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Feb 25 / Leigh Reyes

Make your own bamboo pen.

If you have a knife, a collection of thin bamboo sticks originally meant to be home decor, and an idle mind, you can make your own bamboo pen.

Bamboo, knife

Bamboo, knife

Carve diagonally into the tip of the bamboo (if you didn’t pick yours up from a home store, but from your backyard, you’ll have to dry it in the sun first for a couple of days). Go in at a 45º angle first. Then carve the finer details in so that you end up with a teardrop shape.

Shaping the nib

Shaping the nib

Hollow out the pith to create a reservoir for ink.
Use small strokes to thin out the tip

Use small strokes to thin out the tip

The tip should be squared off cleanly, and should be thin enough to give you a soft yet defined line.
Slit the nib

Slit the nib

Use your knife to slit the tip (yes, just like a regular nib) to allow ink to travel. Extra points if you drill in a heart-shaped breather hole.
This is it, more or less

This is it, more or less

The bamboo absorbs some of the ink, of course, but the hollowed-out area can hold a tiny pool.

Dip into ink

Dip into ink

This was written with one dip’s worth of ink (Noodler’s Singapore Sepia).
Bamboo pen, writing sample

Bamboo pen, writing sample

The pen I whittled last night had a wider nib at first, then I trimmed it to achieve a finer line.
Bamboo pen, fine nib

Bamboo pen, fine nib

All the doodles on this Moleskine sketchbook page came out of a single bamboo pen, Waterman Florida Blue and Noodler’s Singapore Sepia.

Bamboo pen doodle

Bamboo pen doodle

Filed under Fountain Pens and Ink
  • Ted

    …all that, and you even use Spyderco knives! You’re my hero. If only I were 10 years younger and single! :)

  • http://leighreyes.com Leigh Reyes

    Ted: LOL! :D

  • dannzeman

    Oh my! A surprise around every corner. Fountain pens AND knives? I think your next post needs to show us a little more of your knife collection ;)

  • http://leighreyes.com Leigh Reyes

    dannzeman: Oh no, this is my only knife. :) As I keep telling my friends, I’m only allowed one vice per lifetime. Okay, maybe one and a half. ;)

  • Carl

    If and when the apocalypse happens and we have to improvise writing instruments (and everything else), I want to be in your cave. ;)

  • http://www.reginaldgolding.com reginald golding

    As always; most amazing. Thankyou, Leigh.

  • http://jennyo.net Jenny Ortuoste

    Are you sure you didn’t invent fire? :) Sweet bamboo pen, and terrific calligraphy, as ever. It’s not in the pen – it’s in the hand. :)

  • TAO

    Grunt…bamboo pen gooooood! Fire baaaaaad! Oh, and I think it’s both the hand and the brain it’s connected to!

  • Katherine Wagner

    Hi Leigh…I teach Art Appreciation at a local college and have been showing students how to make bamboo pens for several years now…I really like the way that you are demonstrating it. May I have your permission to copy on or two of the pictures with a link to your site?
    Many thanks
    Katherine Wagner

  • http://leighreyes.com Leigh Reyes

    Katherine: Certainly! :)

  • http://amateureconblog.blogspot.com/ Speedmaster

    Wow, that’s fantastic, very impressive!!!!!

  • inklove

    hi. been wanting to get my hands on a bamboo pen and there i found you and your blogsite. where did you get your knife? i am based in sg wondering if there is something i can get here. i am a pen freak.. super delighted to read your blogs..

  • http://leighreyes.com Leigh Reyes

    inklove: So sorry not to have answered sooner. My knife was a gift, but you can google “Spyderco” and see if there are any Singapore-based sellers, or online merchants who will ship to Singapore. :)

  • rubyeyespenlover

    Dear Leigh,

    I found your web site looking at FPN post.

    I only have to say : “WOW!”

    I love the passion in your post and your Nakaya….

    I also love fountains pen and knifes….

    Have the best day of your week today!

  • http://leighreyes.com Leigh Reyes

    rubyeyespenlover: Thank you! I’ll respond to your FPN pm in a bit. See you on the forum. :)

  • Pingback: In Which She Admits to Having Whittled a Pen « The Orchard

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonofthemummy/sets/72157623342534475/ Bob

    The carving tool is so beautifully amazing, with its scarab motif in the design.

  • http://leighreyes.com Leigh Reyes

    Bob, it’s actually a spider, as it is a Spyderco knife. But you’re right, it does look like a scarab from certain angles!

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonofthemummy/sets/72157623342534475/ Bob

    Yeah, the company’s spider logo looks like the ancient glyph with a couple of extra legs. I guess it makes it look more arcane and creative. It certainly looks magical.

  • Jake

    So I’m taking a class in Safrut (The calligraphy of Hebrew which is necessary in the writing of the sefer torah) Thanks so much. This is very helpful.

  • pen person

    could you use a stick in stead of bamboo?

  • http://leighreyes.com Leigh Reyes

    You could, but it would probably be good for only one or two strokes.