Custom Pens

Written by Bob

User Rating: / 3
PoorBest 

Turning a custom wood pen set starts off much like turning a bottle stopper.  It starts with the wood choice but then adds another component ... the type of pen you wish to make.

The Pen set you use determines the style of pen you make and the type finish on the metal parts of the pen.  There are many styles of pens.  Slimline, Cigar, European, American, Classic, Modern, ball point, push button, twist, fountain and on and on.  Add in the type finishes on the metal parts and you can get fairly confused.  I have so far stuck to the Slimline twist mechanism sets with the 24k gold finish.

All pen sets have basic component parts.  Metal tubes which are glued into the wood blank or whatever material used for the pen.  The pen mechanism, pen tip, center ring and the clip.  The operations of pen making also seem pretty standard.

1. Choose pen material and cut two pieces to length

2. Drill appropriately size holes (7mm for slimline pen) into both front and back pieces and glue in the metal pen tubes.   I allow the glue to set for a day before turning.

3. Place tubes onto pen mandrel and turn desired shape.

4. Sand material from 120 grit sandpaper down to micro mesh 12000.

5. Finish material turned .. wood with two coats of sealer and numberous coats of gloss friction polish or acrylic and corian with numerous coats of plastic polish.

6.  Pen component parts are compression fit into the pen tubes using a pen press and bingo !!   There's a beautiful new pen :)