Thread: Bushings

Hi Terry,

You must turn the blanks and not the bushings

Mine are of origin and still have the good diamêtre

Terry, if you have noticed that you have worn them down, or if the fitting of the pen parts is now always out, then it is time to replace them, I guess if we are diligent enough to take the inital size with a micrometer, and write it down, then after a few pens a quick reading would let us know what we should do. Amos

Make your own bushes,if you beat them to death stainless steel tube withthese markings suit me.mManufactured for prochem T.5.K 7.94x0.91 is the tube I bought in Tasmania 3 years ago at a metal supplier.

Amos if you use a micrometer get a shock,between kits the spacer sizes vary a great deal,it may pay to record or measure each time the actual size of the middle spacer and the the top and the tip but then.

The stainless tube I drill the bush as I cut them to 6.22 mm to fit on the mandrell itself.I always buy these drills at a specialist place measuring them with a micrometer at the place because guess what they vary also.

Occassionally one falls as I remove the outside spacer from the mandrel and well it can roll anywhere so I have spares,that is another answer,no such thing as a free lunch.

Kruger I admire your thrift and care of spacers as well as your pens.

In my opinion we get sloppy fitting spacers etc in the USA on the IAP site there is a guy who uses computer aided turned bushes of multiple sizes the real quality of finish I have never seen before.

Since manufacturers dies,drills etc wear and sizes vary I use a three to thirteen mm taper reamer to ease the too tight fit in some plated fittings it also removes any bad seating in the brass.

But then I take a while to make a pen,call me fussy if you like.

I also feel like putting a disclaimer to help others the opinions expressed etc,my wife said you should allow people the same privilige to learn the hard way lest they consider your remarks as knowing too much,I am on this journey of discovery all the time like to share.

Regards Peter

I've worn out a few over time. I only use the steel bushings for turning and initial sanding, for the finer sanding and polishing I use brass sleeve segments or home made timber or teflon bushes.

I also use blue masking tape over the steel ones. That way you sand/turn the tape before the steel, it also allows for final sanding thickness loss.