I just finished this one off tonight and I am well pleased! This is just the second try and I like how it came out this time. I did most of the "end work" with files on the lathe instead of trying to get the final shape with the lathe.

This cap may look awesome like this, but it would rust so once I have a few of them made, I plan to break out my powder-coating equipment and coat them gloss black. I may make a couple in stainless steel for a couple transitionals that I have in the works.

Wow, nice job. That will no doubt become the newest Estie variant, and decades from now people will be wondering when Esterbrook produced these upscale models...

Good Job

Gerrry

Gerry, when I am in town tomorow I am going to pick up a stainless steel bolt to turn down and make a couple from stainless steel which will match perfect to the stainless steel factory hardware.

Good one

The "jewels" look great

Well I had a little time tonight so I set up my powder-coating system and coated that jewel I made and thought I would post it up. It took me more time to make a wire "hanger" to coat it on than it took to puff the powder onto the jewel! Thirty minutes later I was filling up my new Estie. Man I love that coating!

Here we are...


Btw, if anyone needs one made for either end, drop me a line and we can work something out.



Oh, and this is the pen I picked up that needed the jewel. I bought it in a "estate lot" on e-bay for $6.99 and recieved a very nice pen knife and a Waterman pencil in the deal. I have it inked with the FPN Galileo Manuscript Brown, it fits the pen very nice.

By golly, I think you do ! Personally I can tell no difference between the jewel you turned and OEM as it were. Congratulations!

How is it held in inside the cap?
It really is a work of art.

It's a press fit just like the original, but I am going to back off on the next one a hair. I did not like the "feel" of what it took to press it into the rivet. The next one will be a litthe thinner at the shaft and a little dab of glue, silicoln, maybe even lock tight would do the tick and not chance breaking the cap.

And Thanks!

Really nice work. Any thoughts on making these for the market? Tom

Beautiful work F-E! I'd be interested in prices for a set of "J" top and bottom for a nice forest green J I have that has partially cracked jewels...are the old ones easy to dig out?

Thank you guys. I do plan to make these for anyone who is in need of them. Right now I have two of Gerrys caps sitting on my desk to be done.

What I prefer is that the cap of pen is sent to me, at least for now. I have a special tool that I made to hold the back side of the rivet to keep the preasure off the cap. I am still working to see what is a good "medium range" for the shaft so it fits into the rivet. Unlike the plastic, the steel does not give as much and I want to be able to press it in with litte enough force that it does not damage the cap, or the finish. I have the ability to polish any marks or recoat the jewel if the need be.

I also have a tool made for replacement or tightening of clips to the cap, I will tighten for free when the cap is here if it needs it. (without glue)

The old jewels will come right out sometimes, other times you will need to take the pen apart to press them inside the pen to remove them.

If requested, I can replace the sac and fully polish the pens and hadrware while it is in my care. I recomend shipping inside a length of PVC pipe with the pen wrapped inside a paper towel. If you would like me to make them, send me a message thru the FPN message system I we can work out the details. I am quite fair on what I charge.

You did a wonderful job. Thanks for sharing!