To answer the questions asked:
Went to Walmart and bought the seam rippers. They had two styles, one (this one) has a little blue plastic handle about 1 1/4" long. You take the plastic cap off, pad the jaws of a pair of pliers and pull the metal part out of the handle. It is just pressed into a hole, nothing holding it except friction. Walmart only had four. Then went to Hobby Lobby, they have a fabric department, and they stock the exact same tool except in a different package. Got some more there.
At Michael's, in the scrap book department I found the little metal end pieces. They are kind of like buttons with metal prongs on the back side. Like you punch through some paper and fold over to secure the button. They had Antique Copper color and silver color, wish they had brass but didn't. Bought some of those.
Use short pen blanks that won't make a whole pen. Drill hole in one end for the prongs of the buttons. Drill hole in the other end for the ripper blade. Used one of the discarded plastic handles to get the size of the hole and how deep, #37 drill, 3/4" deep.
Put blank between centers, used a tiny spur center to drive it with. Turn handle. Be careful on the end where the blade goes, that taper has to match the discarded plastic handle so the cap will fit on the new handle. Once you turn two or three you get the feel for that.
Used 30 min. epoxy poked down the holes to hold the button and the blade in. Don't really think you need it for the blade, it fits nicely but just extra insurance. I bent hooks on the ends of the two little prongs on the buttons just to make a little knot on the end for the glue to grab hold of. Put glue in the hole with a toothpick, push button in hole. It goes all the way in. On the back side of the button there are two little tiny rivets. They hold the button off the wood just enough that you can see light between it and the wood. Put the handle in the pen press and used it to seat the button in the end of the handle. Glue sets and holds it there.
Other than that it is a pretty straight forward turning, not much different than a pen body. I made them all the same but next batch I intend to fiddle around with different designs for the shape of the handle.
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