Another Question Re Aluminium Pen Blanks

[Vic Perrin]

Hi All, This may have been answered before but here goes. I have been looking at the thread in relation to the use of Aluminium for pen making. I have seen the examples that members have made and they looked great. I happen to have some 1/2" diam Aluminium Round Bar.

Do I drill the centre out to fit a brass pen tube and if so what do you recommend for glueing them in place, or can you drill them out so that the pen mechanism fits straight into the Aluminium body.

Cheers

Vic

 

[mattyts]

I would do it as you would with wood or acrylic,use the brass but be exact,there is no give or expansion when it comes to metal,ordinary CA will do fine or epoxy if you want to be sure!

 

[Woody]

I have always used the tubes and use CA to stick them in

 

[brody2123]

I'd go with thick ca too. Epoxy is good for a belt and braces approach, but either would be suitable
Good luck and hope you show us the results Vic

 

[silver]

Hi Vic,

If you can get a drill the accurate size for the fittings then it is an option, my dad had one many years ago then he found that some different kits have different sizes so it makes it difficult to get it a spot on fit every time.

So glue in the tubes, much safer option.

I would always use epoxy, used CA but had one failure several months in after use so with that I don't take any risks. If it's ailed once then I don't use it again.

In fairness CA does glue it in place and it may not have been enough captured within the tube when I coated the insides, but I take no chances now.

Hope this helps.

 

[Grump]

I think you have your answer above, you can do it either way or you could just drill the end bits correct and middle section any size as long as the refill goes through the hole it don't matter init?
Or you could save a lot of work and use tubing, I was given some ally tube of the smack on diameter for just assembly and polish with no brass tube, I think more by luck.
It used to be the twiddly bit for Venetian blinds. I think I might still have a short length or two somewhere I look later init?