Phew!

[Hippie3180]

I finally got through my first wood fountain pen I've made by myself. The first try I accidentally sanded through my cap, right at the lip on the body end. The second cap had a small knot or buggy place and as I was turning the cap, it created a hole right in the middle. So, 3 caps and 2 bodies later(I didn't have the bandwidth to do another body to make sure body and cap matched after all the cap problems) I finally got a pen out of all my work. It's very simple, Peruvian Walnut with partial Alumilite sleeves and section, but I did it. Phew! It was a whole drama, but feels good to get through it.

 

[Jim15]

Great work. Beautiful pen.

 

[MedWoodWorx]

I finally got through my first wood fountain pen I've made by myself. The first try I accidentally sanded through my cap, right at the lip on the body end. The second cap had a small knot or buggy place and as I was turning the cap, it created a hole right in the middle. So, 3 caps and 2 bodies later(I didn't have the bandwidth to do another body to make sure body and cap matched after all the cap problems) I finally got a pen out of all my work. It's very simple, Peruvian Walnut with partial Alumilite sleeves and section, but I did it. Phew! It was a whole drama, but feels good to get through it. View attachment 372169

Very nice work!! Is that a ca finish? Its awesome!!well done!

 

[Hippie3180]

Very nice work!! Is that a ca finish? Its awesome!!well done!

Thank you, yes it is a ca finish.

 

[derekdd]

Well done.

Way to persevere!

 

[mark james]

Darn nice pen! Well worth the lessons you learned (earned?). Thanks for sharing.

 

[egnald]

Wow- very cool! - Dave

 

[KMCloonan]

Beautiful!

 

[d_bondi]

I love it!

Good on you for sticking with it through all the "learning opportunities"

 

[Kcimdrib]

I think it's a great looking Pen well done.

 

[Lew]

Very, very nice pen. You should charge 3X the original price since it is really 3 pens to get to the one.

 

[Hippie3180]

Very, very nice pen. You should charge 3X the original price since it is really 3 pens to get to the one.

I like this idea!

 

[TonyL]

I can barely imagine what your second one is going to look like! Beautiful pen!

 

[Hippie3180]

I can barely imagine what your second one is going to look like! Beautiful pen!

Spoiler alert, the second one went much better. The wood was more dense and I think that made the difference.

 

[darrin1200]

Gorgeous Michele

What do you mean by "partial Alumilite sleeve"

 

[TonyL]

Spoiler alert, the second one went much better. The wood was more dense and I think that made the difference.

Show it off! Would love to see it.

 

[Hippie3180]

Gorgeous Michele

What do you mean by "partial Alumilite sleeve"

These are not full sleeves, they extend partially up into the cap and body allowing for threading and stability where the blank is more fragile. I need some different to do full sleeves and there is a slight taper, tapers require either stepped full sleeves or partial.

 

[darrin1200]

These are not full sleeves, they extend partially up into the cap and body allowing for threading and stability where the blank is more fragile. I need some different to do full sleeves and there is a slight taper, tapers require either stepped full sleeves or partial.

Ahhh. That sounds good for a solid straight grained wood. Not sure how well I would hold up with some really gnarly grained burls.
Stepping is fairly easy, just be careful not to leave air pockets that the glue might or might not fill. I try to size, anything with a shoulder, to match the flat end mills I have.