Another Aluminum Pen
- Thread starter bluwolf
- Start date
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Katsin
Member
Impressive. I bet that one is a keeper.
Manny
Member
Nice! What did you use to notch the recess for the clip?
I've tried dremel and file and still can't get it to look perfect.
Manny
I've tried dremel and file and still can't get it to look perfect.
Manny
That is extremely slick!!! 
VERY well done!!
VERY well done!!
thewishman
Member
Cool pen! Nice workmanship.
dgelnett
Member
That is really nice.
alphageek
Former Moderator
WOW!! There is alot of impressive stuff showing up after that last triple start buy!
This is my favorite of those! NICE!
This is my favorite of those! NICE!
Ruby pen turning
Member
VERY nice, I want to do one. What type of aluminum did you use? the stuff I tried one time just left chatter marks no matter what I did.
The triple thread tap that everyone is talking about, does it come with all the taps needed or are there other components needed?
The triple thread tap that everyone is talking about, does it come with all the taps needed or are there other components needed?
NewLondon88
Local Chapter Leader
WHY??? I'd be proud as a new daddy with that one.. :biggrin:
Manny
Member
Just a tap and die for the cap to join the body.
Tap is used to thread the inside of the cap.
Die is used to thread the outside of the pen body just above the nib.
All other threading is done as you prefer.
Did you slow the lathe down? I found that excessive speed with alum caused real bad chatter for me. I think there is a chart somewhere that shows the theoretical proper speed. I will hunt for it. Alum Experts please chime in. (cough) Johnnycnc (cough) Skiprat (cough) Butch and all the others.
Manny
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The more I look at this pen, the more I think you should have kept it quiet. Why??? Cos then you could have submitted it to the PMG for possible acceptance.
The quality of workmanship that is being shown recently by you and other relative new guys is inspiring, even to the guys that have been doing it for a while. :wink:
Again, very well done.
Why??? Cos then you could have submitted it to the PMG for possible acceptance.The quality of workmanship that is being shown recently by you and other relative new guys is inspiring, even to the guys that have been doing it for a while. :wink:
Again, very well done.
kruzzer
Member
Great pen Mike...
The more I look at this pen, the more I think you should have kept it quiet.
The quality of workmanship that is being shown recently by you and other relative new guys is inspiring, even to the guys that have been doing it for a while. :wink:
Again, very well done.
Have you looked on the gallery Page Skip, Next to Seamus and Below Toni"s:biggrin:
http://penmakersguild.com/browse.php AKA Mike Roux
Dang Mike I think your Pictures are getting better also...................
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Ooops!!! :redface:
bluwolf
Member
Nice! What did you use to notch the recess for the clip?
I've tried dremel and file and still can't get it to look perfect.
I used to do it that way too. But like you, it was never quite the way I wanted. I built a bracket to hold my laminate trimmer (small router) on my toolpost and used an 1/8" router bit. 3/16" would have been perfect but I couldn't walk in and buy one
Manny
Manny answered your other questions about the taps and dies. The only thing I'll add to that is that Skiprat's (Steven) suggestion that something like an M12x1.75 tap and die will give you very good results if you don't have the triple start set up. I made a couple with that to get into this and I thought it worked quite well.
As for the aluminum, I used 6061-T6.
Mike
bluwolf
Member
bluwolf
Member
Thanks to Picasa 3 they have improved a little. The actual photography still needs a lot of improvement.
Mike
Mapster
Member
Hey Mike, that is a great pen. I will have to come by and see it in person sometime. I love the nib section and how clean the threads are. I don't blame you for going back to acrylic, but maybe you should try a mix of lets say..... corian with aluminum accents. Try mixing materials and see how it looks, could be cool, kind of like your peek hole pen that had acrylic underneath.
wizard
Member
Beautiful pen!!! Inspirational!!
bluwolf
Member
Marshal you know you're welcome any time. I was actually thinking about that. Maybe an aluminum cap with an acrylic barrel. Give me a call and stop on by, show me what you've been up to. Have you made any progress getting your shop set up?
Mike
LEAP
Member
Very Nicely Done
Gulfcoast
Member
--- very nicely done Mike!! ---- but you deserting aluminum? ---- Alcoa stocks will take a hit:laugh:
Joe
Joe
Texatdurango
Member
Best pen I have seen posted in quite a while, thanks for showing it!
cnirenberg
Member
Mike,
I can't wait to see that one in person. Did you cut both threads with a die on the nib?
I can't wait to see that one in person. Did you cut both threads with a die on the nib?
bluwolf
Member
Cris,
Yeah, I did. Of course the one is the triple start. I would have preferred for the thread into the body to be a bit finer. But I worked with what I had. I'll probably go looking for some finer one for the next one.
Mike
BKelley
Member
That is one real nice pen. I've made a couple of aluminum ones so I know what you went through. Did you use 6061-T6 or 7075-T6. The ones that I made were 6061, but want to try the 7075. Thanks for sharing you wonderful work with us.
Ben
Ben
johncrane
Member
Great looking pen Mike!
seamus7227
Member
It may just be the photo, but it looks like the lower barrel is brushed aluminum and the nib is polished? If this is correct, how did you achieve that look, if you dont mind me asking. That really does look sharp! Very nice! And If you aren't happy with it, I would be happy to trade something for it!:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:
bluwolf
Member
Ben,
I used 6061-T6 although I understand 7075 works nicely also.
Seamus,
The cap and lower barrel are both brushed. The nib and finial are both polished.
The brushed finish is 400 then 600 wet/dry sandpaper with some cutting oil on it while it's spinning on the lathe. For the polished I just continue on with an old set of micromesh I just use for metal. I go up to 4000 which looks pretty good then I use Flitz metal polish.
What I would like to try is the bead blasting that someone else (I'm sorry, I forget who did it) to replace the brushed finish. I thought that had a very intersting look to it.
I've always preferred brushed to polished mainly because I like the look. But also because it hides scuffs and fingerprints much better. Although, I thought the finial and nib needed to be polished to give it some contrast.
Mike
DrPepper8412
Member
Very impressive. Looks great.
BradG
Member
Very nicely done Mike
PenMan1
Member
Nicest thing I've seen here lately, Mike. Keep up the good work!!!!!!
Dalecamino
Local Chapter Leader
Wow! I'm glad this one was brought back out of archives. I missed this one. Great example of what can be done in making a pen. Nice work Mike!