Wooden form for wet molding

[McQUEEN]

Hi everyone!

I’m planning to make a 12-pen fountain pen case similar to the one in the attached photo, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to create the inner wooden form.

For those of you who have made fountain pen cases before:

Did you make your own or buy a wooden form somewhere?

If you made it yourself, how did you determine the dimensions for the pen slots?

I only have one fountain pen on hand (this is a commission), so I don’t have multiple pens to measure for variation in size.

 

I’d really appreciate any advice on how you handled sizing when you didn’t have access to the client’s full collection.

Thanks in advance!

[Dwight]

That would be made by me using two molds.  Both are 2 piece molds . . . one big enough for the pen body . . . the other one big enough to hold the total  pen body.  You might try making one big enough to put both pieces in there . . . that would alleviate any match-up problems later on.

I'd then find out the dimensions of his pens . . . taking a decent picture of them . . . you can fairly accurately predict the size for each hole . . . and I would add a 1/16 to 1/8 inch to each hold just to make sure.  Wooden dowels can be substituted for the real thing.  And don't worry about the expense . . . if you do that right . . . I'm betting for more orders based on word of mouth .

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited 7 hours ago by Dwight

[AlZilla]

2 hours ago, McQUEEN said:

only have one fountain pen on hand (this is a commission), so I don’t have multiple pens to measure for variation in size.

Ask the client to measure his pens.

[toxo]

5 hours ago, McQUEEN said:

Hi everyone!

I’m planning to make a 12-pen fountain pen case similar to the one in the attached photo, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to create the inner wooden form.

For those of you who have made fountain pen cases before:

Did you make your own or buy a wooden form somewhere?

If you made it yourself, how did you determine the dimensions for the pen slots?

I only have one fountain pen on hand (this is a commission), so I don’t have multiple pens to measure for variation in size.

 

I’d really appreciate any advice on how you handled sizing when you didn’t have access to the client’s full collection.

Thanks in advance!

You don't say how this would be carried. I'm guessing in maybe a briefcase rather than a pocket. Maybe 12 pens wide may be a bit unwieldy so maybe think about a staggered double decker. That would look cool. As for spacing, you have one pen. Is all you need, you can't cater for every size that's out there so just allow a little leeway. Ive just built a 56 loop bandolier and the loops were based on one shell case. Start with a pen and paper, it won't come to you immediately but it will come. Then maybe some card templates. Your pic shows a thing of beauty but doesn't tell all. Is the brown bit seperate and able to come out? If so maybe one green bit and two brown bits to cater for the 12 pens?