what size brass tube?

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad

dow

Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2009
Messages
585
Location
Boerne, TX, USA
Does anybody know of a pen tube that the 7mm slimline pen tube would slip fit into? I've made several one-piece slims in the past, but was never really satisfied with the integrity of the nib end of the blank. I measured a 7mm tube last night, and the actual outside diameter of it was .350". So I guess I'm looking for a tube with an inside diameter of .352-.353 or so. I'd be afraid to go smaller than that, as I don't want the tubes to bind, but if I go much larger, then the parts might rattle some, not to mention that the blank material would be dangerously thin on the nib end if the tube was too large.

Thoughts?
 
Last edited:
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad

CaptG

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2007
Messages
2,686
Location
Otsego, Mi, USA.
Hi Dow, .350 is the biggest slim line tube I have ever seen. My slim tubes measure .268 o.d., the closest I have on hand that would be a slip fit is an 8mm pencil tube with an i.d. of .280 Hope this helps.
 

dow

Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2009
Messages
585
Location
Boerne, TX, USA
Hi Dow, .350 is the biggest slim line tube I have ever seen. My slim tubes measure .268 o.d., the closest I have on hand that would be a slip fit is an 8mm pencil tube with an i.d. of .280 Hope this helps.

EGAD! I measured the wrong tube, I guess. Thanks for the correction, Cap. Now I feel like a total eejit. I know that 7mm and .284 are the same calibers in rifles. Why did I forget that when it came to brass tubes?
 

CaptG

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2007
Messages
2,686
Location
Otsego, Mi, USA.
EGAD! I measured the wrong tube, I guess. Thanks for the correction, Cap. Now I feel like a total eejit. I know that 7mm and .284 are the same calibers in rifles. Why did I forget that when it came to brass tubes?[/QUOTE]

LOL, I am sure glad I am not the only one who has those moments.
 

soligen

Member
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
1,085
Location
Sterling Heights, Michigan
Gary,

Another option if you have an archery shop nearby is to take a 7mm tube with you and see if there is an aluminium arrow shaft the right size. They come in a number of odd diameters.
 

Sylvanite

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2006
Messages
3,113
Location
Hillsborough, North Carolina, USA.
I know that 7mm and .284 are the same calibers in rifles. Why did I forget that when it came to brass tubes?
Well, measurement nomenclature is different for different applications. 7mm is actually about 0.276 inches, matching neither a 0.268" od brass tube, nor 0.284" diameter bullet.

When we refer to a "7mm tube", we really mean a tube that fits in a 7mm hole with reasonable space for glue.

Rifle caliber names (when they bear any relation to reality at all), typically refer to the diameter that the barrel is bored to before rifiling (the grooves cut into the barrel to make the bullet spin). In order to form a gas seal when fired, the bullet needs to be the diamter of the rifiling (or a couple of thousandths larger). Therefore, a 7mm bore, with grooves cut for rifiling, takes a 0.284" diameter bullet.

Welcome to the wild world of misleading measurements.

Regards,
Eric
 

Mac

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2008
Messages
532
Location
Bingen, Arkansas
When I first started making bullet pens I would split a piece of a 7mm tube and slide it on a tapered punch and then I would slide the 7mm not sliced in it with glue. Then sand, glue fills the slit and is a good fit.You can see the fit when milling no gap. I then bought some 8mm brass tubes and to me seems a bit slopy to much gap, not centered. So the next bullet pens that I make, I will go back to my orginial way and slice.
You did say 7mm slide into right..
 

wb7whi

Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2008
Messages
304
Location
Spokane WA
dow said:
Does anybody know of a pen tube that the 7mm slimline pen tube would slip fit into? I've made several one-piece slims in the past, but was never really satisfied with the integrity of the nib end of the blank. I measured a 7mm tube last night, and the actual outside diameter of it was .350". So I guess I'm looking for a tube with an inside diameter of .352-.353 or so. I'd be afraid to go smaller than that, as I don't want the tubes to bind, but if I go much larger, then the parts might rattle some, not to mention that the blank material would be dangerously thin on the nib end if the tube was too large.

Thoughts?

I use the replacement perfume applicator tubes, woodcraft number 149764

Wayne
 
Top Bottom