Wattle rollers

My first rollerball pens.

Both kits from Timberbits. A $10 Baron (gold one, pics 1-2) and a $4 JR Gents (chrome one, pics 3-4).

To me, I honestly couldn't tell the difference by looking at them apart from the slight difference in the writing tips. I know the bushings are different, so probably slightly larger/smaller compared to each other, but to look at them side by side, they are pretty much the same.

However, the extra $ was noticable when actually using the pen. The twisting of the lid onto the pen is much smoother and nicer with the Baron rather than the JR Gents. Maybe I just got a bad one but the JR Gents seemed a little stiff and some of the screw threads (the lesser-used ones) were squeaky. I have a handful of both kit styles to go, so will keep an eye out when i make more in the future.

Anyway, I hope you like my first attempts at pens with lids. They are both from Golden Wattle, diagonal cut. Finished with 20 coats of CA, then Micro Mesh and Brasso to finish.

Simon.

Some nice colours in those blanks Simon, they really look the part. Your pens are coming along nicely.

The bushes for those 2 pen kits should all be the same except for the top end of the pen barrel ( non writing end ) of the Jr Gent 1, which is a smaller diameter. So that barrel is actually tapered, you have to be careful you assemble it around the right way ( and when you turn it, for grain match )

bugger. looking at the photos you're right. And it looks like i did it the wrong way around!!
thanks for the tip Ironwood. I'll take better care next time.

Nice looking timber and finish on those ones Simon and yes with a closer look it does look like the pen bushings were the wrong way round on the JR .

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bassmansimon

bugger. looking at the photos you're right. And it looks like i did it the wrong way around!!
thanks for the tip Ironwood. I'll take better care next time.

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Dont worry Simon, you are definitely not the first one to make that mistake, and rest assured you wont be the last :D
Its an easy mistake to make, and even experienced pen turners get caught out when they have a lapse of concentration DAMHIK :-

what an annoying pen design! For such a slight taper, it surely couldn't be noticable (when done right). I wonder what the reason for that design is?

There are quite a few others that have the same thing, so beware.
Ones that come to mind are the Gent, Jr Gent 2, Statesman, and Jr Statesman, and I am sure there are others.