Great job Paul! I too like the bark showing but like Steve said, it ain't so easy to get. I use a piece of clear plexiglas cut to the size of the top, about 1/2" X 2" with a line drawn down the center. Hold it up to the antler and mark the top and bottom, then turn the antler 90 degrees and mark again. Now "X" marks the spot. You can really see where you're gonna drill this way. It makes getting bark alot easier.
Good looking pen Paul.
I can't make enough of these at the moment, they are hot sellers.
I'm still using the standard 7mm nib, how did you drill the bullet? I can never seem to centre the drill/bullet accurately, always comes out off centre on the few I've tried.
I put it in a collet chuck rear end facing the tailstock.
The best way I've found to drill on center is to start a pilot hole with a center bit. I use them on both the case head and the bullet base. Harbor Freight has a center bit set on sale right now for $4.99 at http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42279I can never seem to centre the drill/bullet accurately, always comes out off centre on the few I've tried.
The best way I've found to drill on center is to start a pilot hole with a center bit. I use them on both the case head and the bullet base. Harbor Freight has a center bit set on sale right now for $4.99 at http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42279
I hope that helps,
Eric
In my experience, these qualify as "good stuff". I don't know if they are as hard as a name-brand set costing 10 times as much, but they worked quite well on everything I've tried.Are they any good? Some of HF stuff is good, some is not.
The best way I've found to drill on center is to start a pilot hole with a center bit.
I have not had a problem (yet) drilling the bullet. I do it on the lathe. I put it in a collet chuck rear end facing the tailstock. I drill from the back small hole first all the way through. Than drill the larger hole to the correct depth still on the lathe. I mark the depth of the larger holeon the drill bit by wrapping it with tape. You have to go slow and back the bit out over and over and clean out the lead.
I have made a few cartridge pens, and like them very much. But I have always made them using a shell casing with no bullet in it and with the primer having been "popped". I always have a problem finding an ink pen nib from a kit that matches the diameter of the neck of the shell.
So...pardon me for asking a stupid question, but I do not know very much about ammunition; when you say you drill all the way through the shell from the back, through the lead bullet and all, are you drilling through the primered case, with the primer as yet unfired, and with the powder still inside, and then emptying the powder out? Or do you pry the bullet out, empty the powder and then replace the bullet? Can you drill through an unfired primer?
I would really like to know how to drill a shell so that I could use the (still attached) bullet for the nib.
Thanks for any know-how you can share.
I buy unprimmed .308 Winchester brass cartridge shells from the gun store. They are easier to drill and centre because they have no primer and the exit is exactly the same diameter as a standard 7mm twist pen ink nib. Just need to solder the tube in place, trim as usual, polish the tube and laquer and the barrel is complete. Cap is turned as normal Euro style from antler or buffalo horn and finished off with a rifle clip.
Apologies for hijacking the thread, but this is my method.
Darn, looks like they are on sale on the Internet, but I can't find them on sale at the retail store level. Still at $10, pretty cheap.
Print out the page from the HF website showing the sale price and take that into the store. Normally the HF store manager will honor the price if you do that.
Try part number 42280-0VGA then. As far as I can tell, it's the same thing, but sells (regular price) for $5.99. In fact, this is the set I use.Darn, looks like they are on sale on the Internet, but I can't find them on sale at the retail store level. Still at $10, pretty cheap.
DON'T drill a live round! DON'T drill an unfired primer! You will most likely set it off. Start with a new or fired case and a new bullet. Punch out the fired primer (if any) and drill the case head. Drill the bullet separately. When you are finished, press the two together.when you say you drill all the way through the shell from the back, through the lead bullet and all, are you drilling through the primered case, with the primer as yet unfired, and with the powder still inside, and then emptying the powder out? Or do you pry the bullet out, empty the powder and then replace the bullet? Can you drill through an unfired primer?
I would really like to know how to drill a shell so that I could use the (still attached) bullet for the nib.