Had a go and I'm firmly hooked

[Lons]

've been putting it off for a couple of days convincing myself I need jigs and barrel trimer. Made the jigs but just sanded the blank ends 'cos no trimmer delivered yet.

So finally plucked up the courage today to have a go. I'd glued up one of the nodescript oak blanks so shoved it on and put gouge to wood - very gingerly little by little and expecting to see the glint of brass any second until I dare not go any thinner.

So my very first pen ever:smile-new: and it's not so bad. I could have got the bottom barrel a little closer at the centre band, I did little sanding just with 320 and 400 as I was scared to go through the wood followed by some ancient (see pic) friction polish and I didn't fuss too much with the finish 'cos I need to buy some product. It has a decent shine but photo isn't good.
Is this the oldest friction polish still in use? Even if it has lost most of its get up and go

I'm completely hooked now and wifie loves the pen so onward and upwards.

Bob

 

[paulm]

Nice pen Bob. We all go through too far some times but don't let that put you off. You've done a good job for your first pen with polish that was out before the Dead Sea was even sick. How do you use your jigs?

 

[bellringer]

well that looks very good

 

[Terry]

Well done on your first effort Bob. Your on your way !!!!! Not passing any comment regarding the friction polish!!!!

 

[PhillH]

Nowt wrong with that !

Welcome to the world of the obsessed

 

[yorkshireman]

Nowt wrong with that Bob, a good first effort and you'll get better mate. I think I've seen that friction polish on antiques roadshow!

 

[Lons]

Nice pen Bob. We all go through too far some times but don't let that put you off. You've done a good job for your first pen with polish that was out before the Dead Sea was even sick. How do you use your jigs?

Only used once Paul. Got the ideas off the net.

Assembly thing is just so the bits didn't roll off the bench. Other is supposed to hold (by hand) the blank square for drilling on the drill press. Still managed to drill it slightly off centre so the jury's out on that.

......................................................................................................................................................................................................

Not passing any comment regarding the friction polish!!

Terry, I've just realised it's almost as old as my son. That's why I need dozens of cupboards - 'cos I keep everything

Bob

 

[Jim]

To me pen making is akin to golf, that one good tee shot, trying to get a score under 100 were just a couple of things that made want to carry on playing when i first started playing the game... I don't think i need to say anything about pen making ...

This is a fine first effort Lons, and it is also good to see that you know what you need to do next time, all part of the learning curve, well done my friend ...

That friction polish is older than Alex ...

 

[edlea]

Nice one Bob ...that polish isn't that old I seen some stuff recently with a £-s-d price label on it ...

 

[Doug]

Good first effort Lons

That friction polish is older than Alex ...

That`s not really saying a lot, most of my clothes are older than Alex..........tell the truth you`re all thinking the same

 

[Woody]

Well done with the pen looks a very good first effort Speed eez is one of the best friction polishes around but it dont like the sun it is best to put something like woodturners stick over it

 

[bellringer]

lot of thing are older then me even the stein i drink out of it 34 years old

 

[Terry]

Not passing any comment regarding the friction polish!!

Terry, I've just realised it's almost as old as my son. That's why I need dozens of cupboards - 'cos I keep everything

Bob

It must be older than your son Bob cos Woody was using that for toothpaste when he was a kid !!!!!

 

[Jimjam66]

Nice pen, and it can only get better from there! The polish can't be that old, it must have been since the Metric system was introduced ... Makes it from Woody's middle age period, I'd guess!

 

[stevenw1963]

nice one Bob

 

[Penpal]

When I saw the polish date it the last part is the same age as my sister who is three yrs older than me.

Like your ideas of assisting or jogging your memory re putting together Slimlines. If you measure the thickness of timber left on the blank its getting down to veneer so if the fit brass to nib , brass to tip, brass to winder is really tight splitting will occur.

One thing I like about Gorilla glue you can drill a fairly slack 7mm hole and the glue expands and gives a little more give at pressing time.

If you look at the centre band on a Streamline pen Kit it is larger than the centre band of the Slimline Timberbits sells them separately and in four or five colours I use them all the time to give me a fatter Slimline. Makes it dead easy to relax when turning to the centre band thickness.

Glad your having fun and to see your wife is sharing your enthusiasm I will follow your progress with interest mate neat to have a yarn recently.

Just remembered your problem with drilling can be overcome if to set a drill in the press use a vice with two axis you can set up the parrallels easy using a small square to get your verticals and horizontals accurate ( no more wandering) I used washers etc to bolt mine up. Have success another important thing to me is the drill you use if you look in my back posts the brand etc I use does not give wander or breakout and also long life.

Kind regards Peter.

 

[Woody]

......................................................................................................................................................................................................

Not passing any comment regarding the friction polish!!

Terry, I've just realised it's almost as old as my son. That's why I need dozens of cupboards - 'cos I keep everything

Bob

It must be older than your son Bob cos Woody was using that for toothpaste when he was a kid !!!!!

Bloody ha ha

 

[Lons]

Nice pen, and it can only get better from there! The polish can't be that old, it must have been since the Metric system was introduced ... Makes it from Woody's middle age period, I'd guess!

27/12/1982 - I wrote the date on when I bought it as I tended to do in those days. That makes it 31 years old I was still living near Beverley then. How time flies. £2.19 equates to about £6.50 today so checking on line at £13, it's increased by twice the rate of inflation.

Thanks for all the comments guys. I have another 4 kits so hopefully by the time I get to the last it will be a lot better. I'm part of a large family so I know once the word gets around I'll suddenly be very popular.
Might not tell anyone:wink:

I've found an old type C toggle clamp in a drawer so thinking about turning it into a press maybe!

Bob

 

[Walter]

Good start Bob. There is no way back now.

(Don't worry about the friction polish, there is stuff in the back of my fridge that is older than that (and Alex.))

 

[Lons]

One thing I like about Gorilla glue you can drill a fairly slack 7mm hole and the glue expands and gives a little more give at pressing time.

another important thing to me is the drill you use if you look in my back posts the brand etc I use does not give wander or breakout and also long life.

Kind regards Peter.

Hi Peter
I did think about using Gorilla glue as I have some but as I wanted to make the pen as thin as possible I was concerned about drilling the hole too large and then cutting through the blank, if that makes sense. - Will have a rethink.

I confess that I just used a standard TIN coated drillbit from my kit so might not have even been sharp enough. I do have a very good Meddings drill press so no excuse really for being inaccurate:nonono:

Bob