Thread: Pressing Components

I have used a few different things, such as an old drill press, clamps, one of those drill stands for a hand drill (still use that one at times), but for the majority of my pen assembly I now use the big Dawn vice on the work bench.

I find that the screw action gives me much more control over the assembly process, particularly when pressing in the twist mechanisms in my bullet pens.
I have made up various little jigs to help in the assembly of various pen parts.

I have been looking at making a dedicated pen press from a pipe clamp and some 3/4" water pipe.

With most of the press, rather than screw, action devices I find there is not enough fine control over the press action. Very often it is "all or nothing".

I use one of these Quik-Grip.

I agree with BigShed - the are OK, but not as controllable as a screw action press.

I have only lost one blank due to slipping and it split the timber. One was plenty enough and very annoying! I have been tempted to build my own but have never got around to it. Will be interested to see what you end up with.

Cheers,
Dave

I also use the quick grip but not totally happy with it but having said that it has produced well over 100 pens without failure so I cant complain to much.
I'm constantly thinking of a better system but not yet might need more RUM

I use a quick grip from time to time but most of the time a vice.
David

Small metalworkers vice with a bit of padding on the jaws

Peter

I started on my bench vice, then moved to a quick action clamp so I could put them together inside and am now using a pen press. The pen press is good but can be a little fiddly at times... better than the quick action vice though.

Gary pye sells these

I use this
the piston bit/thingy available from carba tec
feel free to copy, adapt, steal idea, etc

PS: I use little bits of mdf to cushion the pen parts

I use the Gary Pye pen press and it works quite well. It is easy to fine tune the amount of "press" you need for a particular pen if you make up a spacer that fits between the blocks so it limits travel and it pushes the pen mechanism into the pen tube to the right depth every time. Of course you need to have a different spacer to suit the various pens you make.

Pen press from Carrols and can't fault it , haven't had a failure yet and quick and simple to use

Just compared prices
Sawdust Maker's clamp $32 (from carba tec)
Garry's pen press $49
So if your on a tight budget then the DIY might be the go if you have a bit of stretch then the extra$17 is probably money well spent.

I think I might wait and see what Santa brings me

Prices as per advertised on the web at time of post.

hydraulic log splitter

Originally Posted by texx

hydraulic log splitter

I guess if you lined 'em all up end-to-end you could assemble about 40 pens in one go

i think santa is bringing me a bench vice, so i will probably try with that for a while to see how it works, but in the long run i am sure i will get one of the pen presses

i also checked out the comparative prices and for the difference in price, it is already constructed, should be lined up correctly, so much less hassels, my opinion is to buy the ready made product, 6 months ago these presses were $100 which mad a big difference

thanks for the input

MIK