Crack after assembly

[Harry]

I have just finished my second wood pen, a streamline in Cocobolo with a CA finish, and I noticed that there is a crack at the finial end that wasn't there before assembly. It hadn't felt unduly tight when I was pressing the cap in. Is there an easy way to fix this, maybe with thin CA?

 

[Walter]

The most likely cause is glue residue inside the tube. You are unlikely to effectively conceal the crack with thin CA (or anything else).
There is just a chance that you might be able to close the gap up and glue it with thin CA if you disassemble the pen first. When it is set clear out any glue from the inside of the tube, re-finish it and reassemble. It might hold or it might crack again, there is no guarantee.

 

[Buckeye]

As well as making sure there is no CA or epoxy in the tubes before assembly it is imperative that the parts being pressed in are being pressed in square to the tube and not on a slight angle, however slight.

Peter

 

[Woody]

Fill the crack with hard wax stick just rub or melt it in the crack and smooth it out after with the back of your thumb nail

 

[Harry]

Fill the crack with hard wax stick just rub or melt it in the crack and smooth it out after with the back of your thumb nail

Would a candle do, or maybe those wax sticks for hiding scratches on furniture?

 

[Woody]

Would a candle do, or maybe those wax sticks for hiding scratches on furniture?

Wax sticks for furniture Harry if you need to go with a darker wax in preference to lighter if you havent got a perfect match and there is no need to dismantle the pen

 

[Harry]

Thanks for that, Woody. I'll give it a try.

 

[Bill Mooney]

If Woody's suggestion works try & turn the clip to cover the crack.

 

[Harry]

If Woody's suggestion works try & turn the clip to cover the crack.

Good idea!

 

[wm460]

You could mix saw duct with CA and fill the crack, means you would have to refinish the pen again.

 

[Buckeye]

Well worth refinishing just to get it right

Peter

 

[Penpal]

Well worth refinishing just to get it right

Peter

I agree with Peter and add for future pens I always use a tapered reamer to make a safe entry for the parts when pressing I also check for undersized brasses and they come up sometimes in batches when roughing them up prior to glueing I made go no go guage out of brass ie used to hold the brass while I rough it if its too tight I throw the brass away that can save potential splits etc.

Peter.