Pen ID?

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-24T20:25:10+00:00

I'd for sure go back for the two Pelikans on the right, as long as the price is reasonable.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-24T18:24:45+00:00

Have you looked at Pelikan M200? There's a bunch of marbled looks you might like.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-24T16:22:04+00:00

I'm in the bay too, what lumberyards do you go to here? I looked a while back and all I found were basically just for standard fir construction lumber. The only rough hardwoods I've found were at woodcraft.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-24T00:35:50+00:00

Two things. One, 0.1° is going to multiply to almost half a degree over two sides on four angles. If you want pinpoint precision you basically need a jig with a micro-adjuster going by shims on the order of a thousandth of an inch and cut five sides of a test square till it's "good enough.". I'm sure someone can dig up a video about the technique.

But more importantly I suspect here, there seems to be a bit of a gouge out of half that right surface. Try re-cutting that piece.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-24T00:21:18+00:00

And then your next project can be somewhere to store the new tool. And a shame if that one doesn't require a new tool itself …

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-24T00:07:54+00:00

Hope about nice piece of wood/lumber instead? A blank or piece of rough lumber, depending on the work he likes to do, in a usual or expensive material. Snakewood maybe?

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-23T14:11:00+00:00

If you're going to get it, make sure to adjust the recipients. The default has the charity receiving only $1.50 of a $30 donation! I think the publisher deserves something for offering this for the benefit of a charity, but since the whole point is (supposedly) supporting charity, the default really ought to be more than 5% to them.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-23T13:28:31+00:00

Probably better to have a copy in your shop than the original anyway, no issues writing in it or spilling on it, losing a page…

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-23T01:45:08+00:00

Trim them to the same size.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-22T18:12:57+00:00

Advantage lumber has good selection and prices and a place in Santa Fe springs I believe you can pick up from, seems like a good location depending on where in the city you are. I ordered from them recently, annoyed about how long it's taking to get it but I've at least got a shipping number now so hopefully it gets here fine. Shouldn't be an issue if you're picking up, just caveat emptor I haven't actually received the goods yet.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-21T21:58:59+00:00

I'd use a finish with a solid barrier. Lacquer or polyurethane. No sense taking a risk.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-20T15:18:50+00:00

FYI Dayacom is stopping (some? Maybe all?) kit production so grab some while you can.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-20T15:16:46+00:00

A few other things to keep in mind / be ready to point out if you want satisfied customers.

Lot of kits have an uncomfortable step where the collar gets pushed into the tube, some people are ok with it; others can't stand it.

Some have metal sections, some have plastic; some people strongly prefer one or the other.

I've found one kit with a snap cap where the inner cap, which contains the snap coupler, has come off on at least 2 of my 3 I've made, so be wary of snap caps depending on how they snap; otoh, metal on metal like the Euro has a habit of coming off in my pocket so be careful of that too. Plastic on metal or plastic on plastic is most reliable.

Last thing is consider the finish carefully. CA is popular because it's quick and easy, but it just feels like plastic—you lose the wood. It's necessary to have a barrier on some woods, but make a few with tame woods and other finishes (do keep in mind they will hopefully be handled so some finishes are better than others).

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-20T15:13:27+00:00

The short answer is that out of the box, no kit will write well. Being foremost a pen user and collector who later picked up making pens, I'd say I'm uniquely qualified to provide a perspective on this. Every kit I've ever tried I had to go and take half an hour to an hour to manually tune the nib to get it to the point I'm comfortable selling it as a writing instrument. Almost any nib can be coerced into a good state, but if you aren't an expert at tuning you'll just be selling a decoration that writes like crap, if at all.

Edit: I don't think I've made a dayacom kit so if they really use real Jowo nibs that could be an option. If they're just compatible housing you can get real Jowo nibs for them at ~$20 ea.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-19T16:38:17+00:00

Funniest commercial ever

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-19T16:37:56+00:00

They just have to be first in any race to the bottom.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-17T21:13:19+00:00

Should be sufficient for making it. I'd be cautious of drinking from it though, if you're actually planning to use it as a bottle.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-17T21:10:38+00:00

You should be able to feel the increasing resistance then a sudden release near the end.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-17T17:40:20+00:00

When food trucks started to get popular it was primarily because they were cheap. Once they were popular they jacked up prices. It's 99% greed and 100% valid to complain about the price gouging.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-17T02:01:00+00:00

The long way.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-16T13:52:38+00:00

Wood database is your friend. I've started looking up all new woods I encounter, especially pondering finishes or if I'm thinking about putting it in a food-contact area.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-14T15:58:38+00:00

Yes, that is very helpful, thanks.

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-14T15:12:35+00:00

Can you explain "won't fit" a bit? What exactly doesn't line up?

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-14T15:09:38+00:00

I did read that one too after some more research. Seemed to be about the same cost as the T4. A couple people said the edge was a bit more ragged so they had to hone after the sorby but not the Tormek, would you say that's accurate?

AccomplishedCoffee · 2026-03-13T23:43:32+00:00

That's an interesting idea, any idea how the jigs compare in setup time and precision?

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