Frequently Asked Questions 

Your purchase should be cared for just like any other fine piece of art made of natural materials. With a little effort, the piece will last generations to come.

 

Leave the item where it will be exposed to extreme temperatures. Examples would be in a car or on a window sill. Wood and other natural materials (Mammoth Ivory, and Horn) still breathe and move with their environment. They will expand and contract with changed in temperature and humidity. Extremes of either of these can result in the piece splitting or cracking. Synthetic Materials, while they do not expand and contract like natural materials, can become more brittle when heated and cooled repetitively. Care for the purchase and you will have it for a long time to come.

 

Use chemicals or abrasives to clean your purchase. Both of these will damage the finish that was applied.

 

Clean and polish the piece with a high quality furniture paste wax and soft cloth. I recommend either Renaissance Wax or Briwax for this.

 

Please use your purchase as it was intended. It should be enjoyed and shown off for it's beauty.

 

Remember that the more care you take with your purchase, the longer it's life will be.

I damaged my purchase, can you repair it? 

I am most certainly willing to try. 

 

 In many instances I can tell if a repair is likely given a photo or two. If I think that repair is likely or if you would like me to see it first hand, you may ship it back to me at your cost. I will then repair it for a price agreed to before any work is done. I will then ship it back at my cost.

 

If I determine that it can't be repaired after I receive it, I will refund a portion of the shipping cost or return the purchase at my cost.

 

Where will my information go? Will it be used for a mailing list? 

It will go no where and be used for nothing. While I may email you personally from time to time to see how you are enjoying your purchase, and let you know of offers that may interest you. Those will be private communications between you and I. No list, no mass emails, not even a CC. 

 

I receive all the information I need via Paypal. And all I need is your email address and physical address. Your financial information remains with Paypal and I have no way of accessing the information, nor does anyone else outside of Paypal.

Is my purchase here secure? 

Absolutely. I take payments through paypal exclusively. As such, Paypal has given me access to a secure "shopping cart" for my customers use. You do not even need a Paypal account to make a purchase by credit card. And as mentioned above, the financial information stays with Paypal.

Shipping in the US is covered in the prices listed on the site. Outside of the US, I will contact you via email with a shipping quote. You can cancel the order at that time and I will issue a refund via Paypal.

 

Alternately, If you email me before hand, I can quote the shipping and put a purchase button up to show the shipping.

 

I would like to order 20 of an item, how many do you stock? 

What you see on the website is exactly what I have. Each item is one of a kind in that each piece of material is unique, and each has a unique stock number. If you order more than one of any stock number, I will refund the portion for the duplicates. Some items are listed in more than one place in the site, the Cetus is in Dragonworks and Large Penworks for example, but there is only one Cetus available at this time.

 

I take photos of each piece and list them individually, the only exceptions being the fountain pen options (nibs, etc.).

 

If you would like to order a quantity of anything, please contact me regarding the order and I would be happy to discuss.

 

Does the item REALLY look like this? 

Frankly, I don't know. I mean, I don't know what your monitor is showing you. Different computer settings, monitor settings and software may impact the visual output of the screen you are viewing. But I can tell you that I make every effort to show exactly what the purchase looks like in real life. The monitor/computer that I use shows an accurate representation in color and texture to the real item. 

What is the best plating for a pen? 

Well, there are many that make lovely pens, but only a few that provide the quality high enough for me to sell to you.

 

This is Titanium mixed with a small amount of 24k gold. 24k gold is very soft and not suitable for a pen that is going to be used daily. The mixture of Titanium with the 24k gold adds the toughness that is needed without effecting the color of the finish. This is a very durable finish. 

 

This is pure Titanium and has a gunmetal appearance. The same toughness as the above Gold Titanium. This is a very durable finish.

 

Sister metals, Platinum and Rhodium are among the toughest of metals. Both are Bright Silver in appearance. Very similar in appearance and cost, some suppliers use one, while others use the other. This is a very durable finish.

 

Just like the bumper on a 1940 Chevy, Chromium is as tough as they come. Only slightly less durable than the metals listed above, Chromium is very affordable in comparison. Bright Silver in appearance.

 

Now, Occasionally I will offer a pen made with solid metal components. As these are not plated, their wear is not an issue and will last generations with proper care. These will be noted clearly when offered. 

What are the differences in the pen types? 

There are three basic types of pens I sell.

 

Fountain Pens

These use a fountain nib and either international ink cartridges or an ink pump. the flow of ink is controlled by the nib and can be adjusted to a point. Personally I find writing with a fountain pen to be effortless. Ink colors are limited only by your imagination. The only caveat, don't use dip pen inks in a fountain pen (they contain too many solids which can clog the nib). Sizes can vary depending on the style of hardware from 5.25 inches long and more  when capped and .6 inches in diameter or more.

 

Rollerball Pens

These use a refill that is similar in appearance to a ballpoint refill, BUT they are not the same. A rollerball needs to be capped when not in use so that the ink does not dry up, this is similar to a fountain pen. The ink for a rollerball tends to be more liquid than a ballpoint and needs less pressure to write with. This is the way to go if you want a higher quality writing experience, but don't want a fountain pen. Sizes can vary depending on the style of hardware from 5.25 inches long and more  when capped and .6 inches in diameter or more.

 

Combo Package

 For some of the Executive pens I offer I offer a combo package. What you get here is the pen body, a fountain pen nib, and a rollerball nib. The fountain nib and rollerball nib are interchangeable in the pen body. So you have the ability to swap them out as you desire.

 

Click Ballpoint Pens

These have a very nice mechanism that trial show will not break (something that I insisted on before offering it on my site). The pens use a Parker style refill and measure 5.625 inches long and about .5 inches in diameter.

 

Large Ballpoint Pens

A heavier pen, these pens use a Parker style refill and measure 5.5 inches long and about .6 inches in diameter. People who have trouble gripping pens due to arthritis tend to favor these. 

 

Stylish Ballpoint Pens

A more Elegant pen, these use a Parker style refill and measure 5.25 inches long and .5-.6 inches in diameter. Favored by those with small hands.

 

Slender Ballpoint Pens

The smallest pens I offer, these pens use a Cross style refill and measure 5 inches or more and .4-.5 inches in diameter. This style allows more creativity in making the pen, so the size is more varied.

 

No, this is not damage. As I've mentioned before, Woods and other natural materials breathe and move as the environment changes around them. They will expand and contract based on the amount of humidity in the air and the temperature. I've seen it happen all too often in floors of old homes. The nearly invisible gaps of a humid Summer become 1/4 inch wide in the dry Winter air. Nothing has happened, but the wood reacting to the environment. The same can happen to your pen. More humidity and the pen natural material will expanded and be proud of the metal components, Less humidity and it will contract and the metal will be proud of it.  As long as it is not an annoyance to you, and does not cause the material to crack, it is fine. If there is a problem, contact me.