Hardest build?

[fountainpenkid]

Hi all!

For those of us that turn pens (not me), which of the pens that you have made was the hardest to make? Why?

[drgoretex]

Hi all!

For those of us that turn pens (not me), which of the pens that you have made was the hardest to make? Why?

For me, the hardest pen I've made is each one that uses new tooling and techniques. For example, designing and executing a new size of pen with different taps and dies, etc. One of the more challenging types of pen I made recently was a hybrid exotic wood and acrylic - the barrel and cap in ebony, but the threaded parts (cap to barrel, barrel to nib section, and cap finial to cap) and nib section were all made using black acrylic fixed into the ebony.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/kcavers/Custom%20Pens/Custom%20Fountain%20Pens/Designer%20Fountain%20Pens/IMG_7642_zps92d92280.jpg

Cheers,

Ken

[snedwos]

That's beautiful!

[79spitfire]

That's sweet!

[InvisibleMan]

For me, the most difficult pens have been the first of new-to-me filling systems.

My first pen was a cartridge/converter, and it was difficult because I'd never even USED a fountain pen before, much less made one:crazy:

Then came a button filler. Getting the button and pressure bar just right took some doing the first time.

Then the piston filler with plunger travel, a twist knob, etc....

Finally, I just finished a bulb filler. This was most difficult of all for me because I thought I'd just bang it out in no time. I understood the science behind the bulb, pressure differences, etc., but it still took me a few tries to get the pen to fill completely. Now that I've got my prototype bulb filler done, I think it is my favorite filling system, and I look forward to making many more.

I don't have a photo of my first C/C, and there won't be one.....:puke: LOL

My first button filler. I still need to make a new section - I don't like the current one...

2221

My first piston filler, complete with ink stain:

2222

And my first bulb filler - 3/4 full of Private Reserve Black Cherry:

2223

[79spitfire]

I think all three are great!

[fountainpenkid]

For me, the most difficult pens have been the first of new-to-me filling systems.

My first pen was a cartridge/converter, and it was difficult because I'd never even USED a fountain pen before, much less made one:crazy:

Then came a button filler. Getting the button and pressure bar just right took some doing the first time.

Then the piston filler with plunger travel, a twist knob, etc....

Finally, I just finished a bulb filler. This was most difficult of all for me because I thought I'd just bang it out in no time. I understood the science behind the bulb, pressure differences, etc., but it still took me a few tries to get the pen to fill completely. Now that I've got my prototype bulb filler done, I think it is my favorite filling system, and I look forward to making many more.

I don't have a photo of my first C/C, and there won't be one.....:puke: LOL

My first button filler. I still need to make a new section - I don't like the current one...

2221

My first piston filler, complete with ink stain:

2222

And my first bulb filler - 3/4 full of Private Reserve Black Cherry:

2223

Very nice! So you made the piston yourself, or did you borrow the mechanism from another pen?

[InvisibleMan]

Thanks! I bought the piston mechanism. I did try to make one with some success before I found some for sale, but the ones I bought are far better.

[fountainpenkid]

Thanks! I bought the piston mechanism. I did try to make one with some success before I found some for sale, but the ones I bought are far better.

Interesting. So you can just buy piston mechanisms? Or were these taken from another pen? If it is as easy as simply building the pen around the mechanism, than why don't more custom people make piston fillers?

[drgoretex]

Invisibleman, those are beautiful pens, and congrats on the filling systems! Excellent work!




Thanks! I bought the piston mechanism. I did try to make one with some success before I found some for sale, but the ones I bought are far better.

Interesting. So you can just buy piston mechanisms? Or were these taken from another pen? If it is as easy as simply building the pen around the mechanism, than why don't more custom people make piston fillers?

I think this is simply because they are not really that widely available. I have only just recently been given a tip as to where to find them, and that supplier has only just recently started supplying them.

Regardless, doing a piston filler is, in my estimate, an awesome achievement. :rockon:

Cheers,

Ken

[InvisibleMan]

Ken's got it right. There is only one supplier as far as I know, and only within the past month or so that they've become available. It's an expensive pen to make as they go.