Thread: how many sets...

Originally Posted by ElizaLeahy

How many sets did you wreck before you got it right?

Well I'm never 100% happy with any of my pens, so you could say "all of them", but if you mean how many pens were pretty much flawed obviously enough to the average person looking at them - 1 majorly, 3 or 4 with minor flaws. Each change in material and finish has it's own learning curve though as well.

Since then, some good, some bad, some complete write offs, but most can be passed off as successful, if you place the clip in the right place, and take a bad photo

Russell.

The first was quite good ..... it was all downhill from there. As with everything I seem to do I spend a lot of time consentrating on getting the first one right and then get overly confident and tend to rush the rest from then on.

If you are using the slimlines to start off with I suggest getting some additional tubes (cheap) and then you can practice as much as you like and only assemble the good ones.

Oh, and despite the fact that EVERYONE says start with slimlines, because they're cheap, they are actually quite hard to turn due to the small size you have to turn down to. Once you get going, Sierras are probably the easiest - one tube, not too big, not too small for drilling, and the turned size is much easier to handle and get a nice finish on.

Russell.

I'll put Sierras on my list of things to do

I'm guessing it needs a different drill and mandrel?

Originally Posted by ElizaLeahy

I'll put Sierras on my list of things to do

I'm guessing it needs a different drill and mandrel?

Same mandrel as the slimlines, but you do need different bushes, and it's a 27/64" drill bit, which is available in most hardware/auto part stores.

A smaller step up from the slimlines is Streamlines. They are still 7mm tubes, but they have a thicker centre band, so you get to leave a bit more thickness of the blank and they have a nicer, fuller look, although it's still down to the same size on each end. Different bushes again though I'm afraid. That's one of the biggest pains, as trying just about any different style means getting new bushes as well.

Russell.

Originally Posted by ElizaLeahy

How many sets did you wreck before you got it right?

And don't forget that you can always turn the wood away from the tube for re-use. Unless you've seriously bent something out of shape, but most of us only do that once. (Not me though! I'm still counting... )

Time to start collecting pieces for a disassembly kit, methinks?

I bugger up pens regularly
Try the Sierras, a lot easier then the slimline, more room for error. And a classy pen in the end.
I hope you are not using the Shellawax paste - not good for pens

On my first I used organoil - still going strong but there is a problem with the slippage of one of the tubes not being glued in proper but I'm happy