Tubeless ballpoint

[Pierre---]

Hi all!


Somebody asked me to make a ballpoint pen in snakewood. I have not always been lucky with this wood, you know it loves to crack. I think he main reason is the tube and the metallic parts that expand with the heat of the hand. So I just made one without any snug-fit metal parts: no tube, no tranny, no finial, no CB. I only used the refill in fact, hard to do without... :wink:

I already made snakewood fountain pens this way, I had no crack after intesive use, so I have good confidence. :biggrin:

I made a prototype in boxwood with the Parker refill that could be put in and taken out from the upper part of the barrel. Some details were not to my taste,

so I made a second one that was better:

So I could go. Gosh, I love this timber:

C&c's welcome!





.

 

[Curly]

An accomplishment to say the least.

Did you cut the threads with tap and die or single point them in a metal lathe?

 

[Pierre---]

Thanks Curly!

Did you cut the threads with tap and die or single point them in a metal lathe?

None, I used a router, and the piece is driven by a threaded rod: I find this is the only way to cut decent wooden threads. Besides threading can be double or triple start. You may have a look here.

 

[TonyL]

Wow and wow again!

 

[Curly]

I've seen thread cutting done that way for lathe turned boxes for years but never thought of applying it to a pen. Sometimes it just takes another person to nudge us in a new direction to adapt something for our application. My father had the ability to see new ways to do things. He used to cut wood threads with a table saw and a special blade I had made for him. Used it for clamps and bench screws. He even cut a 4" diameter one once just to see if he could.

 

[Fred Bruche]

Your pictures really don't do your talent justice... :tongue:
These are awesome anyway

 

[jcm71]

This pen belongs on the front page. I am in awe and humbled.

 

[Mdonald]

Great job! My goal is to create pens without buying a kit.