Engineers Taps

[JerseyBill]

Hi.

Another set from a couple of years ago.

My youngest son liked the pen and pencil that I had made for his brother and, with his birthday looming, I thought about making a present for him too.

He is an engineer and makes steam engines (and has made pens - he bought me my starter kit).

Again I used an Atrax kit and a Toolbox pencil kit - but machined two bodies from aluminium to look like engineer's taps. Finding Brad Bothard's guidance on anodising (BradG on IAP) I decided to anodise them and dye them black. A small DIY plating kit helped me to finish them by plating the brass operating parts, that I had made, with replica chrome. You twist the chrome square finial on the pen to extend the tip, press the pencil's to operate the mechanism.

 

[Les ELm]

Interesting.

Les

 

[Bill Mooney]

These look good Bill

 

[Penpal]

Beaut design Bill interesting thing to do it appeals to me as a way to do unusual things. Thanks for sharing mate.

Peter.

 

[21William]

Nicely done but I think they would have looked better in silver/grey?

 

[JerseyBill]

Nicely done but I think they would have looked better in silver/grey?

Thanks muchly William. I was torn, to be honest, as to colour. As part of the process I had made a couple of test pieces for the anodising (never having done it before). One didn't take the anodising at all (wrong grade of aluminium I discovered) the other was fine but I wasn't totally happy with the resultant colour - so I opted to dye, and thought that black would look good against the chrome. I guess it's personal taste and all that! Thanks for the observation, though - appreciated!

 

[Penpal]

I can see so many lining up if this was on a sales table,the unique duplication of a universal tool is fantastic. I am stimulated to the theme thread.

Peter.

 

[Cumbrian Craig]

More outstanding skill. Great set.

Regards

Craig

 

[wm460]

That is a beauty Bill well done.