No Steal Chopstick Pens

Every time I lay a pen down on my desk someone takes it, Sick and tired one day I happened across the weekly challenge that had to do with Chopsticks, Then it hit me what’s the only pen that people don't take? It's those ones that have obviously been chewed on, no one like using a pen that's been in someone’s mouth!

Thus was born "The No Steal Chopstick Pens"

Step 1: Materials

Materials:
Chopsticks (of course used or not is your choice)
Barrel style pens (the kind with the removable shafts)
Glue or Epoxy (Gorilla glue epoxy is only 5.47 at Home Depot)
Wire Coat Hanger
Used Engine Oil

Tools:
Drill (and/or Drill Press)
Blowtorch (Plumbing type will do fine)
Vice grips
Ball Hammer
Vice or Anvil
File
Pilot Bit

Comments

[caddocrawler]

roder225, the pens are great. Very creative. Some people always look for something to be wrong. You're a good American and I love it.

Mostly, I like your "common quote". Sounds like you have a really good attitude.

Thank you for your service to our country.

[LifeWarrior]

Thanks for the all the positive words. If someone can find something wrong with something with what I do I look at it as a learning experience, I would love to be perfect everytime but what fun would that be spice of life and all that.

Common quote was something I sat down and without thinking just wrote what I felt about myself. I'm one of those "life's too short to put on an act" kind of guys. Some people like it some people don't, just live by my terms and hope I make a few good friends along the way.

Thanks, there are still many of my brothers and sisters fighting for all of us, come home safe!

[caddocrawler]

Yes, many of them are my family and friends. We pray for all of our troops.

[burnerjack01]

Nice 'ible. I suspect that drilling the reciever hole undersized could render the pen portion press fit and replacable.
I hope the upside down pens in the picture were for effect only as leaving them this way will render them useless in not much time.
A cool stealthy touch would be to mix some rice and white glue, set it into the box, then when dry, drill out holes for holding the pens, then spray with a spray polyurathane to seal it and give it a natural look.
Not to say the 'ible is lacking in any way, just thought I'd add to the effect if I could. Nice job.

[LifeWarrior]

That would be a cool pen holder, I wonder if they will ever do a challenge for penholder.

I tried 3 times to drill a perfect hole down the center of these tiny little sticks the second set I made for someone after I post this I found it eaiser to start wil the smallest pilot bit you can to get the best center point and then step up it keeps from boring out of the side. as for the right size hole getting the exact bit size is hard to do, and wood moves way to easy to keep the end perfect, I tried it at first and just relized that gluing them was my best option. Yes the upside down pen pic was strictly for effect, Actually these you see I have on my desk took a peice of wood and drilled 2 45 degree holes it it and put the pens face down in them to keep the ball point fresh.

[lesizz]

Well. Next time I skulk around the office looking for someone's chopsticks to "borrow", I had better be careful, lest I eat lunch with a writing implement!

[LifeWarrior]

Actually if you do see a pair setting around on someones desk please take a quick snapshot, it be cool to see how others try to make them blend in on their desk.

[dylankunaikennedy]

i have some helpful critisism
could you possabbly mak it refillable so when the ink runs out you cou just swich for a new ink cardrage
other than that i think the idea is very ingenuis

[porcupinemamma]

"helpful critisism" hmmmmmmm oxy moron. Your comment was positive :0) Like you, I think the author's idea is ingenuis too

[LifeWarrior]

LOL, yes that does sound like two words that don't belong together. I am going to look around and see if there is some kind of ink pen that can be refilled, Thanks for the all the great idea's and replies.

[LifeWarrior]

I'm sure it could be done, in fact you could probably use some kind of putty or low tack glue to make the pen barrel it easy to remove but keeping it in place when in use. The other reason I wrote it up as disposable is in case someone actually still uses them occasionally for lunch, after a few washes chopstick wood gets cruddy looking. After the contest I'm going to add an addendum about using drafting lead to make a pencil set too, probably something like 2mm lead.

[qualia]

oh wait you did write drafting before the lead bit, my bad.

[qualia]

like, lead lead or graphite lead? somehow i think mentioning lead next to directions for making an object that can be used as an eating utensil could spawn a class example of darwins theory.

or maybe you just dont like helpful critics.. *raises eyebrow*

[LifeWarrior]

Good point anyhow, no matter what kind of lead it's probably not a good idea to put it them your mouth regardless. And the fact someone might use any lead handy without thinking of the toxic effects. While most drafting leads are non toxic there are some out there that are not, So to anyone reading this instructable (as with any) please consider the materials and the use of them before starting. None of us are perfect all we do is think up ideas and pass them along it's up to everyone to make a good sound judgement, with that let me say as well don't stick the ink end in your mouth either, should go without saying but you never know

[uberdum05]

To solve the problem of the wooden chopsticks looking 'cruddy' you could use plastic to solve that problem :)

[LifeWarrior]

Yes probably some kind a food grade plastic dip would work, Good tip thanks

[skylane]

Very cool...
When you go out for Chinese food, you can take your last bite of desert and sign the check with it!!

:-)

[LifeWarrior]

LOL that's great love the looks you might get when you do that priceless

[peachymanaangel]

I don't know about no steal. The pens are so cute i want to steal them, or make my own. ^^

[LifeWarrior]

Thank you, also if you'd rather buy a bit I was just at Harbor Freight and they have long bore bits this size if you don't have the tools to make a bit.

[caitlinsdad]

I hope you know that sticking chopsticks in food straight up is a faux pax in most Asian cultures. It resembles, moreso here with the ballpoint ends, like burning incense or joss sticks done for prayer or memorial services and thus the bad omens. I guess you had better adjust the feng shui in your office.

[LifeWarrior]

I didn't know that, well I hope I didn't offend anyone, it was certainly a lack of understanding of the culture. I think it was simply a plug at all the American TV shows that commonly show boxes of rice with chopsticks sticking out of the containers. I'm your typical American guy I don't buy too much into the Feng Shui stuff, My wife eats Chinese food all the time and these chopsticks are always laying around. Actually the last time I went with her I sharpened these things to a point with a pocket knife to be able to eat those little chickens, LOL! Give me steak and potatoes any day. Thanks for the reply I will keep that in mind the next time I try something with chopsticks.

[caitlinsdad]

Actually, it is a good instructable on making a special bit and boring the pen. I think if you reshoot the image of pens laying by a rice box, that would be fine. Your main image should just be of the chopstick pens on the desk and it would be great. Good luck. Now see how that turned around?

[LifeWarrior]

I'll consider that to avoid a negative response from others, maybe after the contest is over, I wouldn't want to leave it that way permanently if it's considered offensive. Turn what around?

[caitlinsdad]

I was only referring to turning something bad luck into good luck.

[LifeWarrior]

Thanks, Well might work in my favor though, my bad luck seems to always work out in the end