Added Level of difficulty in pens

[Russianwolf]

I was drilling a blank last week and Had a thought, Since I turn between centers with special bushings, Why couldn't I make a single body closed end slimline? So I tried it. Guess it works.

The first is an Irish Bog Oak that is short, I cut 1/2 inch off the refill to make it fit and had to press the transmission in further to compensate. I think the result is okay, and making the final cut and finishing the pointy end is very difficult.

The second is Purpleheart, and is much longer. It has a small dimple in the closed end from the live center, but it was much easier to complete as the center was in place the entire time. This one was done firsh and I like the overall effect enough that I think I'll do more like it before doing more of the pointy ones. This one is my favorite,

[Duff]

I'm not a pen-guy, but can't you sand the end by hand and remove the dimples? I like the shape of the black one!

[RayintheUK]

It's an interesting design, but I can only see it (in the UK) as part of a desk set, maybe with a pencil and letter-opener to match. That's due to not having a pocket clip, of course - over here that's almost mandatory, whatever the style.

Ray.

[TB Roye]

Mike

Very nice, I like the purple heart the best. Like Ray said they would make great desk sets. I was wondering if you couldn't mount the Pen in a Bottle Stopper Chuck and finsh the rounded end so you wouldn't have the dimple. I made one of your one piece slim lines the other night and I am thinking of making a one peice European pen with a piece of Acrylic on the nib end. One question, how do you make the one peice pen a little easier to twist on extending the point. I did my one piece by drilling from both ends and had no problem, guess I got lucky.

Tom

[Russianwolf]

Mike

One question, how do you make the one peice pen a little easier to twist on extending the point. Tom

Hmmm, good question. They ARE a bit harder to open/close since the metal is so smooth. The only thing I can think of wold be to alter the nib in some way so you can grip it better, but the plating is so thin that you'd likely end up with brass showing through.


Oh and I really didn't come up with the single body slimline, I just like them since they allow alot of creativity and size variation (no centerband, length is more adjustable, etc.) I doubt that I even came up witht he single body closed end first, but I did it on my own which is half the fun for me.

[John Hunter]

Very nice.

[lrogers]

I always look forward to seeing the new stuff you come up with Mike. I have to agree with Ray, that would make a really nice desk set.

[mater]

That is really neat. They look very nice.

[SARGE..g-47]

I think they look good, Mike. I know little about building them or turning in general, so I can't comment as the others about details. They just look good to a non-turner... simple as that.

Regards...