First, my apologies if these questions have been answered before. I looked through the forum but am not confident I have clear answers.

Question 1: Are there any kits out there that permit making the entire exterior of the pen from the same material, at least at it appears from the outside. I assume it would be difficult to produce a "sleeve" for the section, but a plain black section would be acceptable. I did see photos in posts from a couple of makers here that show pens that would be indistinguishable from pens made by the major manufacturers, but assume those are produced by hand, not with a kit.

Question 2: How hard would it be to turn pens that could be fitted with popular interchangeable nibs, Pelikans for example. I assume there would be legal issues for resale, but I am talking about pens produced for personal use.

Thanks,

Bill

Hi Bill!

Good questions! The easy answer to the first question is "Yes, but . . .". There is no kit made that anticipates an exterior all of the same material. But then what kit manufacturers anticipate is fairly limited compared to what we penmakers actually accomplish! You have probably seen Brian Gray's Herald pen. Without the clip, the only part showing on the exterior of this pen is the cap band. Yet with a little bit of effort you can even turn down and imbed this cap band, so that nothing would show.

Pen kits are designed and sold so that individuals can make whole pens by only adding their skills as a turner. But as you advance in penmaking, you find yourself using fewer pieces of the kit. And what is the kit after all? It is just out-sourced parts, and almost every commercial pen manufacturer operating today outsources SOME part of their pens!

So yes, a number of kits can be used to produce pens where none of the kit parts show. Some of the most adaptable are the Berea ElGrande and the Berea Baron.

As for the second question, there are a number of interesting nibs that can be switched into these pens. Using the Herald as an example again, it is available with a Bexley nib, or a Bock nib, or a Taccia nib, or the steel nib that comes with the kit. Pretty much any nib that can be removed from the feed assembly, and that can be made to fit the feed assembly for the pen in question, can be used. Pelikan nibs are not as versatile, as the nib/feed assembly is designed to work with the Pelikan piston fill pens rather than the cartridge/converter system. In other words, the feed assembly doesn't have the sharp stub on the back end to puncture the cartridge. And we penmakers really have not found a good way to make a piston-fill pen yet. But keep checking, because we are looking into it!

I hope this helps!

Scott.

Bill,

There is no such thing as a stupid newbie question!

On occasion they are the very questions that make people sit up and go "why the hell didn't I think of that?"
I think the gang here will also agree that most turners consider themselves learners. Those who don't are in real trouble - they know it all

Other than that, Scott has given you an excellent answer to your question.

Cheers,
Ruaidhrí

Hello,
I also have asked myself this question. I have make more than a few kit pens. And I have made a few fountain pen kits, but for me I have not come across a kit fountain that I would carry and use. I just don't like the look of the kits and I don't like how they feel when I write with them.
I look at the pens being made here and know that if I could make one of these beautiful pens, I would also like and enjoy writing with it.
I don't think that any kit pen would do this for me.
I think I am stuck with buying a metal lathe and learning how to chase threads. I also know that for me this is a hobby and it would be cheaper to buy one of the handmade ones here or continue to buy and fix vintage pens. Modern pens don't do much for me.

Mary

I'll say 'yes' and 'yes' --- there are some folks out there doing a lot more than simply turning pens from a kit.

1- "all one material exterior"
I've been watching what the other pen turners have been doing (over on penturners.org), while I continue to improve my craft.
A couple penturners have done some work moving away from some of the kit parts, e.g.:
- using a closed-end mandrel (to remove the cap's clip, end metal tip)
- same with the other end (i.e., no metal fitting at the end)
- turning their own nib holder of the same material the pen was created (so the distracting metal or plastic barrel is changed)
- Heck, there are some serious discussions about chasing their own threads so they can remove metal/threaded collars, etc.

So, you can make some beautiful pens without all the distracting "fittings" you typically see -- and so have more of a pen made from the main material (wood, acrylic, corian, whatever).

2- "non kit nibs"
Some of the kit nibs are bad ... some are OK.
I'm playing now with replacing and trying various nibs on the Baron/Sedona pens.
There are some expensive (and nice-looking) nibs ... that should be amazing, if cost and beauty are indicators :-)

-- joe

Just by coincidence I read Scott's remark about piston fillers just a few minutes after I read on the Schmidt side that they make a complete piston filler set.
I know nothing about making pens, but maybe it might be interesting for people who do.

http://www.schmidt-feintechnik.de/en/schre...atalog_engl.pdf

you find it on page 17 at the bottom of the page (item KFH 300)

Thanks for the link, Afruba! So it might be possible for hobbyists to make a piston-filling pen? That would really be wonderful to try; I'm a confirmed Pelikan devotee, so the idea of trying my hand at making such a pen is quite attractive. I wonder (1) whether it is possible for private individuals to obtain the necessary pieces in small quantities, (2) whether one might need rather exotic drill bits in order to prepare a blank to receive such a mechanism, and (3) whether it might not turn out to be sufficiently difficult that rank amateurs like me had better not try it.

Does anyone know?

Best wishes,
CG

Now that interests me. I haven't made my own pen yet, but it's something I want to try. If I can make a piston fill pen, that just gives me even more motivation to learn!

Does anyone in North America sell Schmidt parts?

I have emailed them 4 times about purchasing piston fill mechanisms and have yet to get an answer...
They obviously don't want to do business with us little guys....

What do you think would happen if the incomparable Bill Baumbeck were to ask??? Just a thought but, I'd love to ruin a few of those to see if maybe, just maybe I could get one to come out as a success.....

I've just written a letter of inquiry that I'll drop into the mail later today. Who knows? Perhaps if they have sufficient inquiries, they may think of permitting hobbyists to purchase these mechanisms. At the very least they'll be flattered by this sort of outside interest.

Interesting! I love piston fillers. It'd be challenging to make a pen using this, but it'd be interesting too.