Majestic Junior Rollerball hole size

[BobGast]

Hi everyone. I just started a Majestic rollerball. I guess it doesn't make much difference whether rollerball or fountain pen for me. The instructions that came with the pen call for 37/64" drill bit for the upper blank and a 15/32" hole size for the lower blank. I drilled both holes on the lathe and when I went to fit the tubes that were in the kit inside, both holes were too large. Not even by a little bit. I still used 5 minute epoxy to glue the tubes in and now I am waiting for it to cure. I am thinking that this will end up being a huge problem on a fairly expensive blank. Anyone else have this experience or know of a solution?

 

[allunn]

Those sound like the size of the full size majestic.
Tony

 

[More4dan]

It should have been a 10.5 mm and a 12.5 mm holes.

A Z bit is 10.49 mm and a 27/64 bit is 10.71 mm.

1/2" is 12.7mm and 31/64" is 12.3 mm.

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[More4dan]

The Majestic full size uses the diameter in your post.

Maybe try removing the tubes and make the full sized kit. You could heat up a rod about the tube ID and use it to heat up the brass tubes. Get them above 250F and they should come out. Then redrill to the original hole size.

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[ed4copies]

Instructions are great as a reference, but personally, I ALWAYS measure my tubes with a caliper, then look on a chart and use the next larger drill bit.

If it is oily wood, the bit should be bigger than I use with plastics.

When I did dozens every week, I had the right bits nearby. Now, I do a few a month, check, check and double check!!!

If you are younger or smarter than me, feel free to ignore this advice!!!

Ed