If you receive a gift from David Bullock, it’s definitely something to write home about.
Literally.
That’s because the 75-year-old retired boat captain makes pens.
Wait, what? You can actually make your own pens?
Turns out, if you have the right tools and a decent amount of craftsmanship, you can actually turn out some unique, one-of-a-kind writing instruments you won’t find in any store.
Bullock’s workshop sits next to his home in the little community of Dixonville, Alabama, which borders the Florida Panhandle north of Pensacola. He grew up taking shop class in school and had a father who worked with wood as a hobby.
“I’ve always loved working with my hands,” he said, as he showed off some of his creations.
He pointed to his wife of 44 years as a source of inspiration.
“My father-in-law really got me interested in this,” he said. Once his wife noted that he liked working with wood, she bought him power tools. The first thing he made was a set of end tables.
If you can think it, Bullock can probably make it. Along with pens, he’s created picture frames, stitch rippers, measuring spoons, pepper mills, pizza cutters, and other assorted kitchen tools. A giant cross he created for the First Methodist Church of Brewton, Alabama, is displayed there on Easter, and a manger that he fashioned sits on the altar during the Christmas season. He has also made a replica of the church for another member.
But the pens he hands out as gifts make a big impression because they’re so unique, and no one ever expects to get something like them. He says the reaction is pretty much the same for every recipient: “They can’t believe I made them.”
How It’s Made
So how do you make a pen? Bullock starts with what are called “blanks,” which he purchases from a supply company that specializes in pen making. These blanks are little box-shaped pieces (technically rectangular cuboids) of wood or acrylic, available in different colors and designs, that will be turned into the barrel of the pen. Want a pen with a logo of your favorite team, or one that shows your profession? Maybe a camouflage pen or one with the stars and stripes? Those are available as well.The blanks have holes drilled in the middle for the mechanical parts of the pen. Once Bullock has chosen the blank, he’s off to his lathe, which will turn the rectangle into something smooth and comfortable for your hand. Once he’s reached the desired width, he uses sandpaper to smooth it out and applies shellac and polish for shine. Then it’s time to put the pen together.
The pen’s guts, which include the ballpoint, spring, tip, and cap, are sold separately. The caps are available in all sorts of designs, from simple to elaborate. Bullock adds the mechanical parts of the pen to the blank he’s just finished on the lathe, and presto—he has a working, refillable ballpoint pen.
You’d think this might take all day.
“It takes about 20 minutes,” Bullock said.
While he’s worked with wood since he was a kid, he started making pens about 10 years ago. Over the years, he has sold a few, but he doesn’t think it would be a good business.
“People won’t buy quality; they want quantity,” he said. He prefers giving them as gifts.
So if you think the only way you can have a homemade pen is with a quill and an inkwell, think again. Next time you grab one of those plastic disposable pens, you might instead consider something handmade that could last a lifetime.
