Thread: Artists / workshop mechanical pencil - silky oak

Definitely got it wrong , one of the tubes has an internal thread for the collet to screw into , just hope you havn't put the tenon on the threaded end any where else you should be able to carefully dismantle and use the screwed tube end to assemble the collet to . If there is no threaded bit then you have an odd kit I think ( I bought some once from carbatec like that ) good luck with it cheers ~ John

Yes I made sure the screw thread was on the outside. It's on the left side in the image - it's what the front end screws into. But the screw thread and front end assembly doesn't keep the right hand assembly in place at all, and also the screw thread and front end on the left doesn't keep the claws in place when you press the button so that you can extend more lead out the front. You sort of need to push it back into place manually - all the spring does is to push back the button, but doesn't retract the claws.

Originally Posted by bassmansimon

Yes I made sure the screw thread was on the outside. It's on the left side in the image - it's what the front end screws into. But the screw thread and front end assembly doesn't keep the right hand assembly in place at all, and also the screw thread and front end on the left doesn't keep the claws in place when you press the button so that you can extend more lead out the front. You sort of need to push it back into place manually - all the spring does is to push back the button, but doesn't retract the claws.

Ahhh ! so far so good ,but the right hand end bit has to be glued to the brass tube , this is tricky as you can easily get a bit too much glue and have problems ,don't ask how I know this fixes the chrome part and once glued ,you can then unscrew the milled section as it is a pencil sharpener Sometimes you need to adjust the tension of the claws ,I take out the lead extend the pen fully then use something like a tapered centre punch to open up the jaws a bit so the lead slides freely in and out ,It all should then work fine , eg hold the pen vertically and release by pushing on the end bit,the lead should slide out freely , you always have to push these back manually when needed. ( Tip) take out the lead when gluing , once glued you can no longer disassemble the pen . Hope that helps as sometimes these things can be a bit unclear cheers ~ John

My sugestion would be to check the way the spring has been installed as there can be a right and a wrong way for the spring. Did you have instructions for the pen if not I can send you some ? but sometimes instructions are as clear as mud


Cheers ian

No instructions provided but I found some dodgy ones online.
Does the bit you glue get attached to the brass tube that is attached to the timber blank, or the thin silver tube?

From looking at it, you must mean the silver tube, because if attached to the brass tube, it won't be able to be pressed in. Is that correct?

I have attached some instruction that I have found and played around with a little hope they help ?


Cheers ian




WORKSHOP PENCIL.pdf

Originally Posted by bassmansimon

No instructions provided but I found some dodgy ones online.
Does the bit you glue get attached to the brass tube that is attached to the timber blank, or the thin silver tube?

From looking at it, you must mean the silver tube, because if attached to the brass tube, it won't be able to be pressed in. Is that correct?

your right ,in your case the small tube it fits over ,which is the mechanism, these are known as "clutch pencils" so you adjust the length manually in or out . The glue does not do too much just keeps it on the tube ,and allows you to unscrew the sharpener section ,to sharpen you need the lead extended about an inch as the blade is recessed a bit . I usually put the smallest amount of glue I can on a toothpick (most times medium or thick CA ) and give the inside of the chrome bit a quick swipe there is a shoulder about 1/4 " that sits on the top of the internal small tube so can't go on too far ,simply assemble quickly and in a few minutes ready to go , Cheers ~ John

Yep they are ARPI if using the centre band and once everything is glued together you find it'll be hard to remove the mechanism.

I prefer to turn them as a single tube with no centre band. I use both tubes, allow a similar distance between the two tubes for length as if the centre band was there.

Its easy then to glue the sharpener end on and insert the whole mechanism with out the worry of if you need to remove it how the hell do you.

Alternatively make a separate centre band which allows the mechanism to pass through. I have never tried drilling the centre band to allow this.

Originally Posted by Dorno

I have attached some instruction that I have found and played around with a little hope they help ? Cheers ian

brilliant, thanks. Heaps better than the ones I found online at another site.

Two points:

#1 The Blank looks great!!

#2 Aren't you glad that our top pen experts are so bloody helpful?

Thanks for all the tips. I disassembled it again today, and put it together with just logic and no instructions. It works perfectly now!! Same as the the instructions here, but with the spring on the other side of the centre-band. It works just like a regular mechanical pencil now.

Thanks, Simon.

Well done once again Simon

Cheers Ian