Fountain pens and their cap threads

[Pierre]

Hi all I have recently joined and haven't yet had the time to read all of the forum, but if you check with Walter et al you will find I have been posting elsewhere.

Now I make a fair quantity of pens as part of my woodworking business and I am reasonably successful insofar as it allows me to augment my tool and wine addictions.

One of my problems is that live in a part of France which is well populated by manual labourers of one form or another and, contrary to most opinions, they are in the main quite well educated and appreciate a good bit of hand workmanship. :smile: Sadly however they are also very strong so not knowing that fountain pens and other things with postable caps are screw fit, they have the habit of trying to pull them apart which tends to destroy the threads!! Also once the pen has been sold (before the Hercules get to it) they some how think that it will thread anyhow and forget it needs a slightly delicate touch.

Now I have observed that much of this is down to the fact that most pens have a metal thread on the nib and end sections and a plastic thread on the inside of the cap and it is this latter that I have recently had to repair most

Is there somewhere a decent basic (good looking) fountain pen kit (not too expensive my clients are mainly jobless with kids at school) with a thread that can stand up to brutal ignorance? After all I was once a brutal ignorant many years ago and I never once broke either of my Parker or Watermans in the same manner.

Hopefully

PG

PS I don't like those that have grommits to overcome a slack metal to metal thread they feel tacky and they don't sell.

 

[Phil Dart]

All the threaded kits I know of have a nylon insert in the cap to mate with a metal thread on the coupler - this to overcome metal on metal abrasion, or more accurately, metal on plating abrasion, and also to provide a cost effective method of creating a "stop". (generally the wide part of the coupler behind the tread butts up to the narrower nylon insert, thereby coming to a stop). Even the most expensive kits out there do it that way, although I'm prepared to be corrected.

Having said that, there are one or two kits around that have a push fit cap, which is achieved via a nylon insert in the cap that locates on a small cove on the nib section. Axminster's Artisan is one such example, although a brief trawl on ebay will yield the same kit at half the price.

 

[Grump]

Magnetic caps could be an option, There are many threads of complaint along the same lines.
I have long moaned about that same thing so best keep my fat gob shut on this occasion.

 

[silver]

I agree with Phill on this one with regards to pen kits having plastic inserts.

That is to stop mechanical wear in the plating, which will eventually wear off after a few times use.

I was talking to a gentleman quite a few years ago that worked for a very well known manufacturer, they used an ACME thread which was very sturdy and reliable.

The only company I know that make those type of pen kits currently are DayCom, i have used them for many years and the older kits are much better quality and they seem to be in competition with price rather than supplying quality.

Not sure if you have used them or seen the kits before, they are a little higher priced than most kits so probably negate you buying them if price is a limiter.


Hope this helps

 

[Penpal]

I am very interested in this problem as well so many ham fisted folks from all walks of life why I mostly stick to Slims with the larger centre band I did make some from rebar that could go down well real cheap material drilled out and sleeved with brass sleeves no great weight factor but plenty strong and novel.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

I learnt if you give a pen to a person to tell them how to remove the cap first.:wink:

 

[Pierre]

I learnt if you give a pen to a person to tell them how to remove the cap first.:wink:

First of all thanks for all of your replies they are about what I have discovered/done/put into practice etc.

In the case of advising them, my target market speaks about 15 different languages I am fluent in 2 and can order a beer in 5. Telling the rest how to be delicate well....

BUT I have discovered that even if you demonstrate explain and even say that there is no guarantee if they cross thread they try to enforce a guarantee. The worst being the brits!! Now they want an instruction manual on how to operate a pen What on earth do they teach them at school?? Sorry since its the 40 year old parents what on earth did they teach them at school?

When you see Charles Atlas approach and pick up a junior gent and try to use it as a chest expander then say well actually its a screw thread and then he turns it clockwise because he is a (rude bottom) what on earth do you do?

my prize will go to someone who invents a decent tungsten carbide thread mating into a carbon fibre reinforced by graphene thread for £1.20 per pen kit!!

In the meantime more 7mm biros because they sell well at the schools' return (la rentrée). Sigh!

Have fun all.

PG

 

[Walter]

Yep, that's pretty much the conclusion I came to too.

 

[Pierre]

Oh Hello Walter are you here as well?

:wink:

PG

 

[wm460]

Now they want an instruction manual on how to operate a pen



PG

I have often thought about this, have a paper with photos of different types of pens, with arrows showing which way to unscrew caps, twist transmissions, put refills in with a brief description of how to do it.


No good for your 40 year old Brit parents.

 

[donwatson]

Hi Pierre and Welcome.
Long time since we spoke on WWI

take care

Don W

 

[Pierre]

Hi Don yes it is,

How are you and how has the search for quality continued? It wasn't bad at the beginning so how is it now?

PG

 

[Penpal]

First of all thanks for all of your replies they are about what I have discovered/done/put into practice etc.

In the case of advising them, my target market speaks about 15 different languages I am fluent in 2 and can order a beer in 5. Telling the rest how to be delicate well....

BUT I have discovered that even if you demonstrate explain and even say that there is no guarantee if they cross thread they try to enforce a guarantee. The worst being the brits!! Now they want an instruction manual on how to operate a pen What on earth do they teach them at school?? Sorry since its the 40 year old parents what on earth did they teach them at school?

When you see Charles Atlas approach and pick up a junior gent and try to use it as a chest expander then say well actually its a screw thread and then he turns it clockwise because he is a (rude bottom) what on earth do you do?

my prize will go to someone who invents a decent tungsten carbide thread mating into a carbon fibre reinforced by graphene thread for £1.20 per pen kit!!

In the meantime more 7mm biros because they sell well at the schools' return (la rentrée). Sigh!

Have fun all.

PG

Was very concerned at the problem with threads convinced now that handing a pen without a top to allow trials then saying thankyou helps me. A guy I met recently through a friend is 84 he has been a jeweller watchmaker from a young age this requires extraordinary dexterity he was describing how he used to turn watch balance staffs etc while he was admiring a cast pen and having difficulty screwing it back together unsuccessfully finally he resorted to some force so I reached over and said I will do that leaving out the for you bit trying to give him room to squirm. Felt a bit mongrel but even he has trouble so they sometimes get the best of us all.Turning 81 today on fathers day over here I wondered when this coordination becomes difficult.

I was showing him pens to illustrate encapsulation he has offered me his jewellers lathe located elsewhere from his home and watch parts he has in cartons. I am glad you have fluency in French living there it must improve both settling in and everyday contacts.

Peter

 

[donwatson]

Hi Don yes it is,

How are you and how has the search for quality continued? It wasn't bad at the beginning so how is it now?

PG

Hi Pierre,
I don't think the search will ever end I don't believe we will ever be satisfied with our individual efforts, but we will keep trying.
Thanks for asking

take care
Don W