Taking the Chicago series rollerball to the next level

[Carl Fisher]

So I have been trying to figure out how to do away with the cap on the Chicago series rollerball pens. Nothing wrong with it, just the all black doesn't always fit my needs.

Well, last night I had the insert of the cap fall out on me...well technically it loosened while I was capping the pen. The fact that the insert was a separate component was all I needed to know. Then it was just a matter of finding the right size nut driver to remove the finial and clip and some time at the lathe blowing up blanks.

I've also included 2 pictures of the "before" with the stock black cap.

Thank you to Jonathon for supplying the blanks to blow up :biggrin:

 

[skiprat]

Well done !! That is a vast improvement on the black cap. You ended up with a stunner !!

But...did you know that in some states you could get shot at dawn for wasting Brooks' blanks !!

 

[Carl Fisher]

Well, he and I are in the same state, so I get a free pass :bananen_smilies008:

The segmented upper and lower sections of the cap kept melting and ultimately self destructing. The upper still has a noticeable bad spot that I missed on the last piece of the blank I glued on.

PR heats up and melts soooo easy even with very light cuts on a fresh carbide tip. Haven't figured out the trick to combat that yet.

 

[Fibonacci]

So...

What size nutdriver is it?

 

[Carl Fisher]

It's a 2.5mm secret :wink:

 

[johncrane]

Carl did the final come apart easy, im thinking the threaded final could have a drop of glue on it holding it firm.i pick up a few kits while they where on sale, l kinda like'em now ive made one the size is also ok i would like try other refills that hold more ink.

 

[Carl Fisher]

Yeah. It's just a nut inside the cap holding it all tight.

I threaded a PR insert and just used that to hold it to the new cap. Used a bit of thin CA on the new threads and just chased it again with the finial for a nice tight fit. The nut and the original cap casing are throw aways.

 

[Brooks803]

Hmmm...maybe a good demo for sat? Im planning on making it.

Happy to supply the ammo Carl. Looks good!

 

[BSea]

I had to look up the Chicago kit to see exactly what the pen was all about. Well done, it looks much better the way you changed it.

 

[rizaydog]

Very nice work. Much better then stock.