Assembling a closed end pen

[jimmyz]

I just completed my first closed end pen. The closed end portion is a little fragile. Are there any trucks to assembling the closed end portion without damaging that portion of the pen? If the closed end is strong, just put it in the press as with a normal pen? Thanks for any advice.

 

[duncsuss]

When I'm using materials that might crack (such as vintage rods, or fragile materials like fordite) I expand the brass tubes so the components slide in with just a little pressure, and use glue to hold them in place.

Sometimes I expand the bass tube before gluing it into the blank, other times I glue it in and turn the part then use rolled up sand paper on a mandrel to inside the tube.