Twist type Sierra pencil conversions, slimline TBC bushings

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BHuij

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I have two basically unrelated questions, but I don't feel like posting two different threads to ask.

1. I've had mixed success with dropping Schmidt DSM 2006 mechanisms into pens. Theoretically they are compatible with any pen taking a Parker style ballpoint refill, but in practice there are sometimes odd compatibility issues that can be difficult to troubleshoot. Has anyone tried a DSM 2006 pencil mechanism with a Sierra style twist pen? Specifically I'm looking at these Prism ones, because I have this idea of making blue/red/green ones to use blue/red/green 0.7mm colored lead refills.

2. I am finding I get better results when using my 60° dead and live centers to turn pens, compared to my mandrel. With any pen using tubes larger than 7mm, that's easily done with the regular steel bushings. But with slimlines, the standard mandrel bushings don't work for TBC for obvious reasons. I have not had good luck just putting the tubes directly between centers, the brass is soft enough to flare out and even split sometimes, and if I use less pressure, I get a lot of slipping.
 
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Has anyone tried a DSM 2006 pencil mechanism with a Sierra style twist pen? Specifically I'm looking at these Prism ones

Haven't tried that specific style, but I have used them in other twist pens. It takes a bit of fiddling to get the plug length correct. Recently I tried the Beartooth insert (https://beartoothwoods.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4996) which requires no fiddling at all, just dropped it into a Virage twist pen and done.

The user also has to understand it takes two twists to match a single click. Twist forward to advance the lead, and then twist back to hold it.
 
Haven't tried that specific style, but I have used them in other twist pens. It takes a bit of fiddling to get the plug length correct. Recently I tried the Beartooth insert (https://beartoothwoods.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4996) which requires no fiddling at all, just dropped it into a Virage twist pen and done.

The user also has to understand it takes two twists to match a single click. Twist forward to advance the lead, and then twist back to hold it.
Yeah, I've used the DSM in the "perfect fit" kit which I actually got from BearToothWoods. Once you get used to the "twist as a click" thing it's kind of a fun and unique way to advance the lead. Not particularly convenient, I guess. Maybe the Parker style one is better than the Schmidt one.

At any rate I'll try it out in small numbers and see if it works. I have an "Elegant Prism" pen that I turned this past weekend. Safe to assume the internals and mechanism are identical to the non-Elegant "Prism" kits from the same place?
 
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