My first watch-parts pen.

[ugrad]

I had a lot of fun making this even though I made quite a lot of mistakes. It really was a journey and one I am happy that I took. I learned a lot especially how to overcome the problems I encountered.

Please feel free to rip it apart, my next one will be better. It's a Jnr. Gent 24k FP

Regards
Peter

 

[turncrazy43]

Peter, very nice for a first attempt mat watch part blank. What was the base material you applied the watch parts over? The fit and finish are nice to.
___________________________________________
Everyday I'm vertical is a great day

 

[healeydays]

Hi Peter,

Very nice pen. I can't tell from the picture what is on the watchface. Did you have any problems turning and parts catching as you turned and what would you do differently?

Mike B

 

[Sataro]

Looks good Peter! I'm also interested in what was the base material.

 

[lorbay]

Sweet.

Lin.

 

[ericofpendom]

Hi Peter, very nice for first attempt. Could probably do with a few more parts on it though. Tell us all a little about how you went about it.

Eric...

 

[ugrad]

Hi guys, the base material is carbon fibre sleeve, I really don't know what the dial is, it was my first one so I used a face that wasn't one of the best, just to try it and see what problems I ran into. I had tried two other dials, but the first one wasn't lined up properly and with the 2nd. the paint cracked.

I would not use epoxy again for the carbon fibre, it was messy and I now use CA to glue it to the tube. I would also not put hands on the dial unless there was lots of space on the pen kit. The hands and a couple of the gears stand a little proud and while they didn't catch when turning, I can see where they have been polished with the micro mesh. I would also put more gears, cogs etc onto the tubes mine looks a little sparse.

Regards
Peter

 

[ugrad]

Hi Peter, very nice for first attempt. Could probably do with a few more parts on it though. Tell us all a little about how you went about it.

Eric...

Hi Eric

I just finished my reply to others and see you mentioned my lack of parts :biggrin: I do and did agree.

I have trawled the IAP for info on how to make them, but there was no walkthrough I came across, so I thought about all the steps I thought it would need.

I tried bending some of the cogs/wheels and when that didn't work I made a wooden former which kinda worked, but not as well as I liked so I made a former out of Aluminium. I will post a photo of it if anyone would like to see it. I thought I could use the former to bend the dials, but that didn't work out great as it can scratch them. I ordered a block of PTFE to make a former for the dials, but I never got round to making it as I found I could easily bend the dials around transfer punches by hand.

I have found a source of Pearl ex if you still use it 21g & 14g.

Regards
Peter

 

[ericofpendom]

Hi Peter, very nice for first attempt. Could probably do with a few more parts on it though. Tell us all a little about how you went about it.

Eric...

Hi Eric

I just finished my reply to others and see you mentioned my lack of parts :biggrin: I do and did agree.

I have trawled the IAP for info on how to make them, but there was no walkthrough I came across, so I thought about all the steps I thought it would need.

I tried bending some of the cogs/wheels and when that didn't work I made a wooden former which kinda worked, but not as well as I liked so I made a former out of Aluminium. I will post a photo of it if anyone would like to see it. I thought I could use the former to bend the dials, but that didn't work out great as it can scratch them. I ordered a block of PTFE to make a former for the dials, but I never got round to making it as I found I could easily bend the dials around transfer punches by hand.

I have found a source of Pearl ex if you still use it 21g & 14g.

Regards
Peter

Hi Peter, have you seen the videos that Chad is doing on making the watch part pen blanks? here is a link to it. It is very good. http://www.penturners.org/forum/f56/video-1-watch-parts-pen-makinkg-series-111978/

I am still using the pearlescent powders that you told me about from Ebay. I have just bought some new colours.

How is your casting coming along?

Regards

Eric...

 

[ugrad]

Hi Peter, very nice
Hi Peter, have you seen the videos that Chad is doing on making the watch part pen blanks? here is a link to it. It is very good. http://www.penturners.org/forum/f56/video-1-watch-parts-pen-makinkg-series-111978/

I am still using the pearlescent powders that you told me about from Ebay. I have just bought some new colours.

How is your casting coming along?

Regards

Eric...

Yes I saw the video and was quite pleased he released it when he did as I was thinking of doing a tutorial on how I did it, but the video will be far better

The casting is fine when the weather permits, I have made a few molds so that I can cast in clear PR (as per the watch part pen). I have also done a few others with the copper & aluminium clad and also one with Paua Abalone.

I am working on some others when time permits and the next one will be a coin pen. Just a couple of glitches to iron out first.

Regards
Peter

 

[Curly]

To heel the scar.

I would also not put hands on the dial unless there was lots of space on the pen kit. The hands and a couple of the gears stand a little proud and while they didn't catch when turning, I can see where they have been polished with the micro mesh.

You can repair a spot that you cut or sand through by applying a CA finish just like you would with a wooden pen.

 

[mikespenturningz]

I think your base really makes up for the slight sparseness of parts. This is a very nice looking pen.

 

[ugrad]

You can repair a spot that you cut or sand through by applying a CA finish just like you would with a wooden pen.

Yes, I realise that Pete, I thought I would leave it as it is for now, to see how the brass holds up over time, I can then take apart and apply CA.

Thanks for the thought, I do appreciate it.

Regards
Peter

 

[healeydays]

I too like the pen. I think if you overload it with parts, it just looks cluttered. The think I have noticed that is also happening with you is the non brass parts get lost in the CF. I've been having that same problem, so I am trying to spread the brass around a bit more.

 

[ugrad]

I think your base really makes up for the slight sparseness of parts. This is a very nice looking pen.

Thank you Mike, I am going to treasure that comment, especially from you.

Regards
Peter

 

[triw51]

Nice work and I agree that to many parts makes the pen look to "busy". Where do you get the carbon fiber from? Thanks

 

[Dalepenkala]

Peter wonderful pen! That is a pen that I want to make but I don't do any casting myself. I'd love to buy one already casted. Congrats!

 

[ugrad]

Nice work and I agree that to many parts makes the pen look to "busy". Where do you get the carbon fiber from? Thanks

I don't think it will help you as I am in the UK, but I get the carbon fibre sleeve from <http://www.easycomposites.co.uk/carbon-fibre-reinforcement/braid/carbon-fibre-braided-sleeve-20mm.aspx>

Make sure that the sleeve you buy will expand or contract to the tube diameters you will be using.

regards
Peter

 

[ugrad]

I too like the pen. I think if you overload it with parts, it just looks cluttered. The think I have noticed that is also happening with you is the non brass parts get lost in the CF. I've been having that same problem, so I am trying to spread the brass around a bit more.

Thank you, I still think it could do with more brass, but you are right about the non-brass components getting lost. There are quite a few and if you look carefully (maybe not possible in the photo) then it doesn't seem quite so sparse.

I have some white sleeve so maybe I will reserve all the dark parts for that.

Regards
Peter

 

[ugrad]

Peter wonderful pen! That is a pen that I want to make but I don't do any casting myself. I'd love to buy one already casted. Congrats!

You can buy it if you want , but casting is not that difficult especially with PR. You can make your own mould or buy one. There is a thread from a guy from Spain who has made a simplified mould that would be easy and cheap to make.

Regards
Peter

 

[jttheclockman]

One thing you have to remember when doing something like that is the use of CF will take up quite a bit of room so this leaves little room for parts when it comes to thickness.

 

[razor524]

[/quote]

I tried bending some of the cogs/wheels and when that didn't work I made a wooden former which kinda worked, but not as well as I liked so I made a former out of Aluminium. I will post a photo of it if anyone would like to see it.

[/quote]

I would love to see a photo of the "former" if you don't mind!

BTW, I can never get this quote thing right!

 

[ugrad]

I would love to see a photo of the "former" if you don't mind!

BTW, I can never get this quote thing right![/QUOTE]

This is the former and press I use with transfer punches to bend the wheels etc.

Regards
Peter

 

[razor524]

Nice, thanks for the picture!

 

[Bobostro61]

Way, way WAY past my skill level. I'm very (really very) impressed.

 

[ugrad]

Way, way WAY past my skill level. I'm very (really very) impressed.

It's just a piece of aluminium drilled with holes of different diameters and cut through the centre on the bandsaw. With hindsight I should have cut it through below centre to make the troughs wider at the top.

Regards
Peter