Dear pen makers and lovers,
I am stunned. The quality of the pens you show is extraordinary. Beautiful finishes.
Recently, I published my first go at building a pen : An-attempt-at-building-a-better-pen
It is a sorry thing, wonky threads, half broken parts, but as a proof of concept, it works, and rather well.
I want to make a pen, designed entirely to function. A pen with a large, easy to fill reservoir. One that is comfortable to hold along the length of the barrel. With a cap that closes fast and securely, and posts confidently.
The n° 6 nib and feed, I sourced from FPR. Apart from those, the pen has five parts : the section and the barrel come in one piece, then there is the piston, a ring to retain the piston in the barrel, the back cap and the cap. And an O-ring, and a little tube to push air from the piston through the feed, when filling the pen.
I thought it might amuse you to watch my sorry attempt at building a better pen.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-63ftCObN1...0/_DSC4155.jpg
This is when I put in the wrong gear for thread cutting, and ended up with 2,25 mm pitch, instead of the 3 required.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mt6pKdaBf...0/_DSC4160.jpg
Inside and outside screw threads cut on the barrel. The inside turned out not to be quite deep enough; I had to lap them with 'universal cleaning cream'.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-03213IKJo...0/_DSC4167.jpg
Cutting 0,25 mm, about 200 turns per minute, feeding at 0,01 mm per turn.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3RM4EdHYl...0/_DSC4173.jpg
This is what happens when the tailstock is not perfectly aligned, and when you drill after shaping the outside.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I8VBc2FGg...0/_DSC4175.jpg
Do it all over again.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-__rw4hz5M...0/_DSC4176.jpg
More knurling. Not very even, but I don't have a dividing head.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EuroD1bJg...0/_DSC4178.jpg
Fitting parts.
Quite a way to go yet, but I do have fitting parts.
Please do not hesitate to shower me with critique and advice; I am quite the novice at this endeavour.
Cheers!