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Thread: Pen materials

  1. #1
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    Default Pen materials

    I was wondering what materials the barrels and caps of pens can be made from or covered in.

    I have metals
    Silver
    Copper
    Brass
    Bronze
    Pewter
    Aluminium

    Plastics
    Ebonite with & without lacquer
    Acrylic
    Merkalon L2000
    Precious resin MB149

    Other
    Leather
    Horn
    Glass
    Wood

    I am waiting for a pen covered in Mother of Pearl oredered yesterday from Atelier Lusso.

    No gold in my collection. I haven't won the lottery yet, I must get round to buying a ticket.

    I am looking for a pen made with antler, but don't want a kit pen.

    Any other suggestions?

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    Default Re: Pen materials

    steel
    gold - overlays or plated would be more affordable

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    Default Re: Pen materials

    Gold or platinum, rubber, mother-of pearl (as you mentioned later but didn't include in your list,) shells, ceramic, sandstone, jade, other hard stones like amethyst etc.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Pen materials

    celluloid
    casein
    other plastics: e.g., Parker 61 is styrene, I think?

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    RWS (February 27th, 2019)

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    Default Re: Pen materials

    I have one made of horn. Purchased at the Campus Martius museum in Marietta, OH.
    "Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little." -Epicurus-

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    Default Re: Pen materials

    Thanks for the input.

    I forgot my Visconti Homo Sapiens made with powdered lava mixed with resin.

    Also the Grifos Pietra Ollare made from stone that is on its way to me from Italy.

    I keep looking for a replacement for the Lamy ceramic pen that I had in the 1990s, but lost somewhere. The only major pen that I have lost, and I miss it.

    A nice abalone pen could tempt me. Any suggestions?

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    Senior Member Lloyd's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pen materials

    Delrin

    If there are any typos in this post, I blame Tapatalk!
    M: I came here for a good argument.
    A: No you didn't; no, you came here for an argument.
    M: An argument isn't just contradiction.
    A: It can be.
    M: No it can't. An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition.
    A: No it isn't.
    M: Yes it is! It's not just contradiction.
    A: Look, if I argue with you, I must take up a contrary position.
    M: Yes, but that's not just saying 'No it isn't.'
    A: Yes it is!
    M: No it isn't!

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    penmainiac (March 1st, 2019)

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    Default Re: Pen materials

    A quick search says Delrin is used by Conid. Does anybody else use it, I am trying hard not to buy a Conid pen?

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    Default Re: Pen materials

    Desiderata makes (or used to make — none online right now) delrin pens.

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    RWS (February 27th, 2019)

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    Default Re: Pen materials

    Thank you catbert. I have signed up for desiderata's email notifications.

    And yes, I forgot steel. How could I?

    Also forgot bamboo. I can't afford the 100 year old smoked bamboo taken from a Japanese ceiling, but there are other bamboo pens available.

    And carbon fibre.

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    Default Re: Pen materials

    Ebonite is not plastics, it's vulcanized rubber.
    - Will
    Unique and restored vintage pens: Redeem Pens

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    RWS (February 27th, 2019)

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    Default Re: Pen materials

    Thank you for your clarification. I will put it into the right category when I make my master list.

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    Default Re: Pen materials

    Micarta

    If there are any typos in this post, I blame Tapatalk!
    M: I came here for a good argument.
    A: No you didn't; no, you came here for an argument.
    M: An argument isn't just contradiction.
    A: It can be.
    M: No it can't. An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition.
    A: No it isn't.
    M: Yes it is! It's not just contradiction.
    A: Look, if I argue with you, I must take up a contrary position.
    M: Yes, but that's not just saying 'No it isn't.'
    A: Yes it is!
    M: No it isn't!

  20. #14
    Senior Member penwash's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pen materials

    Quote Originally Posted by RWS View Post
    Thank you for your clarification. I will put it into the right category when I make my master list.
    You're welcome.

    Under plastics, add Celluloid, one of the most popular material for fountain pen in the early decades of the 20th century.

    It is made from cellulose nitrate and camphor, among other ingredients. Beautiful pens were made using this material.
    - Will
    Unique and restored vintage pens: Redeem Pens

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    Default Re: Pen materials

    Quote Originally Posted by penwash View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by RWS View Post
    Thank you for your clarification. I will put it into the right category when I make my master list.
    You're welcome.

    Under plastics, add Celluloid, one of the most popular material for fountain pen in the early decades of the 20th century.

    It is made from cellulose nitrate and camphor, among other ingredients. Beautiful pens were made using this material.
    In the opinion of some, including myself, this is the best material for a pen.
    Will
    If my p.m box is full, feel free to email me at dabantur@gmail.com.

  22. #16
    Senior Member SchaumburgSwan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pen materials

    Quote Originally Posted by fountainpenkid View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by penwash View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by RWS View Post
    Thank you for your clarification. I will put it into the right category when I make my master list.
    You're welcome.

    Under plastics, add Celluloid, one of the most popular material for fountain pen in the early decades of the 20th century.

    It is made from cellulose nitrate and camphor, among other ingredients. Beautiful pens were made using this material.
    In the opinion of some, including myself, this is the best material for a pen.
    +1 for that, celluloid just feels best!
    .................................................. .................................................. .

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/136145166@N02/albums

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    Default Re: Pen materials

    I think Grifos can make a pen with any material you provide or any material they can source.
    A friend of mine confirmed they were evalutating the possibility of turning ebonite pens, due to the amount of requests received as of late. I fail to see why they would not use celluloid.

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    Default Re: Pen materials

    I read online that there are currently only two places left in the world, in China, that make celluloid as it's such a fire hazard. It also shrinks and degrades after time. I would prefer any pen I owned to be made with something else.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Pen materials

    What’s the Lamy 2000 made from? It’s delrin or something similar.

    The Visconti Brunelleschi is similar to the Homo sapiens but uses terra cotta instead of volcanic rock.

    I don’t think urushi has been mentioned, though usually urushi just covers another material.

  26. #20
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    Default Re: Pen materials

    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    I read online that there are currently only two places left in the world, in China, that make celluloid as it's such a fire hazard. It also shrinks and degrades after time. I would prefer any pen I owned to be made with something else.
    A large proportion of the pens I handle are celluloid. After 80 years they are still in good condition. Shrinkage applies to cheaper pens, I find.
    Regards,
    Deb
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