Mini sketch pencil.

[Paul hd]

Has anyone put this kit together?

I'm not that impressed to be honest. The spring is not strong enough to retract the jaws so they close around the lead. Then when you press the top the jaws do not open enough to let the lead slide out.

What I did like was the finishing Mops.

Mini sketch pencil. - YouTube

 

[fortress]

A very nice blank there Paul, shame it's wasted on that pencil kit.

 

[wm460]

Top looking blank Paul, pity about the kit.

 

[Penpal]

Paul the appearance is magic is it worth settling the spring problem?

Peter.

 

[Paul hd]

Top looking blank Paul, pity about the kit.

Hi Mark,
It is a pity about the kit as I think it is a great size pencil kit.

Paul the appearance is magic is it worth settling the spring problem?

Peter.

Hi Peter,
It is not the easiest kit to take apart so I will probably damage it in doing so, mind you it is not working so no problem if it does get damaged.

I did buy two so I will try the second kit and see if it works.

The instruction manual from penstate gives a list of parts. With this kit there is a tiny brass ring\washer but it is not in the list of parts. I included it in the fitting, maybe that should of been left out. When I put this one together I will leave it out.

Cheers
Paul

 

[iandel]

Fantastic blank. I love the blue colour. Shame about the kit

 

[TonyL]

Mini Sketch Pencil and Buffing Station (Mops).

Excellent video and nice looking barrel! I have had good luck so far with the PSI mini sketch pencil (looks like the one you may have turned). I have made only 3 though, but all 3 worked. I don't like wet-sanding if I can help it (nor using micro mesh) and have much success with this "system" (very similar to yours). Thanks for the excellent video and sharing your experience.

 

[Paul hd]

Excellent video and nice looking barrel! I have had good luck so far with the PSI mini sketch pencil (looks like the one you may have turned). I have made only 3 though, but all 3 worked. I don't like wet-sanding if I can help it (nor using micro mesh) and have much success with this "system" (very similar to yours). Thanks for the excellent video and sharing your experience.

Hi Tony,
Brilliant write up on your polishing system.

I had another look at the pencil today. I managed to get it apart but unfortunately I snapped one of the jaws that clamps the lead.
I put it back together minus the washer and I also put the spring on the shorter side of the tube. It seems to be more powerful but unfortunately it probably is not holding well now because of the broken part.
Never mind, I will get the second kit put together and see how that performs.

Cheers
Paul

 

[TonyL]

You are welcome. I may have just been lucky up to this point. I am actually making one for myself now.

Cheers!

 

[Paul hd]

Hi All,
Mini sketch pencil 2.
This time I followed the instructions and it works great. :-)

Blue Alumilite, Aztec Gold pearl x and Polycraft table top epoxy resin. The wood is a couple of tiny scrap pieces of Poplar burr.

Mini sketch Pencil kit. - YouTube

 

[Penpal]

Happiness is a handy writing instrument ,problem solved and a great bonus a top blank Paul. Beaut video I quite look forward to the vids mate.

Peter.

 

[Penpal]

Excellent video and nice looking barrel! I have had good luck so far with the PSI mini sketch pencil (looks like the one you may have turned). I have made only 3 though, but all 3 worked. I don't like wet-sanding if I can help it (nor using micro mesh) and have much success with this "system" (very similar to yours). Thanks for the excellent video and sharing your experience.

Loved your comments Tony always do on the IAP as well. Thanks mate.

Peter.

 

[TonyL]

Thank you for the compliment. And thanks for posting your question.

 

[Louie_Powell]

I've made a couple of them that have worked fine - in fact, I've had one in the pocket of my turning smock for a couple of years now.

50+ years ago, I worked as an engineering intern/drafter and routinely used lead holders that employed the same basic mechanism for holding graphite lead. My experience was that a small fraction of lead holders simply didn't work well - not sure whether it was the tension in the spring, or the sharpness of the teeth in the jaws that held the lead, so occasionally you would encounter one where the lead would slip when you applied pressure. I concluded that they just weren't precision machines, and the quality was erratic.

The other point is that graphite is slippery (it's used as a lubricant in things like locks where liquid lubricants are undesirable). It's also possible for graphite dust to accumulate in the grooves in the jaws, which means that the teeth won't be able to grip the lead.

 

[21William]

Lovely blank, shame about the kit. Maybe you could replace the spring with a stronger one?

 

[Paul hd]

Lovely blank, shame about the kit. Maybe you could replace the spring with a stronger one?

I did take it apart and assembled correctly, unfortunately with one jaw missing it has had its day.

As you can see in the second kit all works well and I am very happy with the results.

 

[Paul hd]

I've made a couple of them that have worked fine - in fact, I've had one in the pocket of my turning smock for a couple of years now.

50+ years ago, I worked as an engineering intern/drafter and routinely used lead holders that employed the same basic mechanism for holding graphite lead. My experience was that a small fraction of lead holders simply didn't work well - not sure whether it was the tension in the spring, or the sharpness of the teeth in the jaws that held the lead, so occasionally you would encounter one where the lead would slip when you applied pressure. I concluded that they just weren't precision machines, and the quality was erratic.

The other point is that graphite is slippery (it's used as a lubricant in things like locks where liquid lubricants are undesirable). It's also possible for graphite dust to accumulate in the grooves in the jaws, which means that the teeth won't be able to grip the lead.

Hi Louie,

Thanks for the info.

Regards
Paul