Pen Storage (BIG and cheap)

[tandaina]

Yay!

[Heliotrope]

My Harbor Freight Box arrived today!
Thank you Tandaina!
And Heliotrope, the wheels are a great idea! Thanks to you, too!
I will post pix after I get it all together...can't wait to take it to the next Posse meeting to show it off!

My Harbor Freight Box arrived yesterday!

No wonder these seem to be hard to find, if so many fountain pen enthusiasts are purchasing at the same time. There are 2 Harbor Freight locations in Austin. The first one I went to was sold out. The second location said that they had 2 of them, but the only one they could actually find was the one I purchased.

Thagbert, did you look locally before placing an order?

Nomdeplume, I found the dolly at Office Depot for about $25. There's probably a better selection on Amazon.

[thagbert]

My Harbor Freight Box arrived yesterday!

No wonder these seem to be hard to find, if so many fountain pen enthusiasts are purchasing at the same time. There are 2 Harbor Freight locations in Austin. The first one I went to was sold out. The second location said that they had 2 of them, but the only one they could actually find was the one I purchased.

Thagbert, did you look locally before placing an order?
Nomdeplume, I found the dolly at Office Depot for about $25. There's probably a better selection on Amazon.

I am not close to either one, so I ordered online. What kind of dolly did you get? Do you have an item number?

Just got it placed this evening. Built a short bookshelf to place it on. Will have photos later when all is set.

[Nomdeplume]

It's called a "PC Skate" ....I put "computer dollie" in the Amazon search. $17. Flat piece of plastic with 5 wheels.

I have the inserts in place. I got black...in hind sight I should have gone with lighter inserts or matched the green felt...oh well.

I think I am already out of space! Uh-oh!

I'll have to figure out some "themes" or brand or model (like all demonstrators) to the drawer arrangements and continue to use some of my other/former boxes for the 'overflow'....

[thagbert]

Pictures as promised.
Pen Box 1.jpgPen Box 2.jpg

Just noticed a partial selfie in the mirror!
Also noticed I haven't put the six bottles of Noodler's in there.

This box is awesome for the price I paid. Admittedly it's not quarter sawn oak, but that would have cost exponentially more. I am very satisfied.

Plenty of room to grow. I can't see myself outgrowing this box anytime soon. If I filled all of the drawers with a single layer, that would be 118 pens. I could double stack the top compartment if things really got ridiculous.

Also for those thinking about ordering one, here is a Harbor Freight coupon code for 25% off one item. Enter code at online check-out. The code is supposed to be good until the end of July. Code: 65002072

Thanks tandiana for the awesome tip!

[Nomdeplume]

Yep, should have gone with lighter inserts! This looks great!

[thagbert]

Yep, should have gone with lighter inserts! This looks great!

Yeah, I imagine the black inserts are a little dark. It's not too late to switch them out!

[Mod_wolves]

I really want one of these, I have a cigar box currently bustling with pens which I physically cannot fit any more pens in. It looks amazing thagbert. On the top part could you fit a 4.5oz noodlers bottle? I doubt it but I'd thought I'd ask any way. I've got lots of bits and bobs I would look fantastic in the small draws and I think the empty big draws would inspire me to buy more pens... Which isn't a bad thing.

[thagbert]

I really want one of these, I have a cigar box currently bustling with pens which I physically cannot fit any more pens in. It looks amazing thagbert. On the top part could you fit a 4.5oz noodlers bottle? I doubt it but I'd thought I'd ask any way. I've got lots of bits and bobs I would look fantastic in the small draws and I think the empty big draws would inspire me to buy more pens... Which isn't a bad thing.

It won't quite close with the 3oz bottles. Other bottles fit fine. Except maybe Akkerman.

[tandaina]

The taller Noodler's bottles absolutely don't fit in the top, sadly. So I still do have ink bottles outside the box. Just about everything else filts great.

[Heliotrope]

My Harbor Freight Box arrived yesterday!

No wonder these seem to be hard to find, if so many fountain pen enthusiasts are purchasing at the same time. There are 2 Harbor Freight locations in Austin. The first one I went to was sold out. The second location said that they had 2 of them, but the only one they could actually find was the one I purchased.

Thagbert, did you look locally before placing an order?
Nomdeplume, I found the dolly at Office Depot for about $25. There's probably a better selection on Amazon.

I am not close to either one, so I ordered online. What kind of dolly did you get? Do you have an item number?

Just got it placed this evening. Built a short bookshelf to place it on. Will have photos later when all is set.

Sorry, Thagbert, I already discarded the box, so I don't have any item information. Anyway, the PC skate recommended by Nomdeplume is better than what I got. I'm thinking of getting a PC skate and putting my original purchase to a different use.

A couple of people have asked about what ink bottles fit in the top portion of the chest. Pilot Iroshizuku bottles (removed from box) fit fine along the sides of the chest, but not under the mirror portion. TWSBI 50ml inkwells fit fine in any position. Noodler's 3oz bottles and Franklin Christoph bottles are just a tad too tall for the lid to close securely. The lid closes almost all the way, but not enough that I would attempt to latch it. I don't have any Akkerman bottles.

I have read in some reviews that the reviewers considered the chest too cheaply constructed. What I got was solid wood, but lighter weight than I was expecting. The bottoms of the drawers are stapled in. All structural componants and drawers are tightly constructed and well fitted. The only loose part is the front cover, which flips out and slides underneath the drawers when the box is open. It is somewhat loose, as the hinges are simple wooden pegs fitted into slots. The front cover can be left open and out of the way permanently, but if you close it, it must be locked or it will fall open again. When locked, the front cover rattles a little when the box is moved. At this price, I am entirely satisfied. In fact, I ordered another one to give as a Father's Day gift.

[Tony Rex]

Source for the inserts?

PLASTIS ice cube tray. Errr... the one on the left
99 cents at IKEA (Not affiliated at all, not an IKEA stock holder and I'm definitely not Swedish!!!)
Attachment 3221

Here's the size scale. Great for smaller and thinner pens.



I like great ideas. Thanks for sharing.

Tony

[OakIris]

My Harbor Freight Box arrived today!
Thank you Tandaina!
And Heliotrope, the wheels are a great idea! Thanks to you, too!
I will post pix after I get it all together...can't wait to take it to the next Posse meeting to show it off!

Very cool! I look forward to seeing it, both here and in person. Perhaps we should make "pen storage" the theme for our next posse meeting and all of us should bring some of our storage boxes to it.

Holly

[Nomdeplume]

Uh-oh!
Got the box almost put all together...just waiting for the "wheels" to arrive...didn't get around to taking pictures yet.....took hubby to see Superman-Man of Steel, IMAX 3D no less! For Father's Day....we are waiting through the previews, he turns to me and says, "I looked in that new box of yours, it's already FULL!"

[david i]

Large storage for pens. Actually priced out pretty cheaply for what it holds, but it holds a lot... some 2200 pens



regards

david

[Nomdeplume]

Nice PhotoShop, David!
I have an old museum case from my mother's school teaching...but it still contains the actual museum displays of various fibers and textiles, so, while it make a nice box for pens, I think I'll keep it as is!

[KrazyIvan]

I see David has his Sith eyes going.

[david i]

Next day or so, I really must post one of the most affordable desk top pen storage options in existence. So far I've shared only with a few pen friends...

regards

david

[MisterBoll]

Next day or so, I really must post one of the most affordable desk top pen storage options in existence. So far I've shared only with a few pen friends...

As long as it's not made by rubbermaid please do share.

[david i]

Next day or so, I really must post one of the most affordable desk top pen storage options in existence. So far I've shared only with a few pen friends...

As long as it's not made by rubbermaid please do share.

Might be... but i'll probably share anyway. IIR nearly 300 pens on a one square foot footprint... Let's see ya get that with a fake Gerstner tool case. Though, come to think of it, I do have a beautiful real Gerstner case (even with room for the booklets) that I sort of was forced to take when I bought a pen collection housed in it. So it goes...

regards

david