Nearly made a pen.

[Garno]

Well what a day this has turned out to be.

I had a kit for the "New Style Screw Cap RB" pen.

I turned it on Sapele and finished it with melamine so I only needed to assemble it.
I emptied out all those bags and laid all the parts out.
I then assembled the centre band. I looked at the band and then the blank and started wondering how the two "married" up to each other.
I stared, and then stared at the 2 for a little longer.

After 20 minutes of staring and twiddling the 2 pieces I decided to come indoors and continue tomorrow.
First thing I did was to find any assembly instructions on this 'ere interweb thingy.
After much searching I found what I was looking for.
Apparently the blank only needs to be 1- 11/16" with the rest of the tube exposed
How the heck was I supposed to know that

It's the work of the devil I tells ya
I will either be very happy or very sad tomorrow when I try to remedy it and turn the blank off the tube.
No doubt I will turn down the wrong piece

 

[silver]

It's the work of the devil I tells ya

I will either be very happy or very sad tomorrow when I try to remedy it and turn the blank off the tube.
No doubt I will turn down the wrong piece

1. Yep, the devil works in mysterious ways.

2. Usually a good thing to read the instructions of pens and kits BEFORE turning and trying to assemble. :wink:

3. When you take the finished barrels off the mandrel then pop them on to a piece of routed, grooved or architrave wood so the barrels sit as you would take them off.

Just a quick note, might be worth marking the inside of the tube before putting it on the mandrel. I use a sharpie to mark the inside of the tube up just in case then end up on the floor. At least I know which way around they should go.

 

[Garno]

I'm just happy I used the correct size drill, it was size "V"
I should of suspected that using iffy sized drill bits there would be hidden things later in the turn.

I honestly thought that ALL penkits had to turned to the full length of the tube

I got your email email [MENTION=165]silver[/MENTION]

 

[Bill Mooney]

Pen turning can be minefield. As Eamonn says always read the instructions. I think we’ve all learned the same way as you.

 

[silver]

I'm just happy I used the correct size drill, it was size "V"
I should of suspected that using iffy sized drill bits there would be hidden things later in the turn.

I honestly thought that ALL penkits had to turned to the full length of the tube

You need to download yourself a drill conversion sheet. The V drill size is close to a 10mm. Just over 3/8. This is where the drill gauge come in useful so you can get a drill the right size.

There are a few pen kits that you turn down to size with the bushes then cut a portion off down to the tube.

No problems with the E-mail. Look forward to catching up with you to confirm order status.

 

[21William]

Some kit manufacturers don’t make it easy.

 

[flexi]

It's not the only kit.... Some cigar kits need a tenon cut too, it actually quite easy with a parting tool
I think Walter mentioned this in his book??

 

[wm460]

I have had a couple kit that had bits missing, when I finally make them, the mobs selling them long gone.

 

[alan morrison]

Mark, when I saw the title of this thread I thought that it was from you.

Alan

 

[wm460]

Mark, when I saw the title of this thread I thought that it was from you.

Alan

Hey miracles do happen you know.

 

[Penpal]

Excreta occurs,first principle read the instructions.