Desire Assembly Issue

[walshjp17]

I have made an alligator jaw blank and put it on a Desire RB. Unfortunately, I cannot get the teeth in the jaw to line up correctly. They are about a 1/4 turn off no matter how I start the lower barrel. Is there a secret to getting the barrels to line up?

 

[jcm71]

Disassemble the nib coupler, and then screw it into the cap. Hand position the lower blank over the nib coupler, lining up the blanks as you do so. Press in a little so it holds, unscrew from the cap and repress. Hope this helps.

 

[walshjp17]

Thanks, John. I tried that but the transfer punches that are small enough to go through the hole in the finial coupler don't have enough purchase to grab onto the coupler at the nib end.

 

[mikespenturningz]

Try turning the transfer punch around and hit the pointed end with a wooden mallet. This is what I do when I need to remove them.

 

[jcm71]

Try turning the transfer punch around and hit the pointed end with a wooden mallet. This is what I do when I need to remove them.

Or if you use the transfer punch only for pen disassembly, grind down the pointy end until it is flat and then disassemble.

 

[walshjp17]

John & Mike. Thanks for the tips. As soon as I can get to the shop -- or as I like to call it, the 'disaster area' -- I'll try using the flat end.

 

[walshjp17]

OK. Got it lined up, finally. The transfer punch process did not work so I grabbed a set of vise grips and ever so gently was able to twist the nib coupler off without damaging the threads or the blank.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions and help.

Pix can be seen here ==> http://www.penturners.org/forum/f13/florida-gator-120891/#post1649055

Mods: feel free to close this thread.

jpw