Exotic Favorites
Back to the Future
"They are tricky to work with because you don't have a consistent grain pattern. It changes the strength properties as you are working through it. You can get weak sections and then it changes. You have to be very delicate with it and use very sharp tools," Harding says.
"You cut into something and you see some grain patterns you didn't expect, and you see some color come out. You get these surprises as you get into the wood."
Exotic Favorites
Harding offers ballpoints, roller balls, fountain pens and touch screen styluses in a variety of woods, but like all woodworkers, he has his favorites.
"The pen I carry every day is a Pink Ivory," he says. "It's a beautiful pink-colored wood originating from South Africa and was a well-known royal wood favored by Zulu Kings."
"African Blackwood is another beautiful wood. It has a very dark, black color. You can actually see the grain in it," he says.
"It's extremely hard and it's tough to do a finish on. It has a lot of oils in it. It took me a long time to be able to get a good pen out of that wood, but it is a very rewarding wood to work with. It's very beautiful and it does have such unique properties."
Back to the Future
About a quarter of Harding's sales are fountain pens. "I get people who want to return to using a fountain pen," Harding says. "The real surprise has been the recent interest in traditional pens with a new twist: the ability to also use them with smartphones and touch screens."
His first prototype was for his wife who likes to use the family iPad. "The first one didn't work very well," he admits, but subsequent efforts have borne fruit.
"They need capacitance (the ability to store an electrical charge). They actually have to have a connection between the stylus tip and the human body," he says. Because the center of a pen is brass tubing, if you're touching the center band or any part of the metal on the pen, the connection between the tip and human body is made.
Harding is now making double-ended pens with a traditional ballpoint, roller or fountain pen tip on one end, and the computer-based stylus on the other.
But he still leans towards the more traditional writing instruments: "It still has its place. You can be in a boat in the middle of a lake and still write. It won't go haywire if you get it wet."
This has a stylus tip suitable for an iPad or smart phone. Fashioned from purpleheart, the dark rings are created by running a steel wire against the pen as it spins quickly on the lathe. The wood darkens as it begins to burn, creating decorative contrasting lines.
Slim twist pen in Paela wood with gold plated hardware.
Frequently asked questions
What makes Pink Ivory wood special for pen making?+
Pink Ivory is a beautiful pink-colored wood originating from South Africa. It was a well-known royal wood favored by Zulu Kings.
Why is African Blackwood difficult to work with?+
African Blackwood is extremely hard and contains a lot of oils, which makes it tough to apply a finish. It takes significant time to master, but is rewarding due to its dark black color, visible grain, and unique properties.
How does a wooden pen work as a touch screen stylus?+
Touch screen styluses require capacitance, meaning there must be a connection between the stylus tip and the human body. Because the center of a pen is brass tubing, touching the center band or metal on the pen completes the connection between the tip and the user.
What are double-ended pens by Harding?+
Harding makes double-ended pens that feature a traditional ballpoint, roller ball, or fountain pen tip on one end and a computer-based stylus on the other end.
How are decorative dark rings created on purpleheart pens?+
The dark rings are made by running a steel wire against the pen as it spins quickly on the lathe. The wood darkens as it begins to burn, creating decorative contrasting lines.
Why are fountain pens still popular despite digital technology?+
About a quarter of Harding's sales are fountain pens, as customers want to return to using them. Traditional writing instruments still have their place because they work anywhere, such as in a boat on a lake, and won't malfunction if they get wet.