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View Full Version : True Bamboo: The Evolution of My Bamboo Obsession



drgoretex
August 27th, 2013, 07:48 AM
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/kcavers/Custom%20Pens/Custom%20Fountain%20Pens/Designer%20Fountain%20Pens/IMG_8531_zps24e81446.jpg

Well, after all the 'Bamboo' style pens I have made, and after making a pen made of bamboo 'wood' (my last post), it was really pretty much inevitable that I would have to come up with one of these. We all knew this was coming...

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/kcavers/Custom%20Pens/Custom%20Fountain%20Pens/Designer%20Fountain%20Pens/IMG_8545_zpsa266e2a0.jpg

I fell in love with Sailor's 'Susutake' pens a long time ago (though, not so much with the price), and have for a long time had this idea in my head, to make one of these. So, this week, on finding a reasonably suitable bamboo culm, I decided to go ahead and see what I could do with it.

I am pretty happy with this first go, for the most part - liking the combination of blonde bamboo and green thread wrap. But, there are a couple of things I might do different next time. For starters, I'd love to find a culm that is just a hair thinner. Also, I think I would do the end jewels a bit differently. Another thing that I want to have a go at (noted in my last post) is to try flaming the bamboo to carmelize it a bit (as is often done with bamboo for fly fishing rods), and then use a darker (burgundy or chestnut) thread wrap.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/kcavers/Custom%20Pens/Custom%20Fountain%20Pens/Designer%20Fountain%20Pens/IMG_8565_zps4c0bcd45.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/kcavers/Custom%20Pens/Custom%20Fountain%20Pens/Designer%20Fountain%20Pens/IMG_8579_zps8b3fcd5f.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/kcavers/Custom%20Pens/Custom%20Fountain%20Pens/Designer%20Fountain%20Pens/IMG_8574_zps55e0e0ed.jpg

Anyhow, there we go. Comments are welcome as always.

Cheers,

Ken

KrazyIvan
August 27th, 2013, 10:23 AM
:jaw: How did you get the end grain not to be so prominent? I love the look of the jewels! I really want to see this in the amber or chestnut, I think it would look very nice. Not that this one does not look nice, I just have a preference for that shade.

drgoretex
August 27th, 2013, 11:47 AM
Thanks, Ivan.

The end grain is proportional in size to the size of the culm. On a small bamboo stick like this, the grain is pretty fine. The pen in my recent post is made of bamboo that is undoubtedly harvested from very large culms, with big, strong fibres.

Thanks for the input on colour - that will be my next real bamboo pen :-)

Ken

manoeuver
August 27th, 2013, 12:09 PM
Ken, it's an awesome concept.
I think I'd like to see flush jewels and the other finishes you mentioned have me drooling.
The contrast between the bamboo and the section is pretty stark on this pen- a darker finish and some maroon thread would mitigate that a lot.

This pen seems like a no-brainer for you to be making. keep at it!

KrazyIvan
August 27th, 2013, 12:11 PM
I think the end jewels would really work in your acrylic bamboo style pens too.

anthonyd
August 27th, 2013, 06:03 PM
They just keep getting better and better.

Tony

Laura N
August 27th, 2013, 06:13 PM
Neat. I'm another fan of the Sailor Susutake -- the pen, not the price.

I like your plan to make it thinner and darker.

Please keep posting as this progresses.