10mm tube Classic Rollerball Pen - instructions conflicting with kit content....

[MrJoshua]

Thanks for the comments guys - much appreciated. :)

Peter that's a superb idea about making a conical guard for the chuck because, yes, it is a metal turning 3 jaw one, and yes, I DO keep catching my fingers on it. Luckily no injury so far but I do worry that it's only a matter of time before I lose a finger to it.
I'd be very interested to see what you've done, thanks!

Oh, and here's the bog oak cigar pen I made yesterday. Was a bit of a pig getting the finish nice on this for some reason.

Now for some reason in the CA layers there are a couple of areas on this pen where it has a dull greyer effect to it. Almost like it's a bit cloudy. I think it's beneath the surface of the CA but it's hard to tell.
Any reason this could have happened?

 

[MrJoshua]

Actually, on closer inspection it kinda looks like the dull patch is on the surface. So I can only assume it's not perfectly round at that point and is lower than the mesh was reaching when I was smoothing it all down, by the tiniest margin imaginable.
I may disassemble and try further CA and smoothing to treat this.

Also, on close inspection, despite doing about 4 layers of CA (thin first then medium), there appear to be miniscule pinholes or places where the CA is not glassy smooth. Does this likely mean I haven't done enough layers, or that I just haven't cut it back sufficiently to get an even all over result?

 

[Buckeye]

In the photo near the nib small voids are noticeable, I think you need more coats to fill them before you micromesh.

Peter

 

[MrJoshua]

Ok cool, thanks. Maybe after I should alternate thin & medium CA layers, ie medium to build then thin to ensure it gets into any pits there might be in the thicker layer.

 

[Buckeye]

I only ever use thin CA as a finish, sometimes medium or thick to glue the tubes in, but that's me.

Peter

 

[MrJoshua]

Fair enough - it's interesting to hear what people do.

I'm sure in due course I'll settle on a particular technique but I haven't accumulated enough experience yet to know what that will be.

I just had a guy come and collect a mahogany handle I'd made for his bath tap and he was chuffed to bits with it. He wanted to pay me for it but I said no because 1) It's practise, and 2) he can just let people know instead that I did it and how pleased he is, and that will hopefully do more good than a few quid in due course.....