Making the Pen
The Grovemade Pen was designed for your desk. With an all-metal seamless body, it’s heavy and feels good in hand, and it has a dedicated solid stand that gives it a place to call home. Come behind the scenes to see how the pen is made.
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![Exploded view illustration showing the pieces that make up the pen.](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FcoverB-pen-design-explosion-A1-mobile.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=2604527d788beabf85d461d91607d83a 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FcoverB-pen-design-explosion-A1-mobile.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=e228ae0164e0495e696d8ff6ddf13d71 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FcoverB-pen-design-explosion-A1-mobile.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=2dd04e08b842832b1ac805a8808aed47 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FcoverB-pen-design-explosion-A1-mobile.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=ab932e0c3f8b5477a71fc6e6c587ca15 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FcoverB-pen-design-explosion-A1-mobile.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=4263970ab9c9171e6c09b409c35c3c87 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FcoverB-pen-design-explosion-A1-mobile.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=75fe5ed23fc12ff65f3e408834744951 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FcoverB-pen-design-explosion-A1-mobile.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=9d796495f6843544710bdd7026ed0806 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FcoverB-pen-design-explosion-A1-mobile.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=f5f24cc60bad035631169a315a1807ad 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FcoverB-pen-design-explosion-A1-mobile.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=d90dc5c72afbcda265e9d5617ce54395 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FcoverB-pen-design-explosion-A1-mobile.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=b2d832d9d1ada2a26b14635d7b50b6f3 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FcoverB-pen-design-explosion-A1-mobile.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=48f9aa30398d5c3c37ffcefe78d84113 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FcoverB-pen-design-explosion-A1-mobile.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=593648b5bd383789bcb7a0c2767d733b 3000w)
From Raw to Refined
The pen begins its life as a solid bar of metal, otherwise known as a billet, in brass, aluminum and titanium. We work with a vendor in Vancouver, WA who specialize in a process called Swiss Screw Machining. There they take our solid bars of metal, and use our design and engineering specs to turn it into two forms: the pen body and the dial.
Why Swiss Machining?
Usually, circular metal forms are made with a lathe. The material is held at one end, spun extremely fast, and cut to the desired shape with a cutting tool. The accuracy is limited, however, when cutting long shapes, because the piece is only held at one end—there's a slight wobble that is introduced as it spins. We needed something more precise for our pen, so we found experts in swiss machining. With swiss machining, the piece of metal is slowly fed out and machined at the same time. The tool cuts much closer to where the material is being held, yielding an extremely precise finished product.
Back to the Shop
After machining, the aluminum pens are sent off to get their black anodized finish. Our titanium and brass pens have their raw machined profile preserved, maintaining the crisp details of the design. It's an uncommon, rigorous approach, but we think the result is worth it. Our vendor partner assembles the black and titanium pens, and then sends them to our workshop.
The brass pens are assembled in house, first being given a hand polish until they shine. Taking the finished body, we then insert a spring and Schmidt Rollerball P8126 ink cartridge, screw the movement piece onto the back, and prepare to add the dial. Using a special jig we created specifically for this part, we press fit the dial onto the movement, ensuring the alignment is just right.
The brass pens are assembled in house, first being given a hand polish until they shine. Taking the finished body, we then insert a spring and Schmidt Rollerball P8126 ink cartridge, screw the movement piece onto the back, and prepare to add the dial. Using a special jig we created specifically for this part, we press fit the dial onto the movement, ensuring the alignment is just right.
The Pen Stand
With the pen fully assembled, it’s time to put together it’s companion, the pen stand. Comprised of two main parts, the pen stand starts off as a solid bar of metal and a solid chunk of wood. The metal is sent to our manufacturing friends on the outskirts of Portland where they cut it to size and shave out a small portion of the inside of the cylinder with a CNC lathe specifically designed for metal. Back in our shop, we're already hard at work making the inside wooden portion. Using our own CNC mill, we cut the wood down to shape, hand sand and hand finish it. Once we receive the metal bases, we put the pieces together and add a laser-cut cork foot for protection.
Finally, the pen and stand are ready to head out the door, destined for a desk where it will live right where you need it for a quick jot or considered doodle.
Mighty Mighty
The pen is available alone, or with the matching stand in walnut or maple, to coordinate with your specific work environment.