Pen Press

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maxwell_smart007

maxwell_smart007

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I guess I need a pen press, but I have no idea which one to order. Are they all the same, or is one better than the others...

I've looked at PSI, CSUSA, Lee Valley, and Woodcraft - they all look similar, but the Lee Valley one is more expensive (and unfortunately teh only local option - but I can get one shipped if I have to!)

Andrew
 
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Hi Andrew,
i made a press myself. I had an old drillmachineholder ( sorry, dont know the correct english word)and turned two pieces of POM (plastic).The clamp (?)of the machineholder was too big, so i glued the POM into a piece of wood.
I am happy, this tool works fine, and i hope you did understand me...
greetings Harry



2007101320463_Presse.jpg
 
If you are patient one of the members on here makes a killer pen press. Check with Paul in OK PHDesigns. You may have to wait 6 months but from what I am told it is well worth it. I think I still have three more months to wait for mine. [:p]
 
Originally posted by MLKWoodWorking
<br />If you are patient one of the members on here makes a killer pen press. Check with Paul in OK PHDesigns. You may have to wait 6 months but from what I am told it is well worth it. I think I still have three more months to wait for mine. [:p]
Click to expand...
Here is a picture of Pauls press, well worth the wait.
20071013212820_press.jpg
 
I thought this was a pretty good home brew press: http://www.penturners.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=28285&SearchTerms=pen+press
 
I have, and occasionally use, a press from CSUSA, but more often I use an arbor press from Harbor Freight. Works great, and some folks here have made turrets for their HF press to accomodate a number of different pen types. Only precaution: be cautious in its use--it can generate a LOT of force!
 
Andrew, forget the Lee
valley press, it has the same weak link design as the other three. About an hour ago I was pressing togather a blue lapis blank that took all morning to slowly drill and turn and polish to mirror like finish, with a gold and rhodium Majestic fountain pen kit (with one of Anthony's 14K nibs) when the press ram supports bent and the ram angled up and in that split second I heard the fatal "crack" and scratch one blank. No spares on hand, the replacement blanks are on the way but now the customer will have to wait a few more days. I flattened the offending press with my 20 ton hydrolic press so I would not try and "fix" it later. [:(!] Stay away from these presses.
 
Sheesh. I've been using an Irwin ratcheting 6" hand clamp for the last three hundred pens or so. Works just fine, and after the first dozen pens, the holes in the little yellow rubber 'mar guards' on the clamp jaws are all set the way I like. All of the various nib holes that get 'cookie-cuttered' into the one side all correspond to the matching pen transmission/threaded fittings holes on the other side. I just have to remember which set of holes goes with what kit. Speaking of which, I should probably label the rubber pieces on the clamp with a sharpie! Probably save me some time when I'm assembling and wondering which holes to use on a particular kit.

These clamps can be grabbed 4 for $20 (regular price, sometimes even on sale) from most Home Depots and Lowe's-es, and I'm still on my first one. Any pen assembly that requires more force than what these clamps can produce is a good candidate for splitting out, and I ream the insides of the brass tubes accordingly to make sure I have a snug, but not too tight fit that will warp the shape of the tube. When you have to squeeze so hard the that clamp starts to groan, the fit is just plain too tight, IMHO. [:)]
 
Originally posted by OKLAHOMAN
<br />
Originally posted by MLKWoodWorking
<br />If you are patient one of the members on here makes a killer pen press. Check with Paul in OK PHDesigns. You may have to wait 6 months but from what I am told it is well worth it. I think I still have three more months to wait for mine. [:p]
Click to expand...
Here is a picture of Pauls press, well worth the wait.
20071013212820_press.jpg
Click to expand...

Roy that was just wrong to tease us like that![}:)]
 
Originally posted by karlkuehn
<br />I say Cav, I get the distinct feeling that you were just 'zinged'! [:p]
Click to expand...


ZINGED?!?!?! I would say the gnarly knave skewered me!! [;)] First my beloved Tigers cough up a hairball at Kentucky and now this!!!!!

Good shot, Mike. To mangle Shakespeare, "beware the ides of October!" [}:)][;)][:D][:D]
 
Originally posted by wdcav1952
<br />


ZINGED?!?!?! I would say the gnarly knave skewered me!! [;)] First my beloved Tigers cough up a hairball at Kentucky and now this!!!!!
Click to expand...

Tigers? Wow, they still have a team? Huh...well, I don't much follow the high school circuit anymore. Muha![}:)]

Sorry, I figured since taking pot shots at Cav seems to be the IAP thing to do, I'd give one a try. Gotta say, it is sorta fun! heh [:D]
 
Originally posted by karlkuehn
<br />
Originally posted by wdcav1952
<br />


ZINGED?!?!?! I would say the gnarly knave skewered me!! [;)] First my beloved Tigers cough up a hairball at Kentucky and now this!!!!!
Click to expand...

Tigers? Wow, they still have a team? Huh...well, I don't much follow the high school circuit anymore. Muha![}:)]

Sorry, I figured since taking pot shots at Cav seems to be the IAP thing to do, I'd give one a try. Gotta say, it is sorta fun! heh [:D]
Click to expand...

Jeff, do they make cyber-helmets???? I need one quickly. [:D][:D]
 
I used to use my drill press. Bought a 1/2" hex head bolt and epoxied a hardwood scrap to it and chucked it in the DP. You don't even need to do that, though. You can take a scrap piece of hardwood and turn it round on your lathe so it will fit in your drill chuck.

Changing the "ram" in and out of the DP got to be an annoyance so I built my own press. You can see pictures of it in my photo gallery.
 
Originally posted by MLKWoodWorking
<br />What is even worse Cav it's even a fellow PA. Maybe you should offer him a free dental check-up!
Click to expand...

Great idea, Mike!! [:D]

Hey Karl, run out and do a federal crime and I will do all your dental work for free!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [}:)][}:)][}:)]
 
Originally posted by wdcav1952
<br />
Originally posted by MLKWoodWorking
<br />What is even worse Cav it's even a fellow PA. Maybe you should offer him a free dental check-up!
Click to expand...

Great idea, Mike!! [:D]

Hey Karl, run out and do a federal crime and I will do all your dental work for free!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [}:)][}:)][}:)]
Click to expand...

Hey, there's a neighbor that's got a big old burl about halfway up one of his trees. Is stealing trees a felony? I could use a filling or two...[:p]
 
this thread has a million good ideas and everything you ever wanted to know about pen presses but were afraid to ask:
http://www.penturners.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=22916&SearchTerms=pen,press,harbor,freight
 
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