Well, after making so many 'Bamboo' style pens, and then working on one made of bamboo 'wood', it was really kind of inevitable that I would eventually make one of these.
When I first saw one of Sailor's 'Susutake' pens some time ago, I knew that I would eventually have to have a go at a real bamboo pen. This is only a first attempt, of course, and while I am pretty happy with the result, there are a few things I would do differently next time. For instance, the bamboo stalk I used here was simply 'what I could find', not having a great source for bamboo around Manitoba. It is a bit thicker than I would have preferred, and I think I will do the end jewels a bit differently next time. I am pretty happy with the combination of blonde cane and green thread wrap, though I might try to find some darker cane and do a wrap with burgundy or chestnut thread on the next one.
The pen is sealed and stabilized inside and out with low viscosity CA, and is finished with Tru-Oil varnish. It is fitted with an 18 K fine nib.
Thanks for looking!
Gorgeous pen Ken :-)
ReplyDeleteI'd be curious to know if over time the Bamboo splits. It's a common thing to happen with Bamboo due to humidity and changes in the atmosphere.
I've had that happen with a few bamboo things, that's often why Japanese Shakuhachi flutes tend to have reinforcements wrapped along the body.
I tip my hat to thee kind sir.
Thanks very much, Michel! I am hoping that the combination of the thread ferrule wrap and the stabilizing soak of the inside with thin cyanoacrylate will prevent splits. I guess time will tell...
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