Diving into Bespoke. I don't have the budget for a full set of triple lead dies. What would you suggest as a starter size for this endeavor. I know i could start with single lead. However the craftsman in me want to produce a great product. M13 is my leaning. I am thinking roller ball and #6 Nibs. FYI i have been bitten by the bug hard. TO may ideas and not enough time. Appreciate any thoughts on this or links to any threads that may help. My search didnt yield a lot
Buy Once Cry Once Triple Lead
- Thread starter Gr8trim4u
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its_virgil
Member
Group buys help reduce the price. That does not help you now. M13 is a nice size. I like larger pens so for a personal pen I like M14 and M15.
BC7S
Member
I mostly use a M14, but most people start with a M13.
you can use a single point thread instead of 3 lead. Just make your threaded tenon shorter. Use a .75m pitch and 4.5mm tenon length,
duncsuss
Member
I have used M13 x 0.8 x 3 for 90%-plus of my pens. It's a diameter that leaves enough strength in the walls of the barrel and the section (the drilled tenon the ink cartridge/converter fits into.)
I've made pens with M12 cap/barrel threads but the tolerances are really tight. I haven't made any with M14 yet, but might.
I've made pens with M12 cap/barrel threads but the tolerances are really tight. I haven't made any with M14 yet, but might.
Contemplated this! Maybe a solution in the short term.
That was my thought on finding something in the middle of the road?
dschem
Member
Just buy a couple of cheap M13-15 single lead taps/dies, make a couple and see what you like then you can commit. They are only ~$15 on amazon each.
its_virgil
Member
Size for me
First a comment on single lead vs. double, triple, or even quad or five start threads. I have seen beautifully made pens with all of these. One of my favorite "maker" pens is a Micarta (fabric in phenolic resin) pen from Skogsy Pens. It is a single lead thread and I love it. 1 3/4 turns and the cap is off. I have a friend that single points his threads on a vintage Southbend 9A metal lathe and does quad start 32 pitch threads. They are magnificent. My point is that you can do what you want. If your pens are well made and designed, people will want and love them.
My 2 cents on cap/barrel thread size...
No matter what, the most important thing is to enjoy the journey!
David
My 2 cents on cap/barrel thread size...
- I started with M13.
- I also make pens with M14.
- I have M12 and M15 but haven't designed pens around them just yet.
- If you want to, at some point use a #8 size nib, an M13 thread may be crowding things and making some walls pretty thin.
- Beyond the aesthetic, a pen needs to designed to be comfortable to hold and write with for an extended period. You can make a beautiful pen, but if it isn't comfortable to use, it will be set aside for something that is. Why is this an issue with thread size? Because the thread size and the outer diameter of the barrel dictate the "step" between them. Too large a step in the wrong place can make a pen uncomfortable to hold. So... If you want to make big pens, you will probably want big threads.
No matter what, the most important thing is to enjoy the journey!
David