th, 2013, 05:26 PM
MY63 , the American Madrona has an almost marblish appearance and the fumed oak is a rather attractive colour.
Looks like you can put around 30+ pens in that slim box. Very Impressive.

OakIris nice box too. Lots of handy compartments.

MY63
May 6th, 2013, 01:46 AM
MY63 , the American Madrona has an almost marblish appearance and the fumed oak is a rather attractive colour.
Looks like you can put around 30+ pens in that slim box. Very Impressive.

OakIris nice box too. Lots of handy compartments.

Thanks Bogon07
I met Holly on another forum and adapted this box for her from this

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8367/8444516460_c5b5ded278_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/8444516460/)
IMG_9702 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/8444516460/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

So I really hope that she likes it

Michael

Laura N
May 6th, 2013, 07:23 AM
These are excellent. I don't have those mad craft skills, but if you guys keep this up you might inspire me to try some day.

Here's one I came across at the Chicago Pen Show yesterday. The nice folks at Pendemonium converted a wooden jewelry case into pen storage, and it looked great.

2444

Note the handy mirror to ensure the pen you choose coordinates with your outfit.

OakIris
May 13th, 2013, 10:09 AM
Hi Michael (my63) - :welcome: Glad to see you are here on FPGeeks! Can't wait to see the box you repurposed for me in person - seeing the photos here and watching the project develop on the "other" forum has been wonderful. I hope we will see some more of your writing slope restoration and other pen storage box projects here in the Geek world as well. Good stuff!

@LauraN - I do hope we will inspire you to start your own pen storage box project. I can't do near the sort of things that Michael can do as far as woodworking, etc., is concerned, but I found this modification project that I did to be a lot of fun, and I bet you would enjoy it too. Start out with something simple, like a cigar box, perhaps.... :) (Did you buy that repurposed jewelry box from Pendemonium? That looked nice, too.)

Holly

Waski_the_Squirrel
May 13th, 2013, 07:28 PM
I guess the cardboard shoebox that holds all my ink does not belong in this thread?

Bogon07
May 13th, 2013, 11:08 PM
I guess the cardboard shoebox that holds all my ink does not belong in this thread?
I don't see why not, how about these re-purposed pizza boxes in this thread !
http://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/886-Pictures-of-Your-Pen-Storage?p=15914&viewfull=1#post15914

MY63
May 14th, 2013, 12:29 AM
[QUOTE=OakIris;28619]Hi Michael (my63) - :welcome: Glad to see you are here on FPGeeks! Can't wait to see the box you repurposed for me in person - seeing the photos here and watching the project develop on the "other" forum has been wonderful. I hope we will see some more of your writing slope restoration and other pen storage box projects here in the Geek world as well. Good stuff!

Wow thanks Holly no pressure there then

I dont just want to repost items from other forums I am planning a new box as gifts for my daughters teachers, I am planning on posting the full story of their construction on this forum soon.
Michael

jbb
May 14th, 2013, 08:43 AM
I'm inspired!!!!

jacksterp
May 14th, 2013, 09:09 AM
Holly and Michael - those are both excellent and very creative. I wish I could find a box that would inspire me in a like manner.

Keep up the good work!

OakIris
May 17th, 2013, 10:24 AM
I guess the cardboard shoebox that holds all my ink does not belong in this thread?
As Bogon said, why not? Maybe you can decorate it with some nice decoupage or pen and ink drawings. :D


I'm inspired!!!!
Go for it Jill! I look forward to seeing what you come up with. Maybe something for all of your beautiful dip pens!


Holly and Michael - those are both excellent and very creative. I wish I could find a box that would inspire me in a like manner.

Keep up the good work!

Thank you for your compliment. :redface: I bet you will find something that works for you - check out thrift stores, hobby stores, antique shops, even eBay, where I "found" mine.

Since succumbing to this fountain pen addiction....obsession....hobby, I am amazed by how many things I see that would be perfect to repurpose for something to do with pens or pen paraphernalia. (This obsession even leads me to look at the colours in the sky, such as the sunrises and sunsets and thinking, wow, that would be a beautiful color for an ink! I'm lost! :P )

Holly

Nomdeplume
June 2nd, 2013, 11:28 AM
Just ordered the Harbor Tool Chest and some inserts...my next project, inspired by all this creativity!

OakIris
June 10th, 2013, 08:52 AM
Just ordered the Harbor Tool Chest and some inserts...my next project, inspired by all this creativity!

Cool - can't wait to see the results once you have it all fitted out! (Probably too bulky to bring to our next pen posse for show and tell, huh?)

Holly

OakIris
June 25th, 2013, 06:22 AM
Earlier this month I received the modified Ryman's Art Supply box that Michael - my63 - modified for me; he had mentioned this box in posts #9 & 11 in this thread. Since it already had a place in this thread, I thought I would add some photos of it. Michael installed American Madrone/Madrona veneer on the exterior of the box and used fumed oak veneer for the interior of the lid. (For those that want to know, fumed oak is a process by which oak is "antiqued" by exposing it to ammonia fumes; the result is a similar patina to that that ancient bog oak obtains after years of being exposed to the chemicals in the bogs.) The pen cradles were made from wood molding covered with nice chocolate brown leather; the top and bottom trays have slightly different leathers on them - different textures. The top compartment holds 16 pens and the bottom compartment holds 20 pens. I don't have near enough pens to fill this box, let alone the other two storage boxes I also have, so I have plenty of room for expansion now, just no money to buy the pens. Time will hopefully change that!

This is what the box started out as (these are Michael's photos):

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Here is the reconfigured and modified box I received:

3640

3641

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3643

With some of my pens in place:

3644

3645

It is absolutely beautiful, in my opinion, and I am thrilled with it. Earlier in this thread Michael commented that he hoped I would like it. I not only like it, I love it. I thank Michael for sharing his skill and craftsmanship with me and wanted to share it with everyone else here as well, if only through pictures. :)

Holly

MY63
July 1st, 2013, 11:30 AM
It was a pleasure to make it for you Holly believe it or not the leather is all from one hide I matched the smaller grain for the top section and the larger grain for the bottom section.
I hope it serves you for many years.
regards
Michael

OakIris
July 2nd, 2013, 07:32 AM
It was a pleasure to make it for you Holly believe it or not the leather is all from one hide I matched the smaller grain for the top section and the larger grain for the bottom section.
I hope it serves you for many years.
regards
Michael
I wondered about the leather - thank you for the info. The pen storage box will definitely last for years - for my lifetime anyway, and long after that, too.... :)

Holly

Judybug
August 18th, 2013, 08:33 AM
Such good ideas in this thread!

00Photo
November 30th, 2013, 11:34 PM
I just spent a marathon 8 hours assembling my new pen storage boxes.

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1473062_10202595664554597_14165314_n.jpg

Now all I need is a floor. HAHAHAHAHAHA. I was tempted to buy the flooring first but I need someplace for my pens RIGHT NOW!

OakIris
December 3rd, 2013, 06:16 AM
Very, very nice, 00Photo. Where did you get the cabinets? And who cares about the flooring as long as your pens are happy. :p

Now for photos of some of the drawers open and populated by pens......please.

Holly

MechanicalAnalogy
January 4th, 2014, 10:26 AM
I just spent a marathon 8 hours assembling my new pen storage boxes.

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1473062_10202595664554597_14165314_n.jpg

Now all I need is a floor. HAHAHAHAHAHA. I was tempted to buy the flooring first but I need someplace for my pens RIGHT NOW!

:jaw:

Holy epic storage unit! You built this? Wow

KrazyIvan
January 4th, 2014, 06:04 PM
Went antique shop hopping today. Specifically hunting for fountain pens and got some good leads on shops that get them in regularly but did not have any at the moment. One of the shop yielded these two boxes. The one in the front I will use for index card storage and looks to be from a pharmaceutical company from the 30's. The one in the rear can fit a few ink bottles on the top and the bottom drawer should be able to fit 5 or 6 pens after I'm done.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3764/11762785976_114c523e16_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/11762785976/)
Two of my antique finds. The box on the back its perfect for ink bottles on the top with some storage below for related #fountainpen paraphernalia. The smaller box is for 3x5 index cards. Looks to be from a pharmacist. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/11762785976/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr

MY63
January 5th, 2014, 07:03 AM
Looking forward to seeing what you do with them