A couple of weeks ago I had a chance to get a small branch of bamboo, and of course I did.

Yesterday I found the 10 minutes to try to cut it into a couple of pens, following the instructions on static1.squarespace.com/static… : I think that the branch was probably thinner than what is usually recommended, but the pens seem to work just fine, in the picture there are a couple of lines written with the two pens, and they aren't significantly harder to use than regular metal nibs.

There is also a closeup of the points: I tried to make the cut more or less perpendicular, as they are going to be used for western-style calligraphy and I'm used to nibs with just a bit of slant.

And yes, the slit on one of the pens is definitely off center: I'll fix it when it will have worn down and I'll need to trim it.