karlkuehn
Banned
Someone may have already come up with this before - I've never looked too hard for solutions because this problem wasn't really high on my priority list, but since I stumbled on it tonight by accident, I figured I'd at least jot it down.
I've been wondering what to do with all these FT American kits that I bought a while back. After I turned a couple, I realized that the metal threads on the inside of the cap were shredding the stupid black plastic nib holders and the black tube on the post, so I quit making them. It's a shame, because they're a cheap way to get into making and monkeying with fountain pens, and I like the traditional look that they have.
Tonight as I was monkeying around in the shop, I decided to get rid of some extra kits that I have lying around, and started speed turning some give away pens. I turned one of the flat tops and while I was putting it together I was trying to figure out how to 'soften' the threads.
Stupid metal threads feel like rubbing two steak knives together when you twist them.
I got to looking at them, and realized that if I could sand the sharpies down a little bit that would help, so I started trying to figure out how to roll up some sandpaper and use it without destroying the finish on the pen fitting. Well, one thing led to another and I was rooting around in my dremel box and came across those little white fluffy polishing dohickeys that I never use.
Eureka!
Stuck one of the little cone shaped ones in the dremel, charged it up with some white diamond and CAREFULLY stuck it in the end of the cap threads for a couple of seconds. I didn't know if it was going to grab and spin the cap up to 10K rpms or not. It worked perfectly without a hitch, they're all smooth now, no more scratches on the black parts, and I can use those kits finally!
While I was typing this up, I was thinking that it might not be a bad idea to charge up another one of those furry things with some carnauba and run it in there for a second to fill any rough spots and lubricate it a little bit. I'll give it a shot and see what happens.
Thought I'd share, anyways, and hopefully it'll help someone!
I've been wondering what to do with all these FT American kits that I bought a while back. After I turned a couple, I realized that the metal threads on the inside of the cap were shredding the stupid black plastic nib holders and the black tube on the post, so I quit making them. It's a shame, because they're a cheap way to get into making and monkeying with fountain pens, and I like the traditional look that they have.
Tonight as I was monkeying around in the shop, I decided to get rid of some extra kits that I have lying around, and started speed turning some give away pens. I turned one of the flat tops and while I was putting it together I was trying to figure out how to 'soften' the threads.
Stupid metal threads feel like rubbing two steak knives together when you twist them.
I got to looking at them, and realized that if I could sand the sharpies down a little bit that would help, so I started trying to figure out how to roll up some sandpaper and use it without destroying the finish on the pen fitting. Well, one thing led to another and I was rooting around in my dremel box and came across those little white fluffy polishing dohickeys that I never use.
Eureka!
Stuck one of the little cone shaped ones in the dremel, charged it up with some white diamond and CAREFULLY stuck it in the end of the cap threads for a couple of seconds. I didn't know if it was going to grab and spin the cap up to 10K rpms or not. It worked perfectly without a hitch, they're all smooth now, no more scratches on the black parts, and I can use those kits finally!
While I was typing this up, I was thinking that it might not be a bad idea to charge up another one of those furry things with some carnauba and run it in there for a second to fill any rough spots and lubricate it a little bit. I'll give it a shot and see what happens.
Thought I'd share, anyways, and hopefully it'll help someone!
