Kitless Clip Fitting

[hooked]

I am looking for some advice on fitting my clips into my pens. I am using Beaufort clips. I finally believe I have the proper size clips for my pen, size J. i/d=10mm o/d=12mm. I know many people notch out the pen so that the clip ring fits inside a notch. I am hoping for some advice on how to do it. I plan on notching where the clip comes out with a Dremel tool or small file. I am trying to get some strategies for cutting some sort of recess for the ring itself so that I don't have a gap under the trim ring. Do I lightly touch the cap edge with a 12mm bit to create a notch for the ring? My diameter is just shy of 14mm at the opening. Thank you for any advice.

Disregard the trim ring. I use this one just for test-fitting purposes. Sorry about the quickly taken blurry shots.

 

[PatrickR]

I drill a recess just deep enough that the clip is locked tight when the finial is screwed down and use a file to make the notch.

 

[Penultimate]

I do the same a Patrick. I try to find a clip that has a size close to an end mill. Endmills make nice flat holes, don't wander, and cut without grabbing.

 

[Dalecamino]

Here's an article in the library. There may be others there as well.

Recessed Clips

This method had been mostly limited to Euro and Flat-top kits. Click on the image below to begin download of PDF. Author: Bill Jackman

www.penturners.org

 

[duncsuss]

I repurposed an old worn-out file (technique learned from Ernie Conover's book, "The Frugal Woodturner").

Step 1 is temper it so it's no longer brittle, step 2 is grind the pointed tang into a small scraper. It lets me cut a flat-bottomed rabbet around the hole the finial will screw into of any diameter I wish.

 

[hooked]

Thanks all! I ended up drilling out the recess in the cap. I like the end mill idea and will likely go that route, but didn't have one on hand in the right size. I trimmed a small file down to the size of my clip and used that to make the notch. I see from my pic that it needs a little more fine tuning before buffing.

 

[Dalecamino]

Looks nice. A router bit works almost as well as an end mill. They're less expensive also.