Wood kitless pens

[Grump]

I'll stand up in James's defence, he has shown his pens here before and the silly dog.
James is well enuf known for his quality and the way in which he produces and displays his wares.
He has shown some goodly works and helped people with demos on here of how to do stuff.
Some bloody good tutorials have come from his stable and I for one thank him for doing so.
A valued member of our community with some quality work to his credit.
I might even put up with the dog if I have to init?

 

[silver]

I can tell you with authority its a Bock nib. Does that cut the mustard?

Never tried it on mustard Phil, but if it's a Bock then that's hi end hi quality in my book. (Just make sure you use a good ink tho.)

 

[Phil Dart]

I don't really see what all this kit/kitless thing is about.

James has shown us his latest two kitless pens. We know he's good at them because he's shown us others he's made in the past and no-one has ever before questioned that he might not have made all the parts himself. Someone thought in error that one or two of the parts in these two may be out of a packet. James has explained and demonstrated that they are not. End of.

The skills on show are both inspirational and aspirational for me and I would go so far as to say they are for most of us on this forum. Is it good quality? is it high end? Is it cheating? Is the nib up to it? I have no doubt I will rub people up the wrong way by saying this, and possibly even lose some customers as a result, but it's a bloody kitless pen. Who cares about anything else. I don't see this type of discussion arising every time someone post a slimline.

When someone post some piccies of their hard work and innovation, we should have the courtesy to believe them, and not knock their skills which are frankly beyond the reach of many of us.

Thanks for sharing your pens with us all James. Please don't lose heart, and please keep them coming. I for one enjoy seeing them and learning from your experience and journey

 

[Walter]

Someone thought in error that one or two of the parts in these two may be out of a packet. James has explained and demonstrated that they are not. End of.

I agree, but it would be good if that person showed James the courtesy of acknowledging his error.

 

[bassethound]

I think James has shown what an expert he is to these sort of pens, I love them and the help he has shown in his posts! I just wish I had the guts and enough years to try to do all these things myself!....Thanks James....

 

[Penpal]

When the shouting dies down opinions expressed runs are posted pics abound who gives a threat to whom, claims of superior knowledge expectations according to definitions anonymous.

Great work has been shown and I acknowledge this. Many times I have mentioned this if you buy tyres for a car you will get well meaning people saying that choice was rubbish this brand is superior etc.

All very well to say this nib that clip always the pen presented must be judged fairly on the result to the victor goes the crown. Long live the king. This is not a race car covered in ads supported by so many people with irons in the fire, a dog in the fight but a forum where we are priviliged to be members in good faith.

Positive penmaking pays.

Peter.

 

[Walter]

I have been inspired by James and others like him not only to have a go at making kitless pens myself but also to share my experience by writing it up as a series of magazine articles. So far I have made the "section" for a fountain pen from aluminium using a nib and ink converter from Phil Dart. The body and cap are next on the agenda and the articles will be published in the new year. Cock ups and other "learning experiences" will be shared.


IMG_2283 by walter.hall, on Flickr

No kits were harmed in the making of this section.:wink:

 

[rayf6604]

I have been inspired by James and others like him not only to have a go at making kitless pens myself but also to share my experience by writing it up as a series of magazine articles. So far I have made the "section" for a fountain pen from aluminium using a nib and ink converter from Phil Dart. The body and cap are next on the agenda and the articles will be published in the new year. Cock ups and other "learning experiences" will be shared.


IMG_2283 by walter.hall, on Flickr

No kits were harmed in the making of this section.:wink:

I'm looking forward to reading your articles on these Walter. Will you be doing one in acrylic? When I finally get round to trying these pens I think I'll be calling them my 'custom' pens but they are 'kitless' to me by virtue of the fact that they do not use any parts from a pen kit. The nibs and ink converters are bought in because it makes no sense for the average pen maker to make these from scratch, not to mention it wouldn't be possible for most pen makers to make these components and I would want the finest nibs fitting to my custom pens in any case.

 

[Walter]

I'm looking forward to reading your articles on these Walter. Will you be doing one in acrylic? When I finally get round to trying these pens I think I'll be calling them my 'custom' pens but they are 'kitless' to me by virtue of the fact that they do not use any parts from a pen kit. The nibs and ink converters are bought in because it makes no sense for the average pen maker to make these from scratch, not to mention it wouldn't be possible for most pen makers to make these components and I would want the finest nibs fitting to my custom pens in any case.

The body of this one will be in some sort of acrylic Ray. I have not fully decided on what further ones in the series will be made of except that at some stage I will also be making a rollerball and ballpoint. Wood will feature at some stage as will ebonite.

 

[chas_41_uk]

I have been inspired by James and others like him not only to have a go at making kitless pens myself but also to share my experience by writing it up as a series of magazine articles.

I for one will be looking forward to this series of articles Walter

 

[Penpal]

Defining the pen in print is a great idea Walter.

Peter.

 

[jameshj]

Walter, I would be interested to know the thread you used on the section and what threads you plan for the Barrel / Cap joint.
jameshj

 

[wm460]

Hi all, Its jameshj here. I would like to clear up a few points. Is it kitless or not. If by kitless you have make all parts of a PEN then it is not kitless as i bought the nib, feeder and housing. To me a kit pen is where you add wood, plastic and or metal. The design and fittings are supplied in the kit, and yes before there is back lash you can change the shap to some degree but basicly a slimline is a slimline. I have been turning pens for some 25, yes 25 years and the standard of kits have improved greatly over that time, but i thought it time to move on. So to me a kitless pen is one in which i make all the parts that I can without using any parts from a kit, or old pen parts!!
Pic 1. shows the parts I bought.
Pic 2. shows the parts I made ( i did not grow the wood,make the plastic or aluminum )
Pic 3. shows the KIT I use to make My Pens be they kitless or not.

PS GRUMPS the dog stays.

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Nice lathe .

 

[Lons]

Surely the true question to be asked here is...... High Quality or High End ;)

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

Both I think Dan!

When are you going to start selling "kitless" kits BTW?

 

[Walter]

Walter, I would be interested to know the thread you used on the section and what threads you plan for the Barrel / Cap joint.
jameshj

Hi James

The thread on the section is M8.5 x 1.0. The barrel / cap joint will be a triple start M11.0 x 0.8

Walter

 

[TaylorsMirfield.co.uk]

Both I think Dan!

When are you going to start selling "kitless" kits BTW? [emoji317]

I have had one available for a while but for some reason not been that successful

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

[Lons]

Must be the cr*p photo Dan

BTW James, your work is awesome and truly inspirational

 

[Phil Dart]

I have had one available for a while but for some reason not been that successful

That's because there's something missing from the packet Dan.

 

[wm460]

I have had one available for a while but for some reason not been that successful

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

Gone 100% kitless.

 

[jameshj]

Thanks Walter,I have been using standard taps and dies, 10 x 0.75 for the section and single start 11, 12 or 13 x 1 fine metric for the Cap and Barrel. Is there a supplier of triple start taps and dies in the uk, us yet i cannot find one.
jameshj