Look dad

[Grump]

I did a bit stick hacking today and came up with this, no plans, destructions or drawings, just a bit of measuring, drilling, spinning and cutting.

Still to be finished, it only has one coat sanding sealer and the screws need to come out and have pins fitted, I might do a bit of engraving on it yet, ain't decided.

My boss was using her pen at work and flashing it around proud as punch of it, so I grabbed it back off her cos I was never happy with it, stripped it back to brass and redid it.
Happier now she can have it back when I finished doing the box.

 

[GeordieB]

Looking good Brian what wood are you using for the pins?

 

[Grump]

Looking good Brian what wood are you using for the pins?

Hi George. I have made some pins from 4mm brass tube filled with copper wire and thinking about putting those in but have not yet decided.

Before anyone says my measuring is all cocked up, it will also house her e-cig so she can hide it and have crafty puff when nobody is looking.

 

[wm460]

Very nice Brian.

 

[Penpal]

Different Brian.

Peter.

 

[turnaround360]

Looks good well done .
Brian is it Walnut & Ash.

 

[Terry]

It's looking good Brian !!!

 

[chas_41_uk]

That looks good Brian

 

[Lons]

Clever, I like that Brian. Not sure about the e-cig though.
Did you route the groove or hand cut it?

 

[Jim]

Good choice of woods and it sure does look much better when given a finish .. Easily to copy also ..

 

[Grump]

Brian is it Walnut & Ash.

More like Sapele and Pine Frankie, skirting board a sill board.

Did you route the groove or hand cut it?

Drilled a hole through the length and hacked it in half, simples init?

 

[paulm]

I like that Brian, it suits the pen as well as hides the Puffing Billy. Its a great design and is already looking very good despite not being finished yet.

 

[Woody]

Love it Brian well done mate

 

[donwatson]

Excellent ideas. You're on to a winner

 

[yorkshireman]

Looks good Brian but you need to mask the screw head somehow. Sort of kills it for me.

 

[Twister]

Looks good Brian but you need to mask the screw head somehow. Sort of kills it for me.

I like the idea lots

how about leave the screw proud and sand it back to (i assume it is) a brass pin

Steve

 

[Grump]

how about leave the screw proud and sand it back to (i assume it is) a brass pin

The screws are only there to line it up while gluing and polishing.
I drill all the way through so it stays parallel to the the box, 0.5mm variation and it either don't open or opens wonky and looks crap.
Lesson learned on the first one make sure it's square.
I put a piece of sponge type packaging material in the hole to protect both pen nib and pin.

I did also try exactly what you suggest and no, they are brass plated not solid brass.
The screws come out and get replaced with a pin through the width of the box, I have used up my crap attempt at mosaic pins and now using brazing rod.

Now I have done a goodly few of em and got a proper system I might invest in some real stuff but I dunno how many more i will do.
I have them down to about 10 minutes work made from scraps so they could go with every pen I do which is not a great amount these days init?

It was just a little experiment to give some you an idea of making your own in a simple way if you ain't got a router or want a quick box.
A good point of it would be to make the pen and box from the same wood / plastic, in the case of a slimline the box could be made from a blank of the same type or for the casters among you could make a cast for the pen and box.

That may just be a selling point to give you the edge over a competitor, all you need is a saw ad the lathe, no more than you already have for your pens except maybe a nail or two for a pin hinge.
Pics to follow when I get indoors wiv me camera.

 

[Grump]

Like I said this was an experiment and done with no plans but here are the so far results.
As you can see easily made in minutes from offcuts and scrap, can be done to suit the pen size.

 

[Bill Mooney]

Simple but very effective Brian & all from scraps. Cost? 10 minutes of your time. Excellent.

 

[bassethound]

Brilliant Brian, love it mate!