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Hippie3180

Hippie3180

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Joined
May 30, 2023
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988
Location
Texas
It all started back in April with a little handful of Slim Lines. I've worked really hard to get better, most of my issues involved getting a good fit, but things are improving and now I'm hooked. I work at the lathe almost daily because my goal is to begin learning kitless soon and I can't wait.


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jttheclockman

jttheclockman

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Feb 22, 2005
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19,176
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NJ, USA.
Nice pens. But may I make a suggestion before you go off into the kitless world, try doing some real upgrade kit pens. Take a look through the show off your pens forum and see some of those that are better quality kits than slimlines. I say this because I feel yes kitless is an avenue but it can be a boring looking pen. Some of the blinged out kit pens matched with some real nice blanks can be real head turners. It will also hone your turning skills more and also finishing skills. Kitless will require new tools and skills and alot of that can be learning to polish both inside and outside blank material depending how deep you want to get into that line. Just a suggestion. Good luck.
 
Hippie3180

Hippie3180

Member
Joined
May 30, 2023
Messages
988
Location
Texas
jttheclockman said:
Nice pens. But may I make a suggestion before you go off into the kitless world, try doing some real upgrade kit pens. Take a look through the show off your pens forum and see some of those that are better quality kits than slimlines. I say this because I feel yes kitless is an avenue but it can be a boring looking pen. Some of the blinged out kit pens matched with some real nice blanks can be real head turners. It will also hone your turning skills more and also finishing skills. Kitless will require new tools and skills and alot of that can be learning to polish both inside and outside blank material depending how deep you want to get into that line. Just a suggestion. Good luck.
Click to expand...
That is actually my plan, I'm working towards some kit fountains, eventually some apollos while I also acquire some tools along the way. Collet chuck, tap and die etc. This will be an evolution, but kitless are my end goal. 😀
 
egnald

egnald

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Jun 9, 2017
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Columbus, Nebraska, USA
Hippie3180 said:
That is actually my plan, I'm working towards some kit fountains, eventually some apollos while I also acquire some tools along the way. Collet chuck, tap and die etc. This will be an evolution, but kitless are my end goal. 😀
Click to expand...
For Kate's Bullseye Apollo kits:

I started by purchasing a set of step drills from Rick Herrell so I can easily make the steps the right depth and they are perfectly concentric as well. Cost was $52 including shipping. (I think Rick usually even has a few in stock).

The mandrels from Bullseye have have a 3/8 shaft, so even though one would have sufficed, I bought two 3/8 to MT2 Tool Holders that use a 3/8-16 drawbar to hold them. Since they weren't that expensive, I bought two ($29) so I could just leave the mandrel in the MT2 holder all of the time. I got them from a place called "All Industrail Tool Supply" (store on eBay).

So, aside from the kits, blanks, and actual mandrels, I have just over $80 dollars in extra support tooling, and a dedicated setup that makes things very convenient and more consistent.

Regards,
Dave

PS I haven't made the leap to full kitless yet. First of all, I really haven't decided whether or not I like the kitless look. I would definitely need to add a roll stop or preferably a clip to anything I make. The cost of triple start taps and dies is a little prohibitive for me right now. Also, since I don't make pens for sale at least at this point, I prefer the rollerball (with a Gel ink refill) over a fountain pen. But that's just me and my own personal preference.
 
Hippie3180

Hippie3180

Member
Joined
May 30, 2023
Messages
988
Location
Texas
egnald said:
For Kate's Bullseye Apollo kits:

I started by purchasing a set of step drills from Rick Herrell so I can easily make the steps the right depth and they are perfectly concentric as well. Cost was $52 including shipping. (I think Rick usually even has a few in stock).

The mandrels from Bullseye have have a 3/8 shaft, so even though one would have sufficed, I bought two 3/8 to MT2 Tool Holders that use a 3/8-16 drawbar to hold them. Since they weren't that expensive, I bought two ($29) so I could just leave the mandrel in the MT2 holder all of the time. I got them from a place called "All Industrail Tool Supply" (store on eBay).

So, aside from the kits, blanks, and actual mandrels, I have just over $80 dollars in extra support tooling, and a dedicated setup that makes things very convenient and more consistent.

Regards,
Dave

PS I haven't made the leap to full kitless yet. First of all, I really haven't decided whether or not I like the kitless look. I would definitely need to add a roll stop or preferably a clip to anything I make. The cost of triple start taps and dies is a little prohibitive for me right now. Also, since I don't make pens for sale at least at this point, I prefer the rollerball (with a Gel ink refill) over a fountain pen. But that's just me and my own personal preference.
Click to expand...
Great information. I do intend to make some Apollos next as I think it only make sense to have a full understanding of a how these things work and go together. I appreciate the scoop on mandrels and such, I will surely look into that when I get ready to take the next step.

Such useful information and the reason that forums are so good to get input like this.

Much thanks,
Michele
 
Last edited:
egnald

egnald

Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2017
Messages
3,188
Location
Columbus, Nebraska, USA
Hippie3180 said:
Great information. I do intend to make some Apollos nest as I think it only make sense to have a full understanding of a how these things work and go together. I appreciate the scoop on mandrels and such, I will surely look into that when I get ready to take the next step.

Such useful information and the reason that forums are so good to get input like this.

Much thanks,
Michele
Click to expand...

I do have a full set of ER32 collets including oversized and a MT2 collet holder that fits my lathe, but I have found over the past few years that there are only a couple of collet sizes that I really use.

I use the 3/4-inch one to hold a piece of dowel with a bit of blank glued on for turning custom cabochons for Junior series pens. I use the 1/2-inch to hold a custom pin chuck with sizing bushing from Rick Herrell for making closed end Caballaro pens, and before I bought the dedicated 3/8-inch/MT2 tool holders I used the 3/8-inch one to hold the Apollo mandrels.

Dave
 
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