My first pen
- Thread starter Daven
- Start date
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oddsocks
Established Member
Dave,
nice shape - i've not yet tried to go beyond the straight or naturally curved (to meet the various fittings).
As far as taking them apart I have had to to do this too often, and the twist mechanism is the hardest and often ends up broken.
I have had some success as follows.....
get a ring spanner (or metal with appropriate hole) so that it slides over the mechanism and rests on the lower wood. keep the refill in the mechanism, grip it in a metalworker vice (protect as much as possible). use another tool (e.g screwdriver) as a fulcrum on the end of the vice and lever the spanner - if you're lucky the mechanism will come out - it definitely will if you fully tighten the vice and sacrifice the mechanism to get the wood back.
If you assemble and discover the nib is to small /too big and you want to return to the lathe, use a 6mm drift, holding the wood in your hand - normally 4 knocks and it's out.
good luck!
dave
nice shape - i've not yet tried to go beyond the straight or naturally curved (to meet the various fittings).
As far as taking them apart I have had to to do this too often, and the twist mechanism is the hardest and often ends up broken.
I have had some success as follows.....
get a ring spanner (or metal with appropriate hole) so that it slides over the mechanism and rests on the lower wood. keep the refill in the mechanism, grip it in a metalworker vice (protect as much as possible). use another tool (e.g screwdriver) as a fulcrum on the end of the vice and lever the spanner - if you're lucky the mechanism will come out - it definitely will if you fully tighten the vice and sacrifice the mechanism to get the wood back.
If you assemble and discover the nib is to small /too big and you want to return to the lathe, use a 6mm drift, holding the wood in your hand - normally 4 knocks and it's out.
good luck!
dave
shedhead
Established Member
I have made lots of Slimline pens, and other pens with a twist mech. I can honestly say that once you have pushed the twist mech in too far, you will might as well forget it.
I have bought the twist mech in bulk as it is a shame to waste a pen kit due to this problem. You never go by the line marked on the twist barrel. 9 times out of 10 you will have to go much deeper, checking frequently is the key here to success.
I sold off many of my excess twist mech on Ebay as i tend to make other pens now.
I have bought the twist mech in bulk as it is a shame to waste a pen kit due to this problem. You never go by the line marked on the twist barrel. 9 times out of 10 you will have to go much deeper, checking frequently is the key here to success.
I sold off many of my excess twist mech on Ebay as i tend to make other pens now.
Paul.J
Established Member
Looks very nice Dave 
Nice shape and finish.
What wood and finish have you used?
As for getting them apart.Almost impossible without causing any damage.
Only tried it once and ruined it :roll: So have been extra,extra careful since
Nice shape and finish.
What wood and finish have you used?
As for getting them apart.Almost impossible without causing any damage.
Only tried it once and ruined it :roll: So have been extra,extra careful since
Thanks all,
The pen I messed up can still be used - just open all the time, found I got more control on the vice rather than the drill press!
I am not sure what the wood is - it looks like chocolate when cut! I got it with the lathe!
I finished with a shellac finishing polish as I quite like a semi-gloss finish!
Dave
The pen I messed up can still be used - just open all the time, found I got more control on the vice rather than the drill press!
I am not sure what the wood is - it looks like chocolate when cut! I got it with the lathe!
I finished with a shellac finishing polish as I quite like a semi-gloss finish!
Dave
