Something Different

[Sandsini]

I picked up a couple of Rhodium Long Clicker ball point kits with the intent of making a checkbook pen for my lovely wife, Teri. I've never built a Long Clicker before and noticed that the pen could be easily assembled without the clip. Thinking that a checkbook pen doesn't really need a clip, I thought the idea of a roll stopper would be a better, more imaginative solution.

Since Teri loves the beach and all things ocean-related, the roll stopper is a Sterling Silver Mermaid. The blue one is her's and the pink one will go into my inventory.

Cheers,

 

[magpens]

VERY NICE ! . Where did you get the cool mermaids, and how are they glued on ?

BTW, don't you find the rough feel and the clicker noise somewhat distracting ? I dislike that about the long clicker.

 

[BJohn]

Like the blanks

 

[Sandsini]

VERY NICE ! . Where did you get the cool mermaids, and how are they glued on ?

BTW, don't you find the rough feel and the clicker noise somewhat distracting ? I dislike that about the long clicker.

Mal,
Thanks, I found the mermaids on Etsy. After shaping the mermaid to fit the profile of the pen, I roughed up the surface of the blank as well as the back of the mermaid and used thick CA. It seems to have worked well, but in the future I think I am going to need to silver solder a post on the back of the stopper and drill a hole in the blank to ensure they stay in place.

I would never personally use a clicker pen, but a lot of my customers don't like the fuss of a capped pen (I get a lot of comments about them losing the cap) and they don't seem to get the twist pens. I think that for these customers a click is familiar and easy to use. And with the clean lines of the Long Clicker and the Rhodium finish, I think I can promote it as a premium pen for them. Being able to add a variety of roll stoppers is a big plus.

 

[magpens]

Eric,

Thanks for your very helpful reply. You have given me a new appreciation for the long clicker, especially with the rollstopper idea instead of a clip. I have always liked this about the long clicker: it gives good exposure to the artistry of your blank. But I wish they would make the click mechanism smoother and quieter. Cheers.

 

[DLGunn]

Smart idea. You said you shaped the mermaid to fit the profile of the pen. How did you do that, a dremel or similar tool?

 

[csr67]

Nice work! I made a long clicker for my daughter recently and I "forgot" to press on the clip! Your roll stopper idea may help me save this pen!

 

[Sandsini]

Smart idea. You said you shaped the mermaid to fit the profile of the pen. How did you do that, a dremel or similar tool?

I used a piece of hardwood with a pen shaped trough in it and laid the mermaid in the trough and then took an appropriately sized drift, laid it on top and smacked it a couple of times with a hammer (one of the reasons I used actual sterling silver is the malleability). Then I took a small half round file and shaped the back which also gave me a more suitable surface for the CA as well as a better fit for to the pen.