M3 blanks for kitless

[darrin1200]

Has anyone tried using M3 blanks to make kitless pens or to manufacture pen components such as nibs and finals. I understand that they are very hard and I am wondering how they would hold up.

 

[watch_art]

I don't think they will thread - but I don't see why you couldn't make acrylic inserts, or even brass inserts on a metal lathe, and glue it all together.

 

[Russianwolf]

if you go to the gallery on their site, they have a full kitless pen with threads. they say it is no issue at all.

 

[timcbs]

Hi All, I made one awhile back and had no problem, you can check it out on eBay Item number: 200510637677

If you have any questions just email me at timcbs@yahoo.com

Thanks Tim Hill

 

[watch_art]

Tim - that is AWESOME. Holy COW! I've gotta try that stuff.

 

[darrin1200]

Thanks for the quick replies. I have been debating what to do with a Damascus blank I have.

I don't think they will thread - but I don't see why you couldn't make acrylic inserts, or even brass inserts on a metal lathe, and glue it all together.

A metal lathe is the next buy on my list, hopefully later this summer.

if you go to the gallery on their site, they have a full kitless pen with threads. they say it is no issue at all.

Thanks Mike. I suppose I should have gone there first.

Hi All, I made one awhile back and had no problem, you can check it out on eBay Item number: 200510637677

That's a good looking pen Tim. It looks like the one on the M3 site.

 

[Robert111]

Has anyone tried using M3 blanks to make kitless pens or to manufacture pen components such as nibs and finals. I understand that they are very hard and I am wondering how they would hold up.

I just tried this two weeks ago. The bottom finial is threaded. I thought the M3 stuff turned pretty much like aluminite--very soft material. I understand the lava-based M3 is a different story.

 

[watch_art]

Turns like alumilite huh? Reeaaly? Hmmm....

 

[timcbs]

It is the same one that is on the M3 site, I did not know they put it up on there site. kinda of cool....

 

[qballizhere]

I have turned a few m3 blanks and they are like butter))) I don't see why it wouldn't work. All ribbons and powder.

 

[apple320]

My M3 pen

Here is a pen I made out of this material

Just make sure you get a new set of buffing wheels because it is metal not plastic.

Chris

 

[toddlajoie]

Has anyone tried using M3 blanks to make kitless pens or to manufacture pen components such as nibs and finals. I understand that they are very hard and I am wondering how they would hold up.

I just tried this two weeks ago. The bottom finial is threaded. I thought the M3 stuff turned pretty much like aluminite--very soft material. I understand the lava-based M3 is a different story.

I'm not up on all the M3 Available, but that pen looks like it is the Amedio Blue acrylic from Exotics, which is a standard acrylic (not sure exactly which one...)

[link]http://www.exoticblanks.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=9413&category_id=32&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=60[/link]

 

[Texatdurango]

Has anyone tried using M3 blanks to make kitless pens or to manufacture pen components such as nibs and finals. I understand that they are very hard and I am wondering how they would hold up.

Unless they changed their formula in the past few years, the material isn't hard, it's soft and when turned off, it turns to powder.

I only made two pens from the material and unlike many here, I field test my pens to make sure they will stand the test of time rather than letting a customer find out that after a month of daily use (screwing the cap on and off several times a day) the threads start wearing down.

Since we're just sharing experiences and opinions, mine is that I wouldn't make a pen with this material if there was threading involved.

 

[Robert111]

Has anyone tried using M3 blanks to make kitless pens or to manufacture pen components such as nibs and finals. I understand that they are very hard and I am wondering how they would hold up.

I just tried this two weeks ago. The bottom finial is threaded. I thought the M3 stuff turned pretty much like aluminite--very soft material. I understand the lava-based M3 is a different story.

I'm not up on all the M3 Available, but that pen looks like it is the Amedio Blue acrylic from Exotics, which is a standard acrylic (not sure exactly which one...)

[link]http://www.exoticblanks.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=9413&category_id=32&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=60[/link]

Yes, sure it's Amedeo, but the center band and finials are silver M3.

 

[Texatdurango]

I got a few "interesting" PM's after I posted my negative (but factual) comment above... "Unless they changed their formula in the past few years, the material isn't hard, it's soft and when turned off, it turns to powder."

So, instead of asking anyone to take my word on something, I invite those disbelievers to have a look at the following thread which was posted 4 1/2 years ago and scroll down to post #11 then scroll down to photos 7 and 8 to see the powder I mentioned.

http://www.penturners.org/forum/f14/powder-metal-pen-blanks-1201/

I didn't say I didn't like this material, I just said I wouldn't thread it, and cutting threads in a finial where it might be unscrewed once a year at best is not like threading a cap where it will be screwed on and off at least a dozen times a day.

We post in these threads to give the best honest opinions based on our experiences even if those experiences don't produce what everyone wants to hear.

 

[Robert111]

I want to point out that all M3 is not the same. The lava blanks are very hard. Check out the reports by users on PSI:

M3 Volcanic Ash Black Lava Pen Blanks at Penn State Industries