Mike's Pens By Design

Squiggly Segmented Wood European Pen

I love the combination of curves on this pen - the curvy cap of the European pen, the convex profile of the wood, and the squiggly segmented pattern combine to great effect. Made from my favorite two north-american woods - the contrast of walnut and maple is hard to beat. Order one of these and you're guaranteed a unique pen - the squiggly pattern is never the same twice. I always buy the Artisan brand pens through Craft Supplies USA, for the best-quality mechanisms and finishes. With the quality components and fine workmanship, this pen will impress, and will provide a satisfying writing experience for years.

Price for 10k gold as shown: $60.00. Other finishes, shapes, and choices of wood are available. Email me to discuss specifics if you want something not shown in the options below.
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Spiral Segmented Wood Cigar Pen

I love this pen! The combination of the hefty cigar pen style, the contrast of the walnut and maple, and the clean lines of the spiral segmented pattern, this pen has MMMMMPPPHHHHH! I just don't know how else to put it. I always say, once you've really given a hand-turned wood pen a chance, you'll never use a plastic disposable pen gladly again. It just makes writing with it a highly enjoyable experience. Don't get me started on the power of the impression you'll make when you pull a pen like this out of your pocket at a business meeting...

Price for 24k gold as shown: $65.00. Other finishes available, as well as other wood choices.Email me to discuss specifics if you want something not available in the drop-down menu.
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Padauk and Holly Celtic Knot Slimline Wood Pen

Padauk has become one of my favorite woods to work with for small turnings - it comes from a large tree reaching diameters as large as 45". Heights of 130' are not uncommon. Heartwood varies from yellow to brick red, but most commonly seen in a dark red-orange. It polishes up well, and has such interesting grain. The celtic knot in this pen adds a unique touch that separates this from your average run-of-the-mill pen. Pass it around - your friends will be impressed. With quality Artisan components, this pen will look and work smoothly for years.

Price as shown with Chrome finish: $50.00. Other woods and finishes are available. Email me to discuss specifics if you can't find what you want in the pull-down below.
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Squiggly Segmented Slimline Wood Pen

Yet another pen with my favorite two north-american woods - the contrast of walnut and maple is hard to beat. Order one of these and you're guaranteed a unique pen - the squiggly pattern is never the same twice, and with the narrow profile of the slimline pen, it's dramatic. I always buy the Artisan brand pens through Craft Supplies USA, for the best-quality mechanisms and finishes. This will be a pen that provides a satisfying writing experience for years.

Price for 10k gold as shown: $55.00. Other finishes, shapes, and choices of wood are available. Email me to discuss specifics if you want something not shown in the options below.
By clicking on "Order Now," buyer agrees to these terms.

Spiral-Segmented Americana Wood Twist Pen

I have always enjoyed the comfortable contrast of two of North America's most beautiful woods: Walnut and maple. This segmented pattern puts the contrast to great effect with a dramatic spiral pattern. Add to that the classic Americana pen style with its straight lines - the clean lines and precision work make it a pen to behold. Add to that the sophisticated heft and tactile experience of a wood pen - this is guaranteed to impress at the conference table!

Price for 24k gold as shown: $55.00. Other finishes available, as well as other wood choices. Email me to discuss specifics if you want something not available in the drop-down menu.
By clicking on "Order Now," buyer agrees to these terms.

Americana Wood Twist Pen - Bocote and 24k Gold

Americana style pens, as my supplier puts it so well, "reflect the classic lines and distinctive style of pens made during America's golden age. Black accents on the cap and writing tip offer an elegant contrast. The smooth twist mechanism features a premium Swiss-made Parker style ballpoint refill with carbide writing tip for consistent ink flow."

They're available in 24-k gold as shown, or for added durability, 10-k gold, gold titanium, or rhodium. The pen shown is from Bocote, with a creamy brown color and wavy black stripes, making for striking contrast. Bocote is from a small tree native to Central and South America, sometimes called Mexican Rosewood. Because of its striking color and grain, it's popular for accents and turnings.

Other woods are also available. Price starts at $30 for 24-k gold finish.By clicking on "Order Now," buyer agrees to these terms

Segmented Wood Americana Roller Ball Pen and Letter Opener Set

This hand-turned segmented Americana roller-ball pen and letter opener desk set is made from classic Americana style components. 10-K gold plated for durability and class, and with a checkered, diagonally-cut segmented pattern that makes the set one-of-a-kind. This set is made from padauk (the red wood) and maple (tan), with blackwood diagonal pieces. Most any of the other woods I show on my website could also be used.

The technique involved in assembling the wood pieces is involved, which raises the cost, and the uniqueness, of the piece over solid-piece pens. Order this set or a similar set for $115.00. Individually, this style of pen is $65.00, letter opener $60.00.
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Segmented European Pen and Letter Opener Maple and Padauk

This hand-turned segmented european pen and letter opener desk set is made from classic European style components. 10-K gold plated for durability and class, and with a curvy segmented pattern that makes the set one-of-a-kind. This set is made from padauk (the red wood) and maple (tan). Most any of the other woods I show on my website could also be used.

The technique involved in assembling the wood pieces is involved, which raises the cost, and the uniqueness, of the piece over solid-piece pens. Order this set or a similar set for $110.00. Individually, this style of pen or letter opener is available for $60.00.By clicking on "Order Now," buyer agrees to these terms

Rhodium and Ebony Americana Desk Set

This hand-turned wood letter opener and roller-ball pen desk set is made from classic Americana style components. Rhodium plated for durability and class, and with beautiful Nigerian Ebony, it makes quite an impression.

Nigerian Ebony, or Gaboon Ebony, is a rather small tree that reaches heights no taller than 60'

and no larger than 2' diameter. The heartwood is jet black, very hard, and very dense. It's an exotic wood probably most known for its use as fingerboards and keys for various musical instruments. It's also great for pens, bottle stoppers, knife handles and jewelry boxes. Ebony is the Greek word for "fruit of the gods". Historically drinking goblets were made from its wood, as they believed it was an antidote for poison, and its use would ward off their enemy's evil intent.

Rhodium has been used for honors, or to symbolize wealth, when more commonly used metals such as silver, gold, or platinum are deemed insufficient. In 1979 the Guinness Book of World Records gave Paul McCartney a rhodium-plated disc for being history's all-time best-selling songwriter and recording artist. Guinness has also noted items such as the world's "Most Expensive Pen" or "Most Expensive Board Game" as containing rhodium.

The supply of Rhodium pen and letter opener parts is limited, so inquire via email if they're available. $100.00 for the set.

Spiral Segmented Pen - Blackwood and Yellowheart Slimline

I've recently started trying my hand at segmented wood pens. Each is a one-of-a kind creation, and striking to hold. This pen is made from Pao Amarello, or yellowheart, and African blackwood, using Artisan Slimline parts that are plated with black chrome. The twist mechanism is smooth, the finish is shiny, and I really like how the colors go together - one of my favorite pens to date.

Price for this pen, or similar segmented Slimline: $50.00
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Wood Pen - Purpleheart and Chrome, Custom Design

This purpleheart wood pen was a bit of an experiment for me. I started with chrome slimline parts, and then I did away with the center band so that I wasn't limited to a certain diameter in the middle of the pen. I like the resulting design - not as slim as the slimline pens I'm used to seeing, and a little shorter - this keeps the small convenient planner-sized pen but gives it a more masculine look.

Order this pen, or one like it, for $25.00By clicking on "Order Now," buyer agrees to these terms

Bloodwood Pen with Custom Clip

This wood pen was custom designed for a special gift for a friend's husband. It shows one of the many possibilities if you're looking for a one-of-a-kind gift. Other shapes and clips and choices of wood are available - see below or visit my "Design Your Pen" page to walk through your choices. The double-concave shape is surprisingly comfortable to hold, and makes the pen stand out in a crowd.

Bloodwood comes in deep reds, from light like this to dark like other bloodwood pens I've made. It's very hard and dense, my personal favorite for pens. Bloodwood is actually a name for several types of reddish wood. It is hard and tough, with no smell at all, unless it's smoking hot, in which case it smells like coconut and sweet incense. Shavings are a striking bright red color, and it finishes nicely. Hard and strong, it's supposed to age to a deep brown color, but the finish will slow that down.

price: $42.50By clicking on "Order Now," buyer agrees to these terms

Beaded Slimline Pen - Macassar Ebony

Made from premium Artisan brand Beaded Slimline parts, and Macassar Ebony, this hand-turned wood pen looks and feels elegant and classy.

The Macassar Ebony tree grows to heights of 70- feet. Heartwood is dark brown to black, streaked throughout with darker and paler bands, stripes, and splotches. Sawing can be difficult due to the hardness of the wood. Finishes well with high luster.

Price for this pen: $35.00. Order a matching pencil for a Pen and Pencil Set.
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Beaded Slimline Pen - Burmese Rosewood

Made from Burmese Rosewood and Beaded Artisan Slimline parts with 10-k gold finish, this twist pen turned out beautifully with a deep shiny luster and attractive grain. The shape of this pen is comfortable to hold, and attractively symmetric.

Burmese Rosewood is a medium sized tree that usually grows no larger than 20" diameter. Heartwood is light red or reddish brown with distinctly darker grain lines in most trees, yellowish with darker lines in others. The color darkens with exposure to sunlight. Turns well and produces a high and lasting polish.

Price for this pen: $35.00. Order a matching pencil for a Pen and Pencil Set.

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Beaded Slimline Pen - Ambrosia Maple

Ambrosia Maple is one of the most beautiful woods out there, with the beetle holes, the black stains they introduce, and the resluting flecks throughought the otherwise unstained portions of the wood. The wood I use for these pens is specially selected, diagonally cut to include the most contrast, and stabilized with resin for a durable, stable, crack-free pen. Put together with the beaded slimline parts, and cut in this comfortable, concave shape, this pen says Classy and Cultured when you pull it out for use.

The beaded pen kit is 10-k gold plated for durability. Order yours for $40.00By clicking on "Order Now," buyer agrees to these terms

Slimline Pen and Pencil Set - Hand Turned Dyed Box Elder Burl

This is an Artisan brand slimline pen and pencil set with custom clips in the shape of a treble clef. It is hand-turned from stabilized dyed box elder burl, and uses durable 10-k gold components. The Box Elder tree is a variety of maple tree, also known as Boxelder Maple and Maple Ash. A small, fast-growing, and short-lived tree, it has generally weak wood with little use commercially, except for the burls, which have beautiful coloring and grain patterns. This pencil is from a dyed box elder burl where they impregnate it with a colored dye. In addition to green, the dyed box elder burls are available in yellow, red, black, blue, purple, brown, and magenta.

The custom clips make these totally personal and individual, and therefore great gifts. Other shapes available are baseball, golf, tennis, football, basketball, soccer, rifle, bowling, fishing, medical, hockey, cross, or jonah (fish). This set was actually made by my son, Tyler, with my help for the finishing touches.By clicking on "Order Now," buyer agrees to these terms

Slimline Pen - Hand Turned Dyed Box Elder Burl

This is an Artisan brand slimline pen with a custom clip in the shape of a treble clef. It is hand-turned from stabilized dyed box elder burl, and uses durable 10-k gold components. The Box Elder tree is a variety of maple tree, also known as Boxelder Maple and Maple Ash. A small, fast-growing, and short-lived tree, it has generally weak wood with little use commercially, except for the burls, which have beautiful coloring and grain patterns. This pen is from a dyed box elder burl where they impregnate it with a colored dye. In addition to green, the dyed box elder burls are available in yellow, red, black, blue, purple, brown, and magenta.

The custom clips make these totally personal and individual, and therefore great gifts. Other shapes available are baseball, golf, tennis, football, basketball, soccer, rifle, bowling, fishing, medical, hockey, cross, or jonah (fish). This pencil was actually made by my son, Tyler, with my help for the finishing touches.

Order with a matching pencil for a wood pen and pencil set.
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Wood Bullet Pen - .50 Caliber Browning Machine Gun

My son's teacher wanted a special gift for her husband for Valentine's day. He works on machine guns at the nearby military base, and she thought, "Those big bullets are about the size of a pen" and then she thought of me. Above you see the finished result - a dimensionally correct .50 caliber bullet-shaped pen made from solid hardwoods. I used Nigerian ebony for the slug and black walnut for the casing, finished with Mylands friction polish. The twist mechanism is a quality Artisan brand transmission for smooth, quality action, and it uses a cross-type refill.

Here's the pen next to the bullet "dud" that I was given to model it from.

Here's the really fun part: because the school has a zero-tolerance policy, she had to be really careful how she ordered/talked about this pen and can't ever bring it to school :)

Cocobolo European Pen and Pencil Set

This European Pen and Pencil Set is made from 10k gold-plated components and Cocobolo. The pencil uses 0.7mm lead, and features a smooth twist mechanism to advance the lead.

Cocobolo is a medium sized Central American tree growing up to 2' diameter and 90' tall. The heartwood is typically orange or reddish-brown in color, often with a figuring of darker irregular traces weaving through the wood, while the sapwood is a creamy yellow, contrasting sharply with the heartwood. Its fine texture and excellent color make Cocobolo one of the most popular exotic woods. Grows along Pacific seaboard of Mexico and Central America. Considered one of the most important woods in cutlery business for knife handles (can be soaked in soapy water with minimal ill effects). Also used for tool handles, brush backs, bowling balls, chess pieces, carving, jewelry boxes, canes, utensils, buttons, musical and scientific instruments, especially guitars and basses, but some woodwind instruments such as clarinets and oboes have been successfully made using cocobolo instead of the more usual African blackwood. It is also used in making luxury pens, and decorative veneer and inlay.

Price to order: $100.00By clicking on "Order Now," buyer agrees to these terms.

European Wood Pencil - Cocobolo and 10k Gold

This Wood European Mechanical Pencil uses 0.7mm lead, and features a smooth twist mechanism to advance the lead. It is made from quality 10k gold-plated Artisan parts and Cocobolo.

Cocobolo is a medium sized Central American tree growing up to 2' diameter and 90' tall. The heartwood is typically orange or reddish-brown in color, often with a figuring of darker irregular traces weaving through the wood, while the sapwood is a creamy yellow, contrasting sharply with the heartwood. Its fine texture and excellent color make Cocobolo one of the most popular exotic woods. Grows along Pacific seaboard of Mexico and Central America. Considered one of the most important woods in cutlery business for knife handles (can be soaked in soapy water with minimal ill effects). Also used for tool handles, brush backs, bowling balls, chess pieces, carving, jewelry boxes, canes, utensils, buttons, musical and scientific instruments, especially guitars and basses, but some woodwind instruments such as clarinets and oboes have been successfully made using cocobolo instead of the more usual African blackwood. It is also used in making luxury pens, and decorative veneer and inlay.

Price to order: $55.00By clicking on "Order Now," buyer agrees to these terms.

European Wood Pen - Cocobolo and 10k Gold

This Wood European Twist Pen is made from quality 10k gold-plated Artisan parts and Cocobolo. Cocobolo is a medium sized Central American tree growing up to 2' diameter and 90' tall. The heartwood is typically orange or reddish-brown in color, often with a figuring of darker irregular traces weaving through the wood, while the sapwood is a creamy yellow, contrasting sharply with the heartwood. Its fine texture and excellent color make Cocobolo one of the most popular exotic woods. Grows along Pacific seaboard of Mexico and Central America. Considered one of the most important woods in cutlery business for knife handles (can be soaked in soapy water with minimal ill effects). Also used for tool handles, brush backs, bowling balls, chess pieces, carving, jewelry boxes, canes, utensils, buttons, musical and scientific instruments, especially guitars and basses, but some woodwind instruments such as clarinets and oboes have been successfully made using cocobolo instead of the more usual African blackwood. It is also used in making luxury pens, and decorative veneer and inlay.

Price to order: $45.00By clicking on "Order Now," buyer agrees to these terms.

Kingwood and Gold European Pen with Custom Clip

This European wood twist pen was made by my 8-year-old son, with help from me, of course, with the wood and clip and style of his choosing. To design your own, follow the design-your-pen program on my page. This was made to reflect his love of music, especially playing the piano, and with one of the most striking woods out there.

Kingwood, also called Violetwood or Violete, is from a slender low tree native to Brazil. It is called kingwood because in the 18th and 19th century it was a favorite wood of French kings for their furniture. It is fairly rare, and its fine texture and stability makes it a prized wood for inlay work, wood turning, and fancy accessories.

The European pen is classy and stylish, and can be ordered with a large variety of clips (view at my supplier's page). Price to order: $50.00
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Black and White Ebony and Chrome Slimline Pen and Pencil Set

This hand-turned wood pen and pencil set is made from black and white ebony, with quality Artisan slimline components, chrome-plated for style and durability. Black and white ebony is one of the most rare woods in the ebony family. Found primarily in Burma, and Laos, it is prized for its dramatic grain coloring and is considered a rare find. It features striking contrast between a creamy background and thick, dark chocolate bands. This wood has silky-fine texture with mostly straight grain and is very hard. It turns nicely and takes a fabulous polish.

The chrome finish matches nicely with the ebony, and is one of the more durable metal finishes available for custom pens and pencils. Price for this pen and pencil set: $65.00
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Waiting List Information

Custom-Made Hand-Turned Wood Pens