Marking Bamboo Pens

[Az Sun]

I was going to try and make Bamboo pens from some bamboo blanks I found. I was wondering, is there anyway that I can put a burned in "Created By....." on them since they are so small. I guess the question is really, how would I put some type of marking on them or any pen that I make.

Thanks
Ted W

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Ted

Without getting into lasers to do engraving, there is a way to mark pens but it requires a woodburner by "Razortip" or the Cub burner. Used with a fine wire people have writen their names, kind of wood,and date small enough and they did this on the top barrel under the pen clip. You would need a magnifer of some sort to write that small but have sen it done and it works well. You would have a problem on acrylics I would assume or any other material. Metals you might be able to engrave them. Or you can include a card with the purchase of the pen. One other thing some people use and I do not know the name of the markers but you can try a fine indellible ink felt pen and put the info on before you put the finish on top. Unless you are using a friction finish then that will not work.

Ted being your very first post here let me say Welcome aboard and glad to see you jumping in right away. Hope to seee some of your work.

[PaulD]

We've played around with marking things too (me and my wife "KathyD"). The woodburner approach works fine if you have a steady hand. Pre-scribing with a Sharpie or a simple Dremel engraving tool tends to give us better woodburning results. I haven't personally tried marking any pens as I am comfortable with simply enclosing a "Made By.." business card and am afraid I might do more harm then good out of the signing effort on a small pen. The bowls and boxes we are making are all signed on the bottom.

[Az Sun]

Thanks for the feedback.
I am a little nervious about my ability to use a burner to write my name since the size is so small. But the idea of some type of marker may do the trick. Never even thought about that. DAh. Then coat the pen to seal it. If I goofed up with the marker, I would most likely be able to salvage the pen more easily.
Originally I was thinking of some type of Micro branding iron, but never found any on the web that was more than one letter.
To insure durabilty of the coating on bamboo, any suggestions on what would be the best sealer to use?
Thanks PaulD and TJTHECLOCKMAN for some ideas

Thanks
TedW

[Az Sun]

Well,
I still am thinking of all possible ideas. Here is where I am at. And will once I try one or all let you know how it turned out. But I will try them first on an old piece of 2x4 before even trying on my pen.
1) Thought about Fingernail Airbrush to do the trick except then need to cut a micro stencil and could result in spray fanning out under stencil.

2) So then I thought, if I had a Micro stencil, could cut costs and instead use a paint or ink and just find a micro foam roller and roll over the stencil.

3) Being the stencil would be hard to cut since the letters were so small, started thinking, when we were kids, we use to make decals from magazines using pictures and clear nail polish.
Maybe I could design something on the computer the size wanted and with color, cut out and somehow glue to the pencil and then coat. Maybe transparent background laser paper. Humm

But the pen idea may be the easiest way after all this. LOL
Did find fine point paint pens by sharpie which is worth a try.

Will post what worked for me, and let everyone know. The way these test things go, sometimes they are not even close to what you expected. You have to file them in the Dumb Bin.

Thanks everyone for rattling my brain here with some great ideas,

Ted W

[PaulD]

One other thought AZ --

I have seen an imprinting transfer wand advertised in a couple catalogues lately for personaling pens and other wooden items which might be worth a try. Its on page 76 #EGSET in the latest PSI catalogue. Price is 22.95. Never tried it, but let me know if it works for you if you buy one.

[PaulD]

Looking at your message again, I still think the transfer wand is the way to go. Alternatively, thinking along the lines of your musing, there is a way to transfer an image to a bakable translucent medium made by Sculpey. This is a liquid polymer material that hardens like a polymer clay with the image baked in. This resultant clay with image could then be finished into your pen in a recessed manner if you wish. I have reason to know this approach works, but I still suspect you will be happier with the wand if it works as advertised.

[Az Sun]

That's the Ticket.
The Wand looks like it would do the trick. Get it ordered today. Thanks
Once I try it, will post the results here. Going to call them and find out how perminant it is and if I can seal over it.

Really appreciate the help.
Not sure if suppose to post links, but I believe this is the one you are talking about. Has to be.
PSI Wood Imprinting Tool (http://www.pennstateind.com/store/egtool.html)
You Da Man !

[PaulD]

Yes that's the one I was describing. I was going to put a link to it in too, but I live in the woods of Central WI with a 28.8 internet connection and didn't really have the time to fight my connection speed to find the link.

[William Young]

I too will be watching for a relpy on how well it works .
I have ways of marking everything I make except pens so that would be my primary use for something like that because occasionaly I do get asked for autographed pens .
W.Y.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Very interesting and reasonable also. Is someone trying this??? I hope to see the results also. May have to check this out.

[Az Sun]

Have ordered and soon as I get the puppy in my hands, will try this out.
Will create a page on my web host and post a few pictures on my website with a link from here.

Thanks again for all the suggestions, I can think of alot more things I can use this for if it works.

By the way, does anyone know of a place where you can get bulk plastic tube ink refills ? Maybe this should be a new post?

Ted W
Az Sun

[terrymiller]

This has been brought up on several different forums in the past and the only idea that I have liked was having the clip or centerband engraved or as already stated the card. I myself would go with the card only due to the expense of the engraving. As a consumer I would not want the name on the pen unless we are talking about a very tiny mark which I dont believe you will be able to achieve with a burner or wand. In my opinion anything that is bigger than a couple of milimeters would detract from the pen. The other problem is what do you do when you decide to turn some acrylic pens.

[Ex19k]

Here is a trick that I use. One of the hobbys i really enjoy when it is cold out and I dont feel like doing anything is model rail roading. I have made some christmas gifts using the transfers from railroading. Both dry and the decal type. what you do is put 2 coats of poly ( depending on the wood more) then follow th decal instructions. after everything dries I just hand rub more polly on it. It works really well with acrylic due to it bonds directly to the pen. Most of the guys just put the pens in thier train rooms and never use them. they also make sheets that you can do the same thing on a laser and ink jet printer. That is another option with the names and such.
The other is a one hair brush and some silver and gold leaf. When I used to hand wrap fishing rods (and had steadier hands) I would have the client write out a signature with thier name. would use transfer paper to put it on the rod then use a single hair brush and leaf of choice to paint the name on the rod. after it dried would apply a 2 part epoxy and....tada! A Custom Made Fishing Rod with YOUR name on it. Since I cant do that anymore havnt even tried doing that to a pen. All i do is put my brand under the clip. I just heat up a pin, like the kind u sew with and put it on. Kinda like branding cattle. Its cheap and it works. Just dont tell the signifigant other where her pins and needles are going and ur all good! have also done the same with acrylics. just dont heat the needle up as hot.
Y'all have a good one. The shop and the lake be a callin!
Lytle