Antler Letter Opener and Click Gatsby pen

[Doug B]

This is another set I wanted to have for the next craft show. Letter opener and a Click Gatsby. The Click Gatsby pen is a first for me and I really like it! I think I'll order some more of them.

[Knotty_Pine]

Doug,

What would that letter opener go for at sale?

Love that display box BTW!

[sachbvn]

Awesome! Where did you get the letter opener kit? I like it - much more like a dagger than a flimsy POS that most look like in catalogs.


Zac

[Doug B]

Thanks TJ and Zac.

TJ, I only make the letter openers as part of a set and only high end ones like Antler, Pine Cone, or Black and white Ebony. They make great gifts, and with Fathers Day coming up I wanted to have a few extra sets. I sold two of those sets at the last craft show and they went for close to a hundred bucks each.

Zac, those letter openers are great. They look fantastic and they actually work well to open mail too (unlike some others I've tried). I use the Black Titanium Euro style one shown here from CSUSA www.woodturnerscatalog.com/store/Projects___Desk_Accessories___European_Letter_Opener___euro_letter_opener?Args=

It's funny, but the center band of the Euro matches my classic twist pens almost exactly. Otherwise, I would go with the Americana versions instead because I like the cap end much better than the Euro style.

And it is a very well made letter opener.

[boodrow]

Outstanding job on um Doug , they go together very well , I like that more than a pen pencil set. How did u hinge the top? Brass pin it from the side?
Boodrow

[Doug B]

Thanks Boodrow!

I hate to say it but there is no way I can compete with the Chinese on making those boxes. I got them from Rockler www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=19573&source=googleps&utm_source=GoogleBase&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Google

Looks like they only have the Bubinga ones...not really made from Bubinga but finished to try to look like it...I like the Maple ones much better but I guess they are out of them now.

They have some shortcomings, but they really dress up the set. If I had the time I would make something like the ones Cody makes. And yes, they have brass pins on each side of the lid. LOML puts some cork in the bottom of them to protect the pen and opener...otherwise they would bounce around in the box. Felt would probably work just as well, but we have lots of the cork and it is easy to use for stuff like this.

[sachbvn]

I hate working with Cork - I did find, however, that hot glue is about the best way to attach it to anything. I had poor luck with spray adhesive (even the good stuff) and CA/Epoxy didn't work well either. Hot glue rocked the house.

My issue is the cork always tries to break when "molding" it to curves and such.


Zac

[Doug B]

Zac, my wife does the cork work for me so I had to ask her about it. She said she has bought 2 sets of self adhesive cork and one of them was good and the other was a PITA about breaking. But she says the self adhesive stuff is the way to go - it sticks well if you don't try to move it after you put it down.

She was not sure, but thought the one she likes might have come from Lowes as shelf liner. She said it is rubberized on the bottom and does not break apart as easily.