Thread: New Pens from Gidgee timber

Nice work Jonny.
As you have found, some kits come with brass tubes that are too small for the components, I too have been caught out and the result is a cracked blank. Now as a precaution, I ream all my finished tubes until I get a better fit, I use Loctite ( the one I am using at the moment is green ) to ensure they don't come apart.

Originally Posted by Ironwood

Nice work Jonny.
As you have found, some kits come with brass tubes that are too small for the components, I too have been caught out and the result is a cracked blank. Now as a precaution, I ream all my finished tubes until I get a better fit, I use Loctite ( the one I am using at the moment is green ) to ensure they don't come apart.

Thanks for your comment. What do you use to ream your tubes? I just roll them around a spinning 6mm drill bit. A bit rough but it works. I like the loctite idea. I have some but it's red and might not be useful, although I haven't yet reamed enough to result in a loose fit.

Originally Posted by Jonnydubbs

Thanks for your comment. What do you use to ream your tubes? I just roll them around a spinning 6mm drill bit. A bit rough but it works. I like the loctite idea. I have some but it's red and might not be useful, although I haven't yet reamed enough to result in a loose fit.

I use a round file, I have several different diameters for different sized tubes. I dont make it a loose fit, just take enough out so that I can start to push the tube onto the component but needs to be pressed to go all the way on, not tight enough to crack brittle timber or castings though.
Red loctite works OK, I have used it when thats all I have on hand. It might make it a bit harder to disassemble if you need to though.