Kitless rollerball

[jalbert]

This is something I'd been wanting to try for a while: a capless rollerball. I'm mostly a fountain pen user, but my job often has me in situations where writing with a fountain pen is not practical, so I finally got around to making a rollerball for myself.

I built the pen around a piece of vintage "lizard skin" cellulose acetate, and machined all the metal components from stainless steel. I made all the components except for the refill (Pilot G2) and the spring. The challenge was deciding on a mechanism that I could make, so I decided on the sliding type, with a small button on the side. It works well, and is easy to deploy/retract with the thumb, while holding the pen.

 

[Dalecamino]

Awesome!

 

[Ironwood]

Very neat. How's the weight with the stainless bits ?

 

[jalbert]

Very neat. How's the weight with the stainless bits ?

The scale tells me it's .9 ounces. Not sure how it compares with most rollerballs, but it works for me

 

[RangeRat]

Very nice!

 

[Alan Morrison]

Good job nice finish

 

[TonyL]

Outstanding!

 

[Curly]

I hit the "Like" button but it isn't big enough. Way to go.

 

[jalbert]

I hit the "Like" button but it isn't big enough. Way to go.

Thanks!!

 

[Penultimate]

That's fantastic.


Sent from my iPhone using Penturners.org mobile app

 

[OZturner]

Outstanding Pen John,
I Love the Lizard Skin Blank, and your Superb Knob Bolt Action.
Your Hardware is Outstanding, Beautifully Conceived, and Executed, with a Magnificent Finish.
There is nothing "Not to Like", it is Outstanding, and a Tribute to your Craftsmanship.
Congratulations,
Brian.

 

[SteveJ]

Very well done!

 

[jalbert]

Outstanding Pen John,
I Love the Lizard Skin Blank, and your Superb Knob Bolt Action.
Your Hardware is Outstanding, Beautifully Conceived, and Executed, with a Magnificent Finish.
There is nothing "Not to Like", it is Outstanding, and a Tribute to your Craftsmanship.
Congratulations,
Brian.

Thank you sir!!

 

[TattooedTurner]

The pen is beautiful, the creativity and craftmanship outstanding. One of my all time favorites! You did a remarkable job, it's one to be very proud of.

 

[johncrane]

Awesome pen John luv the style and design also really like the blank

 

[jalbert]

Awesome pen John luv the style and design also really like the blank

Thanks John! That is one of my favorite old materials. Most modern materials fail to come close to that amount of class!

 

[EBorraga]

Looking good John!!

 

[hokie]

I love that you made all of the components! May I ask what the diameter of that cellulose acetate is? I can hardly find any cellulose acetate tubes larger than around 13mm and it seems so limiting.

 

[jalbert]

I love that you made all of the components! May I ask what the diameter of that cellulose acetate is? I can hardly find any cellulose acetate tubes larger than around 13mm and it seems so limiting.

It was slightly under 14mm

 

[magpens]

Very well done, John !

If you took any pics of the internal parts before assembly I'd love to see them please.

Is the refill enclosed in a sliding metal tube ?

 

[Stevej72]

Wow, very nice!

 

[Hubert H]

VERY, VERY NICE!

 

[MDWine]

. . . a piece of vintage "lizard skin" cellulose acetate . . .

love that blank! Nice work

 

[jalbert]

love that blank! Nice work

Thanks! It's a shame that it hasn't been made in decades . It's great old stuff

 

[jalbert]

Is the refill enclosed in a sliding metal tube ?

Yes, that's the general idea of It. I'm not sure how most bolt action style kit pens work, but that's how i designed mine

 

[magpens]

Yes, that's the general idea of It. I'm not sure how most bolt action style kit pens work, but that's how i designed mine

Thanks,John