Pen Maker Specializes In The "Unique"
Tanner Schrock makes pens out of just about anything: corn cobs, rattlesnake skins, exotic wood - even sunflower shells. A couple of years ago, the Ankeny, Iowa, man spotted some unique pens on the internet and decided to try making his own. Since then, he's experimented with a variety of materials and styles.
"Pens are practical things to have so it's fun to try different ways of making them," Schrock says. Besides selling to pen collectors, many customers purchase them as gifts.
Schrock begins each pen by drilling out the center of whatever material he's using and gluing in brass tubes. Each pen has two pieces that he shapes on the lathe. After shaping, he sands them down smooth. He finishes with coats of cyanoacrylate (Super Glue), buffing the finish to a smooth shine.
Corn cob cigar-style pens are the most challenging. Schrock adds resin to the corn cob to hold it together before putting it on the lathe.
"My favorite is rattlesnake skin wrapped around a pen tube," Schrock says. "It just looks really cool."
Besides styles - cigar, slimline, designer and fountain pen - the pen maker offers options for the pen parts, including brass, copper, gold and other types of plating.
Prices range from $25 to $170.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tanner Schrock, 8171 N.W. 28th Ct., Ankeny, Iowa 50023 (ph 515 991-5300; t_schrock@hotmail.com).
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Pen Maker Specializes In The "Unique" 32-5-9 Tanner Schrock makes pens out of just about anything: corn cobs, rattlesnake skins, exotic wood - even sunflower shells. A couple of years ago, the Ankeny, Iowa, man spotted some unique pens on the internet and decided to try making his own. Since then, he's experimented with a variety of materials and styles.
"Pens are practical things to have so it's fun to try different ways of making them," Schrock says. Besides selling to pen collectors, many customers purchase them as gifts.
Schrock begins each pen by drilling out the center of whatever material he's using and gluing in brass tubes. Each pen has two pieces that he shapes on the lathe. After shaping, he sands them down smooth. He finishes with coats of cyanoacrylate (Super Glue), buffing the finish to a smooth shine.
Corn cob cigar-style pens are the most challenging. Schrock adds resin to the corn cob to hold it together before putting it on the lathe.
"My favorite is rattlesnake skin wrapped around a pen tube," Schrock says. "It just looks really cool."
Besides styles - cigar, slimline, designer and fountain pen - the pen maker offers options for the pen parts, including brass, copper, gold and other types of plating.
Prices range from $25 to $170.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tanner Schrock, 8171 N.W. 28th Ct., Ankeny, Iowa 50023 (ph 515 991-5300; t_schrock@hotmail.com).
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