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I Made a Pen

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scooternut

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Joined
Jul 31, 2013
Messages
684
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Prototype really. I'm new to home shop machining, and also new to a desk job, so i made a prototype pen for my desk job. I wanted a steel, dense, tool kinda feel.

No kit, just studied up, and built it around a Fisher Space Pen refill.

Made from easy machining 12L14 as a test, but liked it, so polished it up to 1000, then satin with scotch brite.

I have some stainless stock ready, but I'll test a bit first. Just start making something is the best plan.

IMG_4038.JPGIMG_4039.JPG



Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
 
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ilovevocs

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Jun 26, 2009
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1,966
Location
Toledo, Ohio
Turned out nice.

You should think about getting some o-1 drill rod and making a scratching point for it as well. Would be nice to use for layout in the shop.

When i first got my lathe i made allot of punches, drifts, scratches, nail sets, transfer punches, ect. All fun turning projects and a great intro to basic heat treating and annealing in the home shop.
 
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scooternut

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Joined
Jul 31, 2013
Messages
684
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Thank you everyone, compliments on here mean a lot.

My favorite part about it is the noise that it makes hitting the desk when writing on something directly against the wood. I haven't weighed it, but it is surely dense at .400 diameter before finishing. The end cap is solid and could be lightened a bit, but this one is finished.
 
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MoonRise

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Nov 5, 2010
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Location
NJ
First off, cool. :beer:

Next questions.

Fixed, or retractable?

Spring in the tip section, or totally fixed-in-place ink unit?

Where is the 'opening' to insert/replace the ink unit? By the knurling at the end, or in one of the decorative grooves?

Just two pieces. barrel/body and cap?

Can you show the unit taken apart?

Oh, and a few of your diamond knurls have flat spots on them. :lol: j/k
 
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b-dog

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Apr 24, 2015
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238
Location
Lakewood, CO
Pen is very nice, well done! :thumbup:

ilovevocs said:
When i first got my lathe i made allot of punches, drifts, scratches, nail sets, transfer punches, ect. All fun turning projects and a great intro to basic heat treating and annealing in the home shop.
Click to expand...

I just had a duh moment after reading your post. I'll need a 9/16" transfer punch on Monday for a few holes but my set only goes to 1/2". I have a lathe but never thought to make one. I get stuck in the mindset - if it can be bought, it's not worth my time to make it.
 
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whateg01

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Joined
Mar 13, 2006
Messages
11,218
Location
doo dah, kansas, usa
That's a pretty sweet pen. I'd like to make one from SS if I ever get the time. You are right about the weight giving it a better feel. As long as you don't have to write a novel with it, the heavier it is, the better it feels. Weight imparts a sense of quality.

Reminds me of my toaster. They have made these dang things so light, you can't twist the knob on the front without the whole thing sliding away from you.

b-dog said:
... I get stuck in the mindset - if it can be bought, it's not worth my time to make it.
Click to expand...

I get stuck in just the opposite mindset. If it can be bought, I can make it for more, then I set out to prove it!

Dave
 
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scooternut

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Joined
Jul 31, 2013
Messages
684
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
MoonRise said:
First off, cool. :beer:

Next questions.

Fixed, or retractable?

Spring in the tip section, or totally fixed-in-place ink unit?

Where is the 'opening' to insert/replace the ink unit? By the knurling at the end, or in one of the decorative grooves?

Just two pieces. barrel/body and cap?

Can you show the unit taken apart?

Oh, and a few of your diamond knurls have flat spots on them. :lol: j/k
Click to expand...

That was my FIRST knurl with the new clamp type ebay knurl from India! I was impressed, and actually sanded a bit with the upper grits, as it was intended for a "wooden" desk.

South Bend 10L "heavy 10", 1940's, under drive with the bell housing. Short bed, nice home shop unit.

You can actually see where I MISSED the dang seem on one of the 3 upper decorative grooves. Look close, you'll see the miss. Those 2 parts are threaded, 5/16 x 18 I think, this will retract or replace the cartridge, but of course threads will show. There is a spring in there, though the Fisher does not come with a spring.

There are 3 parts total, not counting the cartridge/ spring. The second seem is within the lower set of grooves, I believe the highest 1 or 2. This is a slip fit assembled with red loctite.

I looked at, but did not use one of them wood pen kits where you press in the brass sleeve, just didn't seem necessary. That would be useful if you wanted it to be retractable in a conventional way.
 
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ChargerRT

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Apr 20, 2015
Messages
152
Location
Louisville, KY
I dig it... I want to get someone to make me a steel or brass pen like this... let me know if someone is up to it for not a crazy price
 
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scooternut

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Jul 31, 2013
Messages
684
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
ChargerRT said:
I dig it... I want to get someone to make me a steel or brass pen like this... let me know if someone is up to it for not a crazy price
Click to expand...

I do not know this man, or his quality of work. I only cam across him as I was doing a bit of research prior to making mine. looks like he makes to sell. Nice looking pen, and retractable.

 
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b-dog

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Apr 24, 2015
Messages
238
Location
Lakewood, CO
ChargerRT said:
I dig it... I want to get someone to make me a steel or brass pen like this... let me know if someone is up to it for not a crazy price
Click to expand...

I'm up to it, PM me if you want to know where to send the deposit. Custom one-off machining isn't cheap though. The OP already turned down the idea without even talking about how much. Since it's all relative, what's 'crazy' to you? You could say design and programming would be on the order of $150/hr and machining at $100/hr. Just a wild guess but maybe $1500 for 1, maybe $3-4k for 10. :bounce:
 
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