That’s A What??? Pen.

[maxman400]

A few weeks back I dropped off three PVC pipe Pens to a construction site and sitting on a table was this hunk of metal (1st photo) when I inquired as to what it was, I was told that it is a hydraulic piston from a pump that had failed. The yard boss told me I could have it if I wanted it. So I have been playing around with some ideas as to what to do with it, then I saw skiprats tool box pen and it all came together for me. :thunder: Every thing about this pen is a first for me, First closed end, first kitless, first metal (all stainless). First I decided to use stainless nuts and bolts to form the sleeve for the cap and the nib. My friend John (IAP Member desertrat) gave me some stainless rod, and also helped with the threading of the body of the pen with some top of the line taps. All of the metal was turned on my HF metal lath, the body has a 4 degree taper on each end. The nib was first straight cut from a ½"-13 bolt then I did a 6 degree cut then finished with a 10 degree cut. All of the metal has been sanded to 320 then crocus clothed. The cap weighs 50.7 grams and the pen weighs 80.1 grams, total 130.8 but it feels great in my hand, the cap does not post. I can use the cap as a paper weight while I work with the pen.
Any Comments or Suggestions welcome, Thanks for looking.
And a big thanks to John for the help.

 

[DurocShark]

That's REALLY cool!

 

[mredburn]

very nicely done, well executed.
Mike

 

[PaulDoug]

Very nice and inventive.

 

[seamus7227]

THATS INSANE! Good job putting all of it together, great idea!

 

[thewishman]

WOW WOW WOW! Great work!

 

[johncrane]

Id say you've done a fantastic job Max! being all first time, i love the body and a bit iffy with the cap, id say the round ball cap would be a first here too,New design is a good thing so keep them coming.

 

[CaptG]

That is one great pen. Nice job.

 

[Jim15]

Great idea and execution.

 

[Kaspar]

Excellent. The more of these kinds of pens I see, the more I want to start doing some kitless stuff myself. I'm getting there. Got a few things to master yet.

 

[Mark]

That's REALLY cool!

THATS INSANE!

Excellent.

All the above. WOW. Nicely Done..

 

[altaciii]

Beauty ful!!! A great looking pen and what a job with the pics

 

[ldb2000]

Max ... ya done did good !!! :highfive:


You do realize though , once you start with this stuff it gets harder and harder to go back to kits :wink::biggrin:

 

[Rick_G]

Nice job and great looking pen. Now take it back and give it to the construction boss and see what other things he can come up with for you to work with.

 

[CSue]

Way COOL! I love it. How much does it weigh?

 

[Pioneerpens]

very unique! nicely done!

 

[LouCee]

Very cool!

 

[boxerman]

Very nice & cool pen.

 

[maxman400]

Way COOL! I love it. How much does it weigh?

The pen weighs 80.1 grams and the cap weighs 50.7gm. for a total of 130.8 gm or 4.67 0z.

 

[Jgrden]

Way over my abilities.

 

[bgibb42]

That's a awesome piece of work! I'm a little jealous of you guys with metal lathes.

 

[workinforwood]

Looks very cool Max. What stops the cap from unscrewing the nib sometimes when you remove it?

 

[PenPal]

Well seen , excellent inspiration and faultless execution providing an immaculate pen.

This is what is called application, takes guts and determination creating, thinking, plotting and machining.

I love it.

Peter.

 

[OLDMAN5050]

unbelievable what some of you members here can do. just make me dream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cinder_ladylocket]

Just leave us in the dust............thats striking man!!!!!!!!!! wow!!!

 

[bitshird]

Nice job Max, looks pretty darned cool.

 

[hewunch]

Very cool!

 

[maxman400]

Looks very cool Max. What stops the cap from unscrewing the nib sometimes when you remove it?

Jeff, Friction is what holds it. Since the thread in the body is tapered when the nib is screwed in to the body it locks in tight, it takes more force to remove it than the cap.

 

[ToddMR]

That is pretty slick. What a cool way to make a pen. Very good work you have done there.

 

[lorbay]

Way cool, did you thread that on the lathe with dies or with the lathe threading capabilities????. I can't wait to get my new metal lathe out of the crate, I have only had it 2 months. Lol

Lin.

 

[maxman400]

Way cool, did you thread that on the lathe with dies or with the lathe threading capabilities????. I can't wait to get my new metal lathe out of the crate, I have only had it 2 months. Lol

Lin.

The threaded part on the nib is a stainless 1/2" bolt, and a 1/2" nut turned down to fit in to the cap.

 

[skiprat]

Hey!!! Listen here you!!! Didn't anyone tell you that I'm the only one that's allowed to make pens from nuts and bolts????:biggrin: Jeesh, the cheek!!!!

Send it to me and I'll forgive you:tongue::biggrin:

Very well done!!! Next goal is to reduce the weight:biggrin:

 

[mbroberg]

Beautiful job. Congratulations on the design and execution of a fantastic pen!

 

[maxman400]

Hey!!! Listen here you!!! Didn't anyone tell you that I'm the only one that's allowed to make pens from nuts and bolts????:biggrin: Jeesh, the cheek!!!!

Send it to me and I'll forgive you:tongue::biggrin:

Very well done!!! Next goal is to reduce the weight:biggrin:

Skip what can I say, you inspire a lot of people. And I would Like To Thank all of those that left feed back for all of their support, it's this kind of support that drives us on to the next project.:biggrin:
I am thinking aluminum.....

 

[bruce119]

Very nice .... I need to put my metal lathe to work

.

 

[Rfturner]

That is a very unique design it looks great

 

[johnspensandmore]

Excellent! Very unique.

 

[jbostian]

That is an awesome pen.

Jamie

 

[creativewriting]

Nice. How was the stainless on your HF lathe. I just got some SS rod but have heard it's a bear to turn. A friend gave me a small Titanium rod too, but I think that is a whole different story.

Great work!

 

[maxman400]

Nice. How was the stainless on your HF lathe. I just got some SS rod but have heard it's a bear to turn. A friend gave me a small Titanium rod too, but I think that is a whole different story.

Great work!

The lathe did excellent, But I don't have any thing else to compare it to. I also used the carbide tipped cutters from HF with no problems. The only issue I had was trying to tap the body with a HF Tap, I had to turn to John (desertrat) for help :redface: with a high dollar Tap. I just made sure I took small cuts (lots and lots of small cuts).