Thread: My first Kitless Rollerball

Amazing work on that one Brad!!
The kitless path is yet another wormhole which I'm sure I will dive headlong into one day, but not just yet....

I really like your nib section - not too many people seem to do kitless rollerballs but I reckon yours is spot on!

Thanks for sharing

Cheers Gab.
Yes, I have held off on this style until now, I have been making kitless bullet pens for a while now, as well as modifying kit pens.
I have been feeling the restraints of the kits for a while, and the range we have in Oz leaves a bit to be desired . My goal is to make kitless wooden bodied pens, but I have started with resin, as it’s a bit more forgiving with regards to stability, and threading.. I will move on to fountain pens as well, but I am not real familiar with them, so have a bit of learning to do before I venture into that direction.

I made a few kitless and yours is way better than my first by a long shot.
Any particular reason you went with the 10mm double start for the section to barrel rather than the usual single?

Pete

Originally Posted by QC Inspector

I made a few kitless and yours is way better than my first by a long shot.
Any particular reason you went with the 10mm double start for the section to barrel rather than the usual single?

Pete

I had originally planned to use the 9x0.75, but found it wouldn’t leave much thickness of material once I drilled out for the refill. 10mm was a better option, the double start set is all I have with the fine thread.
I will eventually buy a 10x0.75mm single start set, and will use that.
I don’t think there is any advantage or disadvantage in using a double start thread on an internal part, except you are using a very expensive tap and die set for a job that could be done with cheaper tools.

So in a nutshell, “I just used what I had”

I think I said a mouthful on another forum but in repeat that design is perfection in the writing end IMHO long overdue in pens and in general.I have bitten my tongue ,mouth looking at uglypens when photographed apart. All I see in this pen is pure excellence mate.

Peter.

Originally Posted by Penpal

I think I said a mouthful on another forum but in repeat that design is perfection in the writing end IMHO long overdue in pens and in general.I have bitten my tongue ,mouth looking at uglypens when photographed apart. All I see in this pen is pure excellence mate.

Peter.

Thanks Peter. It took me a while to settle on this design for the nib/section/grip. I must have been looking at some of the same photos as you, I saw some ugly designs on the internet.
I ended up taking some ideas from a couple of kit pens that I like, and adapted the styling to suit being made in resin instead of metal.
I can see some subtle tweaks that I can make on future pens, but I am happy with this one, being my first.
All of the work on this pen was done on my wood lathe, using my 30 year old skew and parting tool.
A lot of the work would be much quicker and more accurate on the metal lathe, but I don't have a way to adapt my collet chuck yet.
Though the curved parts such as the grip section will still have to be done on the wood lathe.

Lovely work Brad!

Resin has it place and nothing looks like it.( Well in this case the copper mineral malachite does look like this and that adds to its appeal. A mineral collector would be attracted to it especially.)

Though I prefer woods for pens you have produced something striking, again!. Perhaps the next step is to use (clear resin) stabilised woods strengthened by the resin filling the pores? The hardest (as you say) would be achieving the same result with a figured (weak but beautiful) wood I guess. I’m not a pen turner so my comments don't mean much.

Euge

Thanks Euge. Yes, stabilising the timber is what I am also thinking. I have all the gear to do it, accumulated and built a few years ago, just haven’t got around to using it yet. I think this would help.
I have also been thinking about using brass tubes internally, just like on kit pens.
I just need to try things and see what works.

You obviously have endless patience, as well as remarkable skills, and the pen is a credit to you. If this is your first attempt, after 30 odd years of pen making, I guess I will be trying it at age around 106! Great work, Brad.

That looks an impressive pen!
This is something I've been pondering recently after joining and seeing some of the brilliant pens by members.
So if you don't mind me asking, how was the pen made? Is the black part machined/turned resin?
Cheers!

Sent from my Lenovo TB3-710F using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Gary H

You obviously have endless patience, as well as remarkable skills, and the pen is a credit to you. If this is your first attempt, after 30 odd years of pen making, I guess I will be trying it at age around 106! Great work, Brad.

Thanks Gary. My patience is greatly variable I'm afraid ��

Originally Posted by bootes

That looks an impressive pen!
This is something I've been pondering recently after joining and seeing some of the brilliant pens by members.
So if you don't mind me asking, how was the pen made? Is the black part machined/turned resin?
Cheers!

Sent from my Lenovo TB3-710F using Tapatalk

Hi Bootes, yes the black part is turned on my lathe from a black resin blank.
How the pen was made is a long story, too long to tell in this thread. But if you are serious about giving it a go, I will point you in the direction of some reading you can do.
Tell us a bit about your pen turning experience, that will help to know how to answer your question a bit better.

Well Done Brad
That came up a treat
One day i will play with this sort of thing also, but i want to use my artwork in the body and the cap sections
no time at the moment though

Keep up the great work
MIK

Thanks Ironwood, now knowing its turned from a a piece of stock, the idea makes sense - was previously wondering if it might have been formed/cast from some material.
I'm still trying to figure out a design that uses the materials I have at hand, if/when I ever figure it I'll make a post.

If you did happened to have any pointers on some good reading, that would be always be much appreciated.
Cheers!