RESOLVED: Help Needed Artisan (CSUSA/Dayacom) Cigar Assembly

[TonyL]

Hi Folks,

I have made many of these over the years, but first time that I used a 25/64 drill (per their isntructions) vs a 10mm. As you know the 25/64 is less than 10mm.
My issue may have nothing to do with it. I assembled all beautifully, however, I cannot slide the cap/transmission holder (or tube) over the transmission. I have test fitted other the transmissions with the holders/tubes from other kits and they all fit fine. It looks looks something is lodged in inside my tube cap. Maybe the tube has a burr or has a bent lip? Or maybe the 25/64 drill made for too tight of a whole. I will see if I can widen the tube hole, remove the obstruction. I looked down the tube and it lt looks clean. made this for a fatherless yound man (he mom is my assistant). He loves outer space so I used the glow in the dark, moon rocks blank and I am going to equip it with a Fisher Parker-style refill. He came-out beautifully (black Ti H/W) . I even added some CA to the exterior to protect the finish. Anyway, thanks for your help. The company Christmas party is tomorrow. I guess I can tell him that Santa had an isssue at the factory .

 

[Danny Linguini]

I'm very new to this, but I may be of some help here. In the course of lots of reading and watching videos, someone suggested keeping a tube reaming tool handy for cleaning up the ends of tubes after they're glued into the blanks. Sometimes a little excess glue gets in there, sometimes it's just a burr or something on the tube. I grabbed one from Amazon and it really makes a difference. Just today I was test-fitting a bushing into a tubed blank, and it didn't want to go in either end; once I reamed it, the bushing slid right in.

 

[TonyL]

I'm very new to this, but I may be of some help here. In the course of lots of reading and watching videos, someone suggested keeping a tube reaming tool handy for cleaning up the ends of tubes after they're glued into the blanks. Sometimes a little excess glue gets in there, sometimes it's just a burr or something on the tube. I grabbed one from Amazon and it really makes a difference. Just today I was test-fitting a bushing into a tubed blank, and it didn't want to go in either end; once I reamed it, the bushing slid right in.

Thank you very much. Good advice. I found the issue with a lighted otoscope with magnification. There is some dried epoxy in the tube. I add a dab of epoxy to all my fittings; a small amount squeezed down the cap tube. I couldn't see it with the naked eye. Thank for the advice. Usually I can see the obstruction.

 

[JohnU]

Glad you found your problem. I used to use epoxy during assembly also but had issues of my own. I dripped a little on my finish and it ruined it. Since I have switched to blue loctite. A very small drip does the trick and it wipes up easily and is thin so if it gets inside a tube it doesn't build an obstruction. Also, as long as you use "blue" it can be disassembled with a little effort. Just don't use "red", it's not made to come apart.

 

[TonyL]

Glad you found your problem. I used to use epoxy during assembly also but had issues of my own. I dripped a little on my finish and it ruined it. Since I have switched to blue loctite. A very small drip does the trick and it wipes up easily and is thin so if it gets inside a tube it doesn't build an obstruction. Also, as long as you use "blue" it can be disassembled with a little effort. Just don't use "red", it's not made to come apart.

Thank you. I have tried red and blue; it works, but doesn't stops clips from rotating as the pen gets handled. I actually rather use loc-tite, but I found the epoxy to hold better (not perfectly. I would really like to "weld" the clip somehow. I looked into jewelers tools, but too expensive. The rotating clip doesn't seem to concern many; it just bothers me. Thanks again!

 

[JohnU]

I get it. I dont like them either. I actually put blue loctite on the top of the clip ring that the finial goes through as well as the brass tube when fitting the finial. That way it secures the clip to the finial and doesnt spin. Ive been doing this for years with success.