My first Pen - not!

[Scrums]

Ok, it was getting boring having to avoid the Pen Makers posts.......so I succumbed - the kit arrived today at 11.30 and by 12.30 I was assembling my first pen and buggered it !

Whether it was a duff mechanism or I'd managed to get it in slightly askew - it didn't work properly and those 'twist' mechanisms don't like to come out again do they? (....as I found out)

Anyway tomorrow: 1st off - make a jig for assembling on the drill press, not in the vice. 2nd thing - make a drilling jig, both of which are from some designs Chas pointed to a while back. Then....pens......

a question though:

(We're talking cheap £2 twist mechanisms here,) I was surprised to find that the 'caps' just slid off to get at the refill - is that normal ? and are the metal centre bits always left loose?

Chris

 

[wizer]

No it should all be very snug. Are you sure you have the right bushings for your kit? Where did you get the kits from?

 

[beejay]

As has been said, all the bits should be a snug fit. you'll get it right next time I bet.
Also. it's possible to disassemble a kit and even re-use the tubes.
I didnt get on with vice or clamps or drill press for pen assemly so i came up with this after seeing one of the guys in the club using something similar.
regards, beejay

Dimple in each nylon pad to stop the parts slipping, taper to suit your lathe and you've got a very easy assembly system.

 

[Neil Dyball]

Hi Scrums,

Not sure if I'm reading your post correctly, but if by 'caps' you mean the upper barrel with the clip/top in, then yes they do slide off to allow you to get at the mechanism and unscrew the refill. On the slimline kits the centre band should be a 'snug' fit when the upper barrel is slid into place, but when it's removed the centre band is loose, i.e. not connected to either of the barrels in any way. If I 've misunderstood you please ignore me!

On some of the other kits, e.g. the European/Designer there is a tenon cut into the upper blank and the centre band is a 'very snug' fit onto this.

Cheers,

Neil.

 

[Scrums]

Don't get me wrong - they tops aren't coming off on their own, they need a little tug - is that the way they are ? and the bit of metal in the middle - is that supposed to be left loose?

The kits came with a Planet starter kit - Mandrel, trimmer and drills, + another 5 in gunmetal exactly the same all from funneeturnz on ebay.

Chris.

Bushings ? wots bushings ?.....remember - the first time I ever saw a pen kit was a couple of hours ago!

 

[Neil Dyball]

Hi Chris,

The top section should require a firm 'tug' as you describe, and then the centre band (little bit of metal) on the slimlines will be 'free'. On some other types this is permanently attached to the upper blank on a tenon or spigot.

Bushings are the small round metal pieces that are designed for each kit, they give you the finished dimensions at each end of the blanks to correctly fit the metal/timber parts together. I'm not describing this very well, sorry!

Neil.

 

[greggy]

chris, neil is right. the centre band will be loose when you pull the pen apart. as for getting the trny's out, they are very easy. i use a set of the punch sets, cant remember where i got them from. someone on this forum pointed me in the right direction.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/28-PC-STEEL-METAL ... 0299193353

mine was about £15 inc postage.

 

[stevebuk]

Thats a shame it broke chris, but not to worry it happens to us all at one time or another.
As for the bushings, each size/type of pen comes with its own type of bushing, these are round pieces of metal that you slide onto the mandrel each end of the kit and determine the diameter you turn to for the type of pen you are turning.
Before you buy anymore kits make sure you ask if they have the bushings for it.
Keep trying mate, you WILL succeed. :lol:

 

[Bodrighy]

Gor blimey, reading you guys is more like reading an engineering forum than a turning one. I knew there was a reason why I didn't do pens :lol:

Pete

 

[greggy]

pete, and most of the time you need a degree in maths too, as most of the times the bushings are not the same thicknes. lol chris, like steve say's we have all been ther. just keep it nice n easy and dont rush.

 

[Blister]

Chris

with pen kits , you get what you pay for :?

£3 plus is my budget for a kit

not had a duff one yet :lol: