Doc1647545523

I don't like your car anymore. And it's over. I'm officially breaking up with you.

Um ..... slow, I'd say.

No, I'm sorry, he's still working on the website. He thinks he'll have it up in a week or two. I appreciate you passing the word along, though. He's very open to answering questions by phone or email. I'm sure if someone sends him an email and asks to be notified when the website is up, he'll do that. He's a very easy going fellow.

Here is one lucite "cigar" pen. I love lucite pens. I've picked out some wild lucite blanks and asked him to make some oversize, premium rollerball pens for me. http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0004.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0005.jpg He's pretty creative. He bought some Dupont Corian countertop material and made these pens. They have a great feel, but aren't as fancy as the wood or the lucite. The Corian heats considerable as he turns it, and he tells me it's a bitch to get the fit and finish perfect: http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0002.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0001.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0009.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0011.jpg

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0046.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0049.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0051.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0054.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0056.jpg

Here's a short, fat bullet-style pen: http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0024.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0026.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0028.jpg Copper metalwork: http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0029.jpg Poplar wood, I believe: http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0032.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0034.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0037.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0039.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0040.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0043.jpg

I got some time to pick up my buddy's sample pens this weekend and did some quick & dirty photography to help him get his website up and running. In a few weeks he should have the pens I ordered for myself completed, and I'll post a couple of pics of those then. I hope you enjoyed taking a look of some of his handiwork and that you'll contact him if you want to possibly purchase a handmade pen for yourself or for a gift: jdegen@columbus.rr.com I'm sorry, I don't have individual descriptions or prices for these pens, but I believe they're all $18-$30. http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0007.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0012.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0014.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0016.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0018.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0019.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/pens/PICT0022.jpg

I just don't get all the attraction of RHD cars .... some people just have to draw attention to themselves, I guess.

Very kewl ride, Mike.

Decals arrived in great shape--Thanks!

I can do that, but I'll have to get up earlier to unload it. It's got paint ladders strapped to the top of it right now and a couple of broken bags of plaster in the back.

not to worry ...... rain's over for the weekend but it'll be a nippy 43 at 8 a.m.

Psyched

Nice rides. Welcome to CR. I hope you can make it to a CR meet or track day soon..... + rep

You're welcome! Glad you're enjoying it. From post #1: Prices are from $18 for a handmade oak ballpoint pen up to $50, which buys an exotic wood pen/mechanical pencil matching set boxed in a rosewood presentation case. I have found his pens to be priced at about one-fifth the price of comparable pens. Believe me, he won't mind talking to you about pricing. The price is entirely determined by his cost of materials. He has some wood blanks that he got for next to nothing. The major "add-ons" are the specialty clips, the 30-.06 pre-drilled kit, upgraded innards. Just email him with what you think you want, and he'll get back to you with prices and options. From post #11: He usually prices the rifle pens at 30-40 bucks, depending on rarity of the wood. He has to pay a premium for the rifle clips. You'll need to check with him about whether he has the brazilian redwood in stock or if he needs to order it. Once he knows that, he can tell you the exact price. I haven't seen locomotive clips, but he'll know if he can get one. I've seen medical, rifle, music, and golf. Drop him a line and see what he can do for you. I talked with him last night and he was packing for a camping trip in West Virginia. He should be back Sunday night and can answer any questions you have. I wouldn't worry about "bothering" him with questions--he loves to talk about his work. His email again is jdegen@columbus.rr.com He promises to have a website with photos, prices, and explanations within the next couple of weeks. That will make this whole process easier. He already has PayPal set-up. Again, thanks for your interest. Samples of pens from $18 to $30 will be at Cars & Coffee tomorrow. I can't sell from his sample case, but he can duplicate any of the pens if you found the exact one you wanted.

Justin's recovering from a traffic accident: http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78916&highlight=justin

Greg, You've helped me many times with gun advice .... just let me know if you have a favorite wood and I'll have him make one for you as a gift from me.

I will bring samples of my friend's handmade pens to Cars & Coffee tomorrow (4-17-10). I hope to have photos of samples posted to this thread sometime this weekend. He is working on his website and hopes to have it operational within the next two weeks. In the meantime, you can contact him at jdegen@columbus.rr.com if you'd like him to custom produce a pen for you. Tell him you saw the posts on Columbus Racing. Most of the pens are priced from $18 to $35, but I've ordered some really upscale pens that will sell for more. I'll post photos of them when he completes them in a couple of weeks.

People who know me know that I'm a Lotus enthusiast. However, IMHO, the Esprits lived up to the Lotus name ..... if by LOTUS you mean Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious. A friend of mine sold Esprits new and had terrible stories of breakdowns, parts falling off, cars not even making it from the dealer to the new owner's house before failing, you name it. Can they be sorted out, fixed, re-engineeered? You bet. But is that really what you want to buy one for? I'm much happier with my choice of a Type 72D. In two years and 15k miles of driving it's needed only the routine scheduled service and tires. One fourth the operating cost of an Esprit and 10x more fun to drive. And mine gets 30+ mpg on every tank. My .02

first photo link brokey cool pic on 2nd, though

You guys go way overboard with the violence in your dream gun collection. I just would want a little something I could shoot trap with:

Kato wood went to Anthony Curly zebra went to baron (no, you don't need to buy another--it's free) That finishes the pens he gave me. Anyone posting to the thread or pm'ing me, I will give you the craftsman's email and feel free to contact him there. Just mention you saw Doc's post on Columbus Racing and he'll work with you on whatever you want him to make. I will be out of Ohio for the next few days, but when I return I'll see if I can meet with him and post some photos on the thread of his samples. I think you'll be pleased with his handiwork. Since the question of price has arisen again, I'll repeat what he told me. He said his lowest price on a handmade wooden pen is $18. His highest price is $50 for a matched set of pen/mechanical pencil made from exotic wood and in a rosewood presentation case. Factors that he considers in his pricing are the price of the wood (or acrylic, or rifle shell), the price of the mechanism inside the pen, the price of the clip, and the price of the box. If he ships it to you, he charges you the shipping cost. The way I figure it, he makes about $5-$10 for his time and labor. In the "rifle" pens I posted, he told me that the cost of the drilled shell and the cost of the rifle clip are what drive the price into the $30 dollar range. Most of his pens sell for less than that. I asked him to give me the rifle style pens because I figured at least the Gun Crew on here would have some interest.

Thanks for the advice. I'll pass it on to him. His first priority is to get some good photos. I'll see if I can set up a time to do some simple photos for him this coming weekend and will post the results to this thread.

hmmmm. if you can conceive (and draw) what it would look like, I'll forward it to him and see what he thinks. He turns the wood on a lathe (doesn't whittle it), so I can't think of how he could do it. But you make the drawing, and I'll run it by him. (I really need to do some photos of his samples--just too busy right now)

He has set-up a PayPal and ebay account, but his photography is so crappy that it amazes me that anyone buys anything based on that. My photos today aren't great, but you can at least tell it's a pen If you'd like a rifle pen he can accept payment through PayPal and ship the pen to you. I'll try to take some photos of his pens to post to this thread later this coming week. Then, if you see something you like, just email him and start the ball rolling. He unconditionally guarantees that you'll like the pen or you get a full refund (he's never had anyone want a refund). Mike asked how long it takes him to make the pen. If he has the wood in stock, it's a little over a week. If he has to order the wood, it's closer to 2-3 weeks.