Calligraphy pen

[alpha1]

I have been asked to make a Calligraphy pen. They have asked if I can do it in shiny black. I was thinking of using black ebonite. I have never made a pen using ebonite what do you guys think. Is there a better option or will ebonite polish up to a shiny black.

 

[flexi]

There are loads of black acrylics available, personally I would go that route

 

[Phil Dart]

Ebonite would work well, and so would that Semplicita SHDC in black you bought from me the other day. There's also a solid black with some pearlesence in it, called Black Mother of Pearl, which would look excellent on a calligraphy pen. You'll get a good shine on the ebonite, but you'll get higher shine on both the Sempicita and the Black MOP.

Kirinite Pearl pen blanks

 

[Penpal]

What length would you make the pen would be a clue as to what to use.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

Just a thought how about bog oak?

 

[Dalboy]

Why not go the wood route Ebony or African black wood

 

[21William]

What length would you make the pen would be a clue as to what to use.

Peter.

Yes agreed Peter. Some Calligraphy pens have slim tails and may not suit some plastics. Acrylic in particular can be quite brittle and easy to snap in thin sections.

 

[alpha1]

I did a black omega with a 1.5mm calligrahy nib. Im not overly pleased with it the black dulls very quickly and I can still see some very slight scratches not sure Im happy to sell her the pen. Might have have another go using a differenr blank.

 

[alpha1]

I had a good look at the pen under a bright light I don't think I could charge anybody for the pen the black blank is not good at all its full of dull flat patches that show up if you examine it closely. Ill remove the nib section and try another blank. Not sure I will go with black. Oh, well its all a learning curve.

 

[flexi]

Two tricks I have learnt.....
Mobile phones:...take a nice close up pic on your phone when finishing a pen, because you can blow it up/ enlarge it very quickly /easily and see any scratches.
Liquid polish:....I moved away from Micro mesh ages ago, onto liquid polishes. I use 3 different grit sizes and like all sanding..... radially and axially before dropping a grit!...
Also black is SO difficult, but satisfying when done right

 

[alpha1]

What make of liquid polish are you using.

 

[flexi]

What make of liquid polish are you using.

Farecla, bought from a boat chandler's, but I am also having good results with the ones from Machine mart

 

[Phil Dart]

Dull patches on acrylics are usually caused by a build up of heat during your abrasive/finishing process.

 

[alpha1]

Dull patches on acrylics are usually caused by a build up of heat during your abrasive/finishing process.

That's a possibility would I be able to polish them out do you think.

 

[yorkshireman]

Have you thought of water buffalo horn?