Another eyedropper pen, woodgrain attempt

[GlenV]

Just made this pen, similar simple pen, I wish I could say it is perfect, but isn’t since some troubles making it, but learning and hoping to work out some issues that seem to be recurring. I am happy with the waterman 5 copy handmade feed though, I didn’t think it would work as good a a factory feed, but it has really worked well, no leaks or blobs. (Turned a thin rod for the feed from the same material)
I did try to duplicate the feed as close as I could by hand, could not think of a good way to machine the feed channel, and made 2 deeper thin grooves instead of 3, but amazingly it writes very evenly with no problems whatsoever. The nib is a Waterman 4 ideal from the later 20’s, medium with great flex. Learning from mistakes, it isn’t hard to break hard rubber, and the section is shorter than planned, and I shortened the cap to look symmetric. I broke the threaded part of the section boring out for the feed, which is why the pen is shorter than the plan in my head. The picture compares with a 15 PSF.

 

[bsenn]

Wow, very nice! Great that the feed is working well for you right out of the gate.

[GlenV]

Thanks! I’m having fun. The nib placement with the feed is particularly important for eyedroppers, I can see why Waterman always said “ do not remove the gold nib from holder”

[Penguincollector]

That’s stunning! I love that the feed is also woodgrain.

[VacNut]

Once again, very impressive. Waterman likely had the same problem with breakage. They just had more replacement material.

[GlenV]

Thank you both, I think the learning curve is overcome just by practice and adapting different ways of doing things, issues like assuming a rod of ebonite is not slightly off true, since have been purchasing unfinished rod stock, ect.  Also being more patient with the building process, since I work too quickly sometimes, to avoid putting much stress on the material.  I'm not super adept at determining the best od for the external threads on the section also, since new to this. The lathe is really fun though. Limits are time and supplies since can only improve with practice.