CSUSA Rollerball help,what did I do wrong?

[ossaguy]

Hi All,

I made my 2nd Americana rollerball pen,and it turned out great....until I went to snap the cap on both ends.It wouldn't snap on,until the plastic cap was turned out about 4 1/2 turns (instead of the normal 1 1/2 turns out setting)

Now it snaps on the cap-end ok,but doesn't stay on the nib-end hardly at all.I took the plastc part back out,and it's not gripping at all,especially on the nib-end.

I was real careful to take exactly 1/4 inch off the long barrel for the centerband,but to me it seems like I must have errored there,so it's too long? If not that,what else would explain the 4 1/2 turns out? At about 5 turns out,it doesn't stay in the barrel,so that's bad.

Why it stays on the cap-end and not the nib-end puzzles me.Do you think that asking CSUSA for another cap and nib would help,or did I goof it up?

I hate to make it a shop-pen,since the spalted mango blank turned out so nice.I want to learn from my mistakes,so I thought I'd the experts here for some help.

Thanks for any help!

Steve

 

[ossaguy]

I was feeling pretty down in the dumps with over 100 views and no responses......then I got a phone call from CSUSA offering to help me fix it after reading my post here on the I A P.!

I got a lot of helpful tips and there is some parts coming in the mail.Even if it doesn't fix it,just knowing that they cared to help makes me want to be a customer for life! It's refreshing to experience such excellent service.

If I' get it figured out,I'll update this post in case someone else has the same problem and I can pass on what I've learned.

Boy,did that ever make my day!

Steve

 

[Akula]

What did they say? I some some here and have not done them yet, been waiting to come across some nice wood to make my wife a deskset. Had these for a year or longer LOL Just keep forgetting

 

[ossaguy]

(I haven't tried it yet)

But instead of turning the cap in with the special tool all the way in til it bottoms,then back out on it 1 1/2 turns,............ to insert it,and turn it just a little ways ...then test for where it clicks in place,then go a little more at a time til it's just right.You never want to have to turn it back out,just one direction-in.This will make a stop for it in the threads of the cap. ( my cap was coming out too )

Also,the latest instructions call for 5-16'' of the barrel material removed to the brass tube,instead of the 1/4'' spec on my instruction sheet.

If the new cap and nib part doesn't fix it,I'll have to start over with another kit since I blue locktited the band and end cap in place so I don't think I can take it apart to redo it.I want to learn how to do it right,I like the Americana looks.

I hope it works.I just love the way the rollerball writes! Now when I pick a pen off the rack to write with I pick that one first.

Steve

 

[leestoresund]

2 thing with Loctite

You can try heating it with a hair dryer or drip DNA down the inside of the tube.

Lee

 

[Lee K]

Hey Steve ... I was a couple of the 100 views and no responses :biggrin:

I am turning my first one of those right now, and before I started assembly I was looking to see what your resolution was! Thanks for sharing the information.

I am actually trying the fountain pen first, but the mechanics are the same.

 

[ossaguy]

Thanks for the hair dryer trick,Lee.I'll have to try that.

Lee K, I'd like to try a fountain pen,I've never used one.I saw how it turned out on your post,and it looks fantastic!

The parts came today,and following the threading-in advice did it.Snaps on perfect.

Thanks so much to Sam at CSUSA!

I posted it on my photobucket pen-turning scrapbook in case anyone wants to see
( last pics,number 64 and 65,last page )

At http://s361.photobucket.com/albums/oo52/ossaguy/

Take care,
Steve