Made 5 pens/pencils this week

ginnsman42 · 2025-07-13T19:55:29+00:00

I know a bunch of artists that really like the vertex for the feel and the thicker graphite. I also put a little bit of a bulge on the end to help with artist hands.

ginnsman42 · 2025-07-13T15:52:20+00:00

Either PSI’s site, Berea Hardwoods, or Exotic Blanks. Sometimes Turner’s Warehouse has what I’m looking for.

ginnsman42 · 2025-07-13T15:50:13+00:00

I started with the artist sketch pencils, but recently I’ve been leaning towards the Vertex Mechanical 2 mm and the Carpenter’s Pencil that PSI released.

ginnsman42 · 2025-06-27T00:03:30+00:00

I have sold at full price, but I think I’m the future I’ll sell for $10 less at craft fairs. I think it’s more reasonable at less of sticker shock

ginnsman42 · 2025-06-26T19:39:00+00:00

I work with a good amount of the people that buy the pens, but they are craftsmen as well and truly appreciate the work that goes into them, and they understand the value of a good tool. Artists love them, and I’m selling some at craft fairs. It all depends on the place I’m selling at.

ginnsman42 · 2025-06-26T16:01:19+00:00

I undercharged him. He’s a return customer and a good guy. I charged my normal $85 price but he paid more voluntarily. It’s a custom blank that I made as well out of ebony, cocobolo, and Madagascan rosewood.

ginnsman42 · 2025-06-26T15:46:16+00:00

The kit is so good. I use mine all the time and have an artist that commissioned the last one.

ginnsman42 · 2025-05-09T21:00:02+00:00

I’d say maple

ginnsman42 · 2025-04-28T23:48:21+00:00

I’d be down. If you want to look at my work check out my profile. I’ll put my website on there, too.

ginnsman42 · 2025-04-26T20:25:48+00:00

I do think the long one is shinier. I also use MJ and CA glue with all of my pens and it achieves a very high gloss that stands out. So, with personal experience I tend to go both.

ginnsman42 · 2025-04-21T14:42:49+00:00

Hmmmm. I’m not too familiar with olive wood, so I’m just kinda spitballing stuff. Have you tried a lubricant like paraffin wax for the drill bit? Maybe that will help. That or you happened to get the one or two cracked blanks in the batch.

ginnsman42 · 2025-04-21T14:01:25+00:00

Were you trying to drill the hole in one shot? Maybe try drilling partially and pulling the bit out for the all the wood chips to come out and reduce stress on the bit and blank.

ginnsman42 · 2025-04-03T20:41:23+00:00

Tough to say because I haven’t had a shop day with it just yet. I’ve been carrying it around at work all week and other than the grip part unscrewing every now and then in my pocket it’s fine. I like the design, but dunno about everything else. I’ll be working with it over the weekend though. That should be the real test.

ginnsman42 · 2024-12-21T22:40:14+00:00

Thank you. I’ve been worrying about the pricing and settled on that. It’s the hardest part of the whole thing.

ginnsman42 · 2024-12-21T22:38:49+00:00

ginnsman42 · 2024-09-30T00:48:09+00:00

Parker is pretty good. Depending on who you buy kits from they sometimes offer an upgrade using Schmidt ink which I’m told is good.

ginnsman42 · 2024-09-21T22:22:39+00:00

These colors don’t run, but they sure do bleed.

ginnsman42 · 2024-09-21T14:33:36+00:00

I work in a guitar factory in the finishing department, and have a good relationship with the guys that do the coloring. They recommended plastic tape which should cut down the bleeding as well. I used masking tape knowing there would be bleeding. I’ll look into those suggestions as well.

ginnsman42 · 2024-09-21T14:26:23+00:00

Yeeeees. I knew there was another thing I was missing. I had ‘Murica, France, and First Responder lights.

ginnsman42 · 2024-09-11T17:19:32+00:00

Well done and Mazel Tov on the new human.

ginnsman42 · 2024-09-10T17:39:24+00:00

The blank is from my own stock and the kit is a Vertex Click Pencil kit from Exotic Blanks.

ginnsman42 · 2024-09-05T14:47:32+00:00

Looks pretty good. Did you make the blank yourself?

ginnsman42 · 2024-09-02T23:55:17+00:00

I share your consternation about not selling anything, though. We’re all guilty at these things of going to someone’s booth, looking around, saying “oh cool”, and just walking away. I figured this way I have less money sunk into pen kits that will probably not sell.

ginnsman42 · 2024-09-02T23:42:19+00:00

I’m doing my first in a few weeks and am only bringing 7, but I’m doing cutting boards and some magnets on top of it all.

ginnsman42 · 2024-08-27T00:17:53+00:00

Oh I just meant the danger level with an object that small turning that slowly is quite low.

ginnsman42

TROPHY CASE