Has anyone turned this kit?

[sbwertz]

I am thingking of turning this kit, and need to know if anyone has turned the pencil. I've had problems with pencil mechanisms in the past. Any problems with this one?

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=55005&cat=1,330,43243,53758

 

[PenMan1]

Sharon:
I have made them.

I buy 'em from AS, but it's the same product. I haven't had any problems with them (other than they didn't sell well-I bought the "A" centerbands, might have been better sellers with the "B" band).

Personally, I like them. I just wish they were better sellers.

 

[Monty]

Ditto what Andy said. They are great pens but don't sell well for me either, but I like the looks. The pencil mechanism is by Schmidt and so far has worked great and it's interchangeable with the Parker style refill.

 

[Mack C.]

I am thingking of turning this kit, and need to know if anyone has turned the pencil. I've had problems with pencil mechanisms in the past. Any problems with this one?

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=55005&cat=1,330,43243,53758

Hi Sharon; I have turned many many Perfect Fit kits which is essentially what this is! The pencil is the same as the pen, accepting a Schmidt pencil mech. It requires a tenon to be turned to accept the centre band. Off the track here, it is my carry pen!

I purchase that kit from www.penblanks.ca http://www.penblanks.ca/home.php?cat=74 because they carry it in Ti. Gold which is the plating I prefer over the 10K Gold.

 

[PenMan1]

Great information, MACK! I may give 'em another go now that they are available in TN finish!

 

[ed4copies]

Are you all using the "B" mandrel? or have you found a source for normal 7mm mandrel bushings?

Please PM me if you can get bushings to fit the normal mandrel!!

 

[PenMan1]

I use the "B", I need it for Cambridge, anyway.

 

[G1Pens]

I recently did a pen and pencil set of this pen. You will need the "B" Mandrel as I am not aware of any 7mm bushings for this pen/pencil. The pencil mechanism is a Schmidt and it works great. My only conplaint is no eraser for the pencil.

 

[Whaler]

Forget the mandrel and turn between centers. Solves lots of problems.

 

[Monty]

I do all mine TBC. If Johnny doesn't have the bushings, I'm sure he could make them.

 

[thewishman]

When I was first starting to make pens, I wrapped a sheet of paper around my A mandrel to increase the diameter. It worked very well - and it was cheap!

 

[Padre]

I really have to say that the thin pencils with that huge center band, to me, are not attractive at all.

 

[Mack C.]

I really have to say that the thin pencils with that huge center band, to me, are not attractive at all.

Hello Chip; Here's a pic of a turned Perfect Fit pen to give you a perspective of the measurements of the completed pen.

I'm not able to put the measurements on the pic directly, but hopefully this will help you see it is not a thin pen or an overly large one!

Where the nib meets the wood .3675", where the wood enters the CB .4740", the CB itself .5460", at the clip .5005".

 

[Padre]

Mack,
That's a good looker! I was talking about the really thin ones. But that's a good looking pen/pencil.

 

[sbwertz]

The "really thin ones" in the link are just the mechanisms, with no wood on them!!!

Mack,
That's a good looker! I was talking about the really thin ones. But that's a good looking pen/pencil.

 

[Padre]

DOH!!!!!!!

 

[JerrySambrook]

Those are extremely nice, well thought out kits.
I have been making a set or two every year since 1998.
The longetivity of an unchanged kit like that says a lot about it as far as I am concerned.

And since Johnny does not carry bushings for these, I made my own from some scrap 303 and 304 stainless from work.

Maybe, just maybe when I get on the metal lathe again (too much work at work right now, and I owe a couple of people some stuff from the metal lathe already) I will try to make a couple of more sets.

 

[Mack C.]

Those are extremely nice, well thought out kits.
I have been making a set or two every year since 1998.
The longetivity of an unchanged kit like that says a lot about it as far as I am concerned.

And since Johnny does not carry bushings for these.

Hi Jerry; As soon I read this, I had to go and look at my bushings for the Perfect Fit. I have 2 sets (14B) made by John. I don't recall how or when, all I know is I have them!

 

[JerrySambrook]

Mack, I was going by what someone else stated earlier.

Still, excellent pen and pencil, with very little market