One offcut, one pen rest
A modest woodworking plan: stop a pen rolling away without turning a scrap of wood into an elaborate desk accessory.
A small offcut, a shallow cradle, one pen that stops rolling away.
Make a cardboard shape first and set the actual pen on it. Check the cap and clip as well as the barrel; the widest part is not always where you expect it.
Transfer a comfortable shape to a sound wood offcut. Clamp it securely, work with an appropriate hand tool, and remove a little material at a time. Sand the contact surfaces smooth enough that they will not mark the pen.
A broad flat bottom matters more than a clever profile. Try nudging the pen from either end. If the rest tips or catches the clip, adjust the shape before applying a finish.
That is probably enough project for one small scrap of wood.
Materials
- Small sound wood offcut
- Paper and cardboard for mock-up
- Appropriate hand tools and workholding
- Sandpaper and suitable finish
Build Steps
- 1
Trace the pen
Set the seat and width around the object it will hold.
- 2
Try a cardboard version
Check reach, stability, and clip clearance.
- 3
Shape and finish safely
Secure the wood, ease edges, and test the finish on scrap.