Turning a Pen With No End Hardware, How?

[Jim in Oakville]

Hi,

I have long wanted to try to turn a capped pen with no hardware at the opposite end. I have seen a few great examples here but I am not sure how to capture the end for a roller ball or a fountain pen....is there a tutorial out there that shows how to do this on a mandrel and also how to install the internal hardware for the RB pen (spring etc.)

Thank You,

 

[vick]

Do you mean no hardware on the cap end? Or do you mean a solid body pen where the cap does not post (oposite end to nib has no hardware)?

 

[rtjw]

I dont know of a tutorial out there. I have done several and love them. Anthony (Penworks) does magnificent work. You may ask him.

 

[vick]

http://www.penturners.org/content/SolidBodyEuroFP.pdf

http://www.woodturner-russ.com/Pen61.html (not exactly what you asked for same basic idea)

 

[Paul in OKC]

If I understand you right, you would need a longer blank than normal. Drill just deep enough for the tube. You could make a short mandrel, or run between centers. Get your basic shape for the barrel and end, then run a part off tool to mark where you wan to cut it off at, and sand the little tip that's left. Don't know if that helps or not.

 

[Scott]

Hi Jim!

The article by DW, mentioned by Vick above, is one of the best I've seen. And I've always loved that long Yew pen in Russ's instructions. They should get you going. Also, I sent you an E-Mail. Good Luck!

Scott.

 

[Fred in NC]

Scott, that long pen by Russ is the basis for my desk sets.

 

[Rudy Vey]

This came up here several times, here is a post I made some time ago, if you do a search on "closed end", you will find all the posts.

The easiest way for a closed end pen is to use a pin chuck. First you need a rod that fits very snug into your brass tube, then grind down a bit just before the end of the rod and fit a piece of a nail (hence the name pin chuck)that make up for the height of the ground down area. When the pin is in the middle of the ground down area it should have the same height as the unground area. This fits well into the brass tube with your blank, as soon as the blank is slightly turned, the nail locks in and a pretty tight holding chuck is created. It sounds here much more complicated than it really is.
A picture of pin chucks can be seen here:
http://www.turtlewoodworks.com/pmggallery/kleinhenzr/kleinhenzr101.jpg