Advice please

[fionaspens]

Here's a pen turned by Andrew. I'm writing this as I'm a little quicker on the keyboard than he is. In his words this is just a standard twist pen kit roughly made up without a band so he could make it thicker for someone who has difficulty gripping a normal slimline. The clip has also been left off as the friend this has been made for finds the clips on pens dig into her hand. The aim was to make something that didn't look as though it had been obviously made for someone who had special needs ie a big rubber grip across the middle. She didn't like the comfort pen style because of the rubber and also because she has a clench fist pen grasp - so the rubber is too low down the barrel to be effective.

Andrew would like to point out that this is only a rough version the joints between different woods could be better and the twist area could have been finished better. He also wanted to finish it with a closed end.

The two questions we would like to ask are

1) Has anyone any suggestions regarding getting a better pen grip for people with dexterity issues. (this particular person has neurological degeneration). Something that doesn't actually draw peoples attention to their problem (if you know what I mean)?

2) Any advice would be appreciated on how to turn a closed ended pen - do I need to buy him a pin chuck for Christmas or what other techniques do people have up their sleeve that works well for them?

I/We look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards. Fiona

 

[yorkshireman]

Someone will be along shortly Fiona to help out, meanwhile theres nowt wrong with that pen

 

[jttheclockman]

The easiest thing to do is add some beads or coves. You can group them or you can spread them out. You can form a large cove so the fingers lay firmly in it with some beads on the end to prevent sliding forward. Many things can be done.

Other question on closed end. No you do not need to have a pin chuck. If you have a way to hold the blank squarely such as a collet chuck or a dedicated pen chuck then you will be fine to make any closed end pen you want.

Hope this helps.

By the way some people make beads in the ends of pens and insert rubber washers for gripping too. Makes for some nice colored pens too. Good luck.

 

[Doug]

Hi Fiona, I don`t know if it`s of any use but I turned these years ago for an old boy who struggled gripping a pen, the bulbous end gave his fingers something to rest against.

 

[Jim]

Fiona, i have made only one pen for a friends Wife who suffers with arthritis, and what he asked me to do was to make the nib end quite thick for a better grip .. I don't have a picture now, but all i did was shape it with a large taper down to the nib area .. Sorry i can't really help you, but i am sure someone will be along with some good information to help you make the pen .. The prototype you posted up doesn't look very far away to be honest ...

 

[Penpal]

Fiona, Two pens one for SWMBO a series of handpainted beads, each faced and drilled provides comfy grip wherever.

The other made for a group in America of sufferers it was a first choice of the committee formed.

Smooth covers a variety of grips.

Kind regards Peter.

 

[Neil]

Fiona,

You don't need a pin chuck to turn a closed end pen. If you have an adjustable mandrel you can shorten the rod considerably into the collett. You can then get a blank, mark off the depth of the tube (cut the tube down a bit if you need to (as the pen will extend beyond the designed length because of the closed section), drill it and insert the tube. Once you have trimmed the exposed tube end of the blank, you can either put it on the mandrel rod or turn it between centres with a dead centre and a live centre in the tailstock. I go along with the coves and beads idea, but by using a skew on the side inserting the tio a mm or so you could get some quite angular ridges which would give good grip. Whilst your concerns about the pen bot having identifiable sections as if designed for someone with problems, I think if they have a fist grip it will give it away regardless of the rubber grips or not?

Pencrafts sell an expandable width mandrel to take 7mm or 8mm tubes to make closed end pens I think, I bought one in a fit of affluence but havent a clue where I put it!!

 

[stevenw1963]

Fiona,

Sorry can't answer most of your questions but, I have turned a kit called the Guardian, Pencrafts in Glasgow sell them, it is a thicker pen with rubber grips around. Of the 4 I have made 3 were bought by / for people with the same kind of problems. It's not to everyone's taste but doesn't draw peoples attention to anybodies disorder

 

[fionaspens]

Fiona,

You don't need a pin chuck to turn a closed end pen. If you have an adjustable mandrel you can shorten the rod considerably into the collett. You can then get a blank, mark off the depth of the tube (cut the tube down a bit if you need to (as the pen will extend beyond the designed length because of the closed section), drill it and insert the tube. Once you have trimmed the exposed tube end of the blank, you can either put it on the mandrel rod or turn it between centres with a dead centre and a live centre in the tailstock. I go along with the coves and beads idea, but by using a skew on the side inserting the tio a mm or so you could get some quite angular ridges which would give good grip. Whilst your concerns about the pen bot having identifiable sections as if designed for someone with problems, I think if they have a fist grip it will give it away regardless of the rubber grips or not?
Pencrafts sell an expandable width mandrel to take 7mm or 8mm tubes to make closed end pens I think, I bought one in a fit of affluence but havent a clue where I put it!!

Thanks Neil, We'll have a go. Thanks Fiona

 

[fionaspens]

Fiona,

Sorry can't answer most of your questions but, I have turned a kit called the Guardian, Pencrafts in Glasgow sell them, it is a thicker pen with rubber grips around. Of the 4 I have made 3 were bought by / for people with the same kind of problems. It's not to everyone's taste but doesn't draw peoples attention to anybodies disorderView attachment 3486

Thanks Steven,

I've checked the website this morning - there are two Guardian designs. Andrew want to try one himself -so an order's going in for the smaller version.

Kind regards Fiona

 

[Shaver]

Hi, I have seen nitrile O rings used to help gripping pens.

Never done it myself but would seem to be quite easy when you think of it. Decide on the thickness of the ring, cut a small groove for the ring to sit just proud of the surface and away you go. You could fit about 5 or 6 rings at the end of the pen.

You can also get coloured rings, but don't know if in this country.

Google "rubber jump rings chain maille" will bring up the coloured rings in the UK. Just found it.