Pen kits question

[Silverbirch]

I've decided it's about time I got to grips with pen turning. I've tackled a few slimline pens, with variable results and I'd like to try some other styles, so a couple of questions for you pen turners out there:
Which ballpoint pen kits/styles take refills that can be bought locally, eg from WH Smith? - I believe some kits take Parker style refills, for example.
Who sells such kits?
Of course, this assumes that I will be able to produce something that will last long enough to need a refill. :lol:

Ian

 

[bodge]

Most of the kits available seem to use "cross" refills, which are also readily available in Smiths, Staples, Ryman etc, the standard 7mm/slimline range all seem to use them. My experience is that the Parker style refills are used by the more expensive kits. Depends what you want really I suppose.

 

[EnErY]

http://www.timberbits.com/look here for kits its a flat rate for any amount it takes 2-3 weeks to get them but he is the cheapest around with good quality also all the refills can be purchased in the uk or spares off him he is very helpfull and takes paypal alo another thought is you can also buy the bushings from him with the kits
Regards
Bill

 

[nev]

The choice is almost endless :? and unfortunately one needs to buy a new bushing set along with each new style of pen kit, and then when you get to the shed you realise you also need some random sized imperial drill bits for each kit too!

I have found that the PSI kits (mont blanc/ designer?) seem to be a bit weightier and have a very solid feel to them and a better quality plating... (require two drill sizes? and an accurate tenon turned for the centreband) from vince at the turners workshop i think.

and the Berea sierra kits also have a superior feel to them and are less than a fiver ..

Junior gents from Timberbits are great value (buy them in tens, they'll go), simple to make (2 drill sizes again 25/64 + 15/32) but can take a few weeks to turn up. He also has quite a few instruction sheets listed so you can see what drill sizes are required for each kit etc.

Guardian kits are good for arthritic hand or fat fingers...

ukdrills for drill bits.

 

[Neil Farrer]

Ian,

That's a question which could extract a very long reply. Kits - simply you generally pay for what you get, the cheaper the kit the poorer the engineering. My favoured supplier is Woodturningz.com, timberits.com (as I order in volumes in excess of $200 I get them TNT free and they turn up in a few days - I ordereed last Thursday and I know they are at the TNT depot in Luton and will be with me tomorrow. UK suppliers, sorry Axminster but for all the great levels of service and other kit you supply the pens are awful (but getting better slowly) There are problems with the engineering on some of the more established kits because the kits are metoo kits from Chinese suppliers (the sierra from Ax is the same as the Mesa from woodturningz and the twist mechanism is too small resulting in the twisting of the top to reveal the nib to turen without pushing the nib out.) Too much detail!

Refills - most take Parkers, slimlines and variants take the cross, rollerballs take a variety of refills some are awful, the best are schmidt and it is wise to replace the C**p ones with a good one from Schmidt if you are aiming to sell, its a much better writing experience. You don't have to turn to bushings but it does make life easier. Welcome to a whole minefield, its a fun learning experience. If anyones visiting Lincoln Christmas Mmarket this coming weekend, look me up I'm stand 309 in the Christmas Bazaar Marquee, trading as Crafted Pens!

One piece of excellent advice I took from George Watkins (Cornucopia) - when I started out he told me lifes too short to turn rubbish wood. Dead right George, particularly on a pen, if its not top notch wood its a waste of a kit!

 

[cornucopia]

Be aware that if you do order from Australia via TNT they send you a customs invoice several weeks after the kits have arrived- this used to happen once in a blue moon but I am being told this is happening more often now.
I prefer to order from America and pay the customs fee as the kits are delivered- much better than waiting and wondering!!

 

[Neil Farrer]

George, Spot on they've sussed it, I'm getting deluged with love letters from the HMRC, and also TNT will charge you £15 as a starting price for the honour of handling your customs charge. If you opt for the small order and pay the flat rate $5 AD it comes via Singapore and frequently escapes the glare of the HMRC but it does take time.

 

[DUNK_WALES]

I find turners retreat are quite specialised where pens are concerned and they have loads of things which don't feature in there catalogue might be worth a chat with them

 

[Silverbirch]

Thanks for all the info, chaps. Things are a bit clearer now. I'll check out the various sources you've mentioned.

Ian