Make your own feathered pen in no time.
Modern ink pen designs come in all shapes, colors and fashions; however, the simplicity offered by feathered pens, also known as quill pens, can be appreciated for the ability of doing the job while adding some unique flair to the act of writing. Quill pens can be made fairly easily from almost any feather but are best made from feathers with larger stems, for the obvious reason of providing a better grip. Below is a simple guide to making a quill pen of your own.
Instructions
1. Fill the bread pan with the sand, spreading the sand evenly across the pan's bottom. Place the pan in the oven for approximately 20 to 30 minutes at a temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Choose your feather, identifying one free of damage and with a wide enough stem providing for a comfortable grip in your hand. The ideal length is 10 to 12 inches in length, with a 1/8 to 1/4 inch diameter for the base (depending on your preference.)
3. Fill the cup with hot water, soaking the entire feather for two to three minutes and allowing the water to permeate through the hard shaft, making it more flexible; remove the feather from the water, bend and shape the feather as you wish at this point before it stiffens.
4. Strip away the downy parts of the feather near the thicker end (the bottom) of the shaft. Use the knife or razor to carefully cut away the excess, which prevent a good grip at the base of the feather's shaft.
5. Remove the bread pan from the oven and push the feather (base first) at approximately a 30-degree angle into the hot sand as deeply as possible. You will want to cover the entire base up to the middle of the shaft. This process is known as tempering and strengthens the properties of the physical makeup of the shaft, giving it more durability, longer life and usability. Wait approximately 15 to 20 minutes for the sand to cool and remove the feather.
6. Using your sharp knife, hold the base of the feather away from you, making two opposing cuts 1/4 to 1 inch from the tip of the feather's base. Make your cuts away from you at 45-degree angles. If done correctly, the cuts should resemble horns.
7. Bend the horns together to create a tip, which is the tip you will use for writing with your new feather pen. If there happens to be any membrane coming from within the shaft, use the tweezers to pull it out.
8. Dip the newly created tip into the inkwell, covering the tip only with ink. The tip should be covered or appear 'wet' with ink, which will provide an ample amount for writing. Too much ink will form an ink drop, causing the pen to blot when writing. In this case, wipe away the excess ink from the pen's tip. You will have to dip the pen frequently when writing as the ink dries fairly quickly.
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