Putting together a pen

[Inkpen]

Just strted turning pens and would like to know how you match the wood grain when putting the pen blanks on the pen kit.

 

[Phil Dart]

If you mean do you match it with the ballpoint extended or retracted, the common practice is retracted, on the basis that retracted is how the pen spends most of its life, and inevitably how it will be presented to the end user.

 

[silver]

It's important that the pen grain is matched when it's fully closed.. that's my opinion and everyone should stick to it..

In reality a slimline pen is easy to align when putting them together. Fountain pens need a little more forward thinking and press them together once the grain is aligned correctly. But if you get it wrong once pushed together you would have to disassemble the pen to re aligned the grain.

 

[Inkpen]

The pen is a baron kit from turners retreat i put some olive on it but strggling to match the grain?

 

[Penpal]

It all starts in the marking out, cutting drilling plays a part always drill from the centre of the pen both ways so the cleaner entries come back in the same order. Then you have to match the functions of assembly carefully it is different for every kit. From my memory David from Timberbits.com used to cover this in his free videos on various pen making its easier when viewing IMHO.Most specialised Pen Books cover this as well writing a novel here without dozens of pics a wasted exercise. I always match my Slimlines biro extended,
my pics always the same way you choose for yourself.

All the best Peter.

 

[silver]

As Peter says, it all depends on if you set it up and marked out the blank in the beginning and also if you have turned them correctly as well.

I'm presuming that you marked the blank prior to cutting and drilling? As as Peter drill from the center of the pen is the way I do it. Doesn't mean it's the right way tho..

I usually fit the main pen body first then do the cap.

 

[wm460]

I mark the inside of the tube before turning them.

 

[AllenN]

I too mark the grain and drill from the centre matching point. I them transfer that mark to the inside of the tube after gluing and cleaning up ( thin permanent marker pen). Helps to match the grain at assembly time.

 

[Penpal]

The aim of drilling from the centre both ways because this is where the grain match is seen. Working with burl it matters not grain runs every which way. Then the choice of the greater impact top of the pen where it is seen first in the pocket or the lower half you look at most in use how many ways to make a pen, several all valid for some reason.

Peter.

 

[Jim]

Put together the clip end blank, screw in the connector from the nib end blank and present the blank to the connecter with it fully screwed in. Align up the blanks, unscrew the nib end connecter with the blank still loosely attached, take it to the press, fit it to the connecter then when you put the pen together it should match ..

 

[Inkpen]

Some big help here thanks people.