Problems with Personal twist pen

[qquake]

This is a Personal twist pen from The Wooden Quill. The first problem is the instructions are wrong. In the assembly section they state, "Press the cap/clip assembly into either end of the barrel". The problem is the bushings are different sizes. The cap/clip assembly goes in the larger end. I have made these pens before, but forgot about this. I had to disassemble and reassemble it correctly.

The second problem I haven't run into before, and is perplexing. When I twist to extend the refill, it won't retract. But if I loosen the tip, it retracts. I can't figure it out. I have another kit, and tried the tip from it, but it did the same thing. Any ideas?

 

[Joebobber]

I recently had a sierra that was like that with the twist mechanism. I just replaced it and it worked great.

 

[qquake]

I don't have another twist mechanism, but I really don't think that's the problem. Of course, I don't know what the problem is, so there is that.

 

[Ken T]

You probably have a lot more experience than I do on these things, but I have run into that issue on Manhattan and on slimlines if the barrel had a little CA build up inside of it or if the tube had a small brass burr from trimming. I use a deburring tool now on every barrel before I mount it on the lathe or after trimming just to make sure I dont run across this again.

 

[Joebobber]

on that Sierra there was something messed up in the twist mechanism that wouldn't let the ink go up inside all the way. It took me a bit to figure it out. I measured the tube a few times, replaced the spring, checked the tip to make sure the spring was seated right, checked the tip hole, but for me it was the twist mechanism.

 

[qquake]

You probably have a lot more experience than I do on these things, but I have run into that issue on Manhattan and on slimlines if the barrel had a little CA build up inside of it or if the tube had a small brass burr from trimming. I use a deburring tool now on every barrel before I mount it on the lathe or after trimming just to make sure I dont run across this again.

There is no epoxy inside the tube. I plug them before I glue them up. And I deburr the inside of all tubes before I assemble the pen.

 

[qquake]

on that Sierra there was something messed up in the twist mechanism that wouldn't let the ink go up inside all the way. It took me a bit to figure it out. I measured the tube a few times, replaced the spring, checked the tip to make sure the spring was seated right, checked the tip hole, but for me it was the twist mechanism.

Well, like I said, I don't have another twist mechanism for this pen, so can't try that.

 

[qquake]

I have another kit that is missing the twist mechanism. So I used the inner tube and tip coupler from that one. I didn't press it all the way into the coupler, thinking maybe I pressed the first one too far causing the tube to be misshapen. Didn't help at all. So I used a small grinding stone in my Dremel and smoothed inside the tip, thinking there might be a burr. Didn't help, either.

 

[Joebobber]

I have another kit that is missing the twist mechanism. So I used the inner tube and tip coupler from that one. I didn't press it all the way into the coupler, thinking maybe I pressed the first one too far causing the tube to be misshapen. Didn't help at all. So I used a small grinding stone in my Dremel and smoothed inside the tip, thinking there might be a burr. Didn't help, either.

That is so weird. You could try to cut the back of the ink a little? Does the ink go all the way into the twistmech?

 

[Paul in OKC]

My guess is the hole in the nib is tight. I used to have this problem regularly with chrome flat top double twist pens. If you have a drill bit around #39, which is .101 that you can use to clean up the tip. You may also be able to use a 3/32 (.093) and use it like a file, so to speak, and run it up and down like you are trying to open up a hole.

 

[jttheclockman]

I too have seen the nib hole be too tight from too much plating and any little off center on either the tube or mechanism can bind it. The refill could be slightly bent also. Maybe want to try new one. Good luck.

 

[MPVic]

There is no epoxy inside the tube. I plug them before I glue them up. And I deburr the inside of all tubes before I assemble the pen.

Jim:
I want to thank you for taking the time to photograph in detail the steps, etc. regarding your post and many others in the past. I know it can be a pain but thank you for sharing.

 

[jrista]

My guess is the hole in the nib is tight. I used to have this problem regularly with chrome flat top double twist pens. If you have a drill bit around #39, which is .101 that you can use to clean up the tip. You may also be able to use a 3/32 (.093) and use it like a file, so to speak, and run it up and down like you are trying to open up a hole.

I too have seen the nib hole be too tight from too much plating and any little off center on either the tube or mechanism can bind it. The refill could be slightly bent also. Maybe want to try new one. Good luck.

I just had this problem with the nib hold being too tight on about 60-70% of a set of 15 pens I made for a customer. They were just your standard sierra-type (Tapa Pacifica, to be exact, which I don't think are made anymore.) I could twist and the ink would protrude...but would not retract. I was a little bugged by the fact that the ink would only barely protrude from the nib, and after fiddling around with one pen for a bit, I took the spring off and just tried to put the the tip of the refill strait through the hole in the nib. That was how I discovered they did not actually fit. I forced it through, twisted it around a bit, and that seemed to resolve the issue. It did not seem to produce any visible scratching, marring or loss of plating...somehow, the hole was just a smidge too small for the ink to fully extend, and once it was extended a little bit it jammed. Widening the hole in all of the pens that exhibited the problem just by pushing the tip of the refill in from the outside and twisting it a bit resolved the problem for all pens.

 

[jttheclockman]

I just had this problem with the nib hold being too tight on about 60-70% of a set of 15 pens I made for a customer. They were just your standard sierra-type (Tapa Pacifica, to be exact, which I don't think are made anymore.) I could twist and the ink would protrude...but would not retract. I was a little bugged by the fact that the ink would only barely protrude from the nib, and after fiddling around with one pen for a bit, I took the spring off and just tried to put the the tip of the refill strait through the hole in the nib. That was how I discovered they did not actually fit. I forced it through, twisted it around a bit, and that seemed to resolve the issue. It did not seem to produce any visible scratching, marring or loss of plating...somehow, the hole was just a smidge too small for the ink to fully extend, and once it was extended a little bit it jammed. Widening the hole in all of the pens that exhibited the problem just by pushing the tip of the refill in from the outside and twisting it a bit resolved the problem for all pens.

The problem with that is as if you may have realized is you maybe just taking a little off the brass refill. Brass is alot softer than the plating. If this be the case then when customer changes refills he will not know what you did. I would check a new refill in those pens to see if that is not the case without spinning it.

 

[jrista]

The problem with that is as if you may have realized is you maybe just taking a little off the brass refill. Brass is alot softer than the plating. If this be the case then when customer changes refills he will not know what you did. I would check a new refill in those pens to see if that is not the case without spinning it.

I actually replaced the original refills with easyflows. The replacements stuck at first as well. I used the original refills to expand the nib holes, and once I did that, the easyflows worked fine in all pens. So I think the nib hole did indeed expand.

 

[qquake]

The refill tip fits loosely through the hole in the tip. I tried different refills, including a Monte Verde, a label-less Schmidt, and a couple generic. I also tried a different spring. Nothing helped. I just can't figure this out.

 

[qquake]

Jim:
I want to thank you for taking the time to photograph in detail the steps, etc. regarding your post and many others in the past. I know it can be a pain but thank you for sharing.

I always take a lot of pictures of everything. Photos are my journal.

 

[magpens]

Jim:
I want to thank you for taking the time to photograph in detail the steps, etc. regarding your post and many others in the past. I know it can be a pain but thank you for sharing.

I always take a lot of pictures of everything. Photos are my journal.

I also express my appreciation for your excellent photographic documentation, Jim.

I am totally amazed that you have an organization for your photos that merits calling that record a "journal" ! ! ! !

 

[qquake]

I also express my appreciation for your excellent photographic documentation, Jim.

I am totally amazed that you have an organization for your photos that merits calling that record a "journal" ! ! ! !

It's really no big deal. Each and every pen I make gets its own folder, in the subfolder of that particular kit. All the folders and subfolders reside in a main folder for pens. I take photos of the steps as I go, including usually two or three videos of turning the blanks. I end up with close to or over 100 photos for each pen, once it was over 200 photos. They're handy for me, if I'm turning a pen I've turned before, but not for a while. Everything like the bushings used, the drill bit, whether or not I painted, mistakes I made, disassembly if required, etc.