txbob
Member
Here's a good beginner's project:
The pens come from Wal-Mart, 2 black and 1 blue for $1.94. Simply unscrew the grip area and a tube slides off. Use it like a brass tube in a normal kit. Drill a 3/8" hole and glue in the tube. Mount it on a mandrel with cigar pen bushings. Turn the wood down just below the bushings. Round off the ends a little. See the notch at the top of the tube, under the clip? Trim off the plastic nib that it fits over. Finish the wood and screw it all back together. BTW, it uses a Parker refill so it can be either a ball point or a capless rollerball. The refills that come in the pens aren't all that good. The click mechanism is nice and crisp, works well.
Here's the pen I made, one from the package, and the tube. Sorry about the maple, it was the only wood I had handy. Lot's of woods would look better. I'm not sure what will work with the blue grip, maybe an acrylic or something. Or call it 2 for $1.94 and save the tube from the blue pen as a spare. Here's what the package looks like in the store:
As always, I look forward to your comments.....
txbob
The pens come from Wal-Mart, 2 black and 1 blue for $1.94. Simply unscrew the grip area and a tube slides off. Use it like a brass tube in a normal kit. Drill a 3/8" hole and glue in the tube. Mount it on a mandrel with cigar pen bushings. Turn the wood down just below the bushings. Round off the ends a little. See the notch at the top of the tube, under the clip? Trim off the plastic nib that it fits over. Finish the wood and screw it all back together. BTW, it uses a Parker refill so it can be either a ball point or a capless rollerball. The refills that come in the pens aren't all that good. The click mechanism is nice and crisp, works well.
Here's the pen I made, one from the package, and the tube. Sorry about the maple, it was the only wood I had handy. Lot's of woods would look better. I'm not sure what will work with the blue grip, maybe an acrylic or something. Or call it 2 for $1.94 and save the tube from the blue pen as a spare. Here's what the package looks like in the store:
As always, I look forward to your comments.....
txbob