Making Bamboo Quill Pens

[Mark Meckes]

This is not a `standard' quill pen, but rather an accidental combination of form and function.

Bamboo Quill Pen - carved figurine handle with a heart-shaped quill. Made from Phyllostachy flexuosa.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/3052/thumbs/1MVC-045F.JPG See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=530) http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/3052/thumbs/1MVC-046F.JPG Heart-shaped Quill (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=531)
Used for those special writing occasions

Bamboo quill pen making can be as straight forward as sharpening a stick.
As making of these `drawing sticks' develops, and the process becomes more and more exacting, the quest for the perfectly designed, writing style defined pen unfolds.
As quill pens have been used for a long, long time, I am assuming that there must have been volumes of articles written on pen construction.
Does anyone know of any (available) publications/information / have experiences?

Making bamboo quill pens, was the catylyst that inspired me to start writing (I HAD to write with them to see how they worked)
Each hand made quill pen has it's own characteristic writing capabilities that can be `drawn out of it'.

When making quill pens, it's best not to (initially) expect it to perform in this way or that, but rather to let the pen show you its' nature... then it's a matter of fine-tuning the instrument.
If a bunch of pens are made... a pattern develops.

A bamboo pen is not just the nib, but a handle too.
It has to fit and feel right in the hand ... size and balance.
We can become (literally and figuratively) attached to a pen.
A CulmPENionship can last for years and years.

I have a special attachment for one of the first pens I ever made. So I gave it to someone near and dear.

These pens were made with little know how.
Any pointers welcome!!!

Mark

[robert]

The main thing that I do differently is to burn a small hole on the centerline of the nib before splitting it, using a red hot paper-clip held in vice grips, or equivalent.
This both keeps the central split from going to far and holds a bit more ink, helpful if you are doing line drawing as opposed to caligraphy.
Rob

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Rob,
Thanks for the info!
I can imagine the hot tip/ hole burning method would also give the pen a nice effect and also prevent fraying of the hole edge. I'll try this out.

I've been drilling the holes with a tiny drill bit / hand rotary power tool. This works too.
Then I might also use a small round file and file across the hole perpendicular to the pen I guess just to give the hole a (0) appearance.

Question: Is the function of the hole only :
- to prevent further splitting
- to give the nib more flex

Can the hole be sized and positioned to hold an extra drop of ink to produce a longer duration of flow?

Should the hole be above or below the dip line?
I suppose the answer is ... it de'pen'ds

The hardest part, is making the split from the hole to the pen tip.
Sometimes the split runs off center.
A pointy tipped pen works best if the split is in the center of the nib point.
So it's best to leave the nib-tip wider until after the the split has been made, then the final adjustments can be done... this fine tuning is what takes the longest in the process.
I will show you soon, how I make them, initially using a small bandsaw to cut out the initial shape.

Thoughts on some bamboo items that could go along with or relate to pens:
- Bamboo brushes
- Bamboo Pens
- Bamboo nib sharpening block, accessories holder
- Bamboo Pen-caps ; desk top pen-holder
- Bamboo Pen/brush vase
- Bamboo Paper clip holder
- Bamboo Blotting paper holder
- Bamboo Ink jar holder
- Bamboo Letter/stationary holder
- Bamboo Paper
- Bamboo scroll tubes
- Bamboo desk
- Bamboo chair
- Bamboo Lamp
... Bamboo eyeglasses
... Bamboo eyeglass holder

It wasn't that long ago that humans began to develop tools that could be used to communicate and share information with each other.

How fortunate we are in that we can discuss bamboo this modern way!

Mark

[Mark Meckes]

Bamboo Quill Pens - An assortment made from Phyllostachys species
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/3052/thumbs/1Mvc-177f.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=659) http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/3052/thumbs/1Mvc-178f.jpg Closer view (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=660)

One aspect that is soon learned about making bamboo pens
They can have a `mind' of their own...

With practice and persistence a pen can be made to perform in a specific way.

Mark

[Mark Meckes]

After making a bamboo quill pen, the next step is to see how it writes.
These photos represent the first experimentations with this pen. It's been interesting learning about the capabilities of the pen, and learning how to focus my own abilities to draw this out of the pen.

This pen has become my real pal, possibly because it was one of my first , and also because I watched it grow up in my garden and know it's life history.
A bond, an attachment has formed. This pen taught me that writing can actually (sometimes) be fun !

Bamboo Quill Pen - Made from - Sweet Shoot - Phyllostachys dulcis - Grown in the Poconos Mts Pennsylvania,USA

http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/3052/thumbs/1Mvc-179f.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=661) http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/3052/thumbs/1Mvc-180f.jpg Closer view (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=662) http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/3052/thumbs/1Mvc-181f.jpg The nib (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=663)

Mark

[biagiodicarlo]

One aspect that is soon learned about making bamboo pens
is that they can have a `mind' of their own...
With practice and persistence a pen can be made to perform in a specific way.


I would like to construct your bamboo pen to be used for painting and drawing. Please let me know in which way I obtain a bamboo pen.
Ciao, from Italy, biagio