Sandsini
Member
I thought I would post my experiences along the way to create pens that are more custom, using fewer components. I will continue to add to this tread as I go. I have a couple of pens to post today and will add new successes or failures when I have an update.
I have been inspired to make full custom pens, but don't have quite enough faith in my skillset (or my equipment) yet to make the leap and buy taps and dies. I also have a bit of a concern about the durability of hand cut threads in custom pens when the pen finally makes it into the customer's hands. So, I decided I would like to explore using kits to supply sections and cap inserts and make a more custom like finished product.
I started out with three of the DNS Master kits (which I ordered directly from Germany) and managed to complete the first one I tried, although I messed up the clip (this is a reoccurring theme). I ended up gluing the finial on and installing a roll stopper instead. I was pretty happy with the results with the exception that the cap and body meet flush and I should have engineered a step in the body to guide the cap in place and hide the gap.
The next two kits didn't make it to completion, I had numerous problems that, if related, would rival the tale of Odysseus, so I'll just say, that I goofed them up beyond repair.
Here is the first of my "Nearly Custom" pens, the DNS Master FP. I like the shape and size and the DNS hardware is very high quality. I turned the complete pen before it had been drilled and before the blank was cut into cap and body sections. This is why the shape of the pen flows so well. I posted pics of this pen before, but I'm adding it here to make the thread more complete.
I have been inspired to make full custom pens, but don't have quite enough faith in my skillset (or my equipment) yet to make the leap and buy taps and dies. I also have a bit of a concern about the durability of hand cut threads in custom pens when the pen finally makes it into the customer's hands. So, I decided I would like to explore using kits to supply sections and cap inserts and make a more custom like finished product.
I started out with three of the DNS Master kits (which I ordered directly from Germany) and managed to complete the first one I tried, although I messed up the clip (this is a reoccurring theme). I ended up gluing the finial on and installing a roll stopper instead. I was pretty happy with the results with the exception that the cap and body meet flush and I should have engineered a step in the body to guide the cap in place and hide the gap.
The next two kits didn't make it to completion, I had numerous problems that, if related, would rival the tale of Odysseus, so I'll just say, that I goofed them up beyond repair.
Here is the first of my "Nearly Custom" pens, the DNS Master FP. I like the shape and size and the DNS hardware is very high quality. I turned the complete pen before it had been drilled and before the blank was cut into cap and body sections. This is why the shape of the pen flows so well. I posted pics of this pen before, but I'm adding it here to make the thread more complete.