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PROJECT PEN KITS
Stylus Tip Twist Pen Kit
Code: 503499
PREPARING THE BLANKS, HINTS & TIPS
Preparing a wooden or acrylic/polyester
blank for a pen mandrel.
1. Cut a blank to the length of each tube
plus approximately 2.5mm to allow for
trimming and squaring off the ends.
2. Mark the centre on the end of the blank.
3. Using the recommended drill bit, drill a
hole lengthwise through the blank.
4. Apply epoxy glue, Polyurethane glue or
gap filling cyanoacrylate (super glue) to
the tubes.
5. Insert the tube into the blank with a
twisting motion to spread the glue
evenly inside the hole.
6. Centre the tube lengthwise inside the
blank.
7. Allow the adhesive to cure.
8. When cured, square the ends of the
blank. Using a barrel trimmer with a
guide matching the inner diameter
of the tube or a universal pen blank
squaring jig with a disc sander.
9. Take the excess material down flush
with the ends of the brass tube. (do
not trim beyond the length of the tube
since this may interfere with operation
of the mechanism and assembly).
For more info and
videos scan here
WHAT’S REQUIRED
Bushing Set: 8.5 mm O/D
(as supplied with mandrel) (100793)
Drill Bit Size:
7 mm
Minimum Blank Size:
16 mm x 16 mm x 112 mm
Tips/Hints
• If using a wooden blank, draw a short
pencil line lengthwise across the centre
of the blank. This will help maintain
grain alignment when mounting the
blanks onto a mandrel.
• Excessive pressure may cause the drill
bit to wander and/or split the blank.
Slow the feed rate and back the drill bit
out repeatedly for chip removal.
• Roughen the brass tube slightly with
abrasive for better adhesion.
• Certain acrylic blanks are more
transparent than others, especially
lighter colors or blanks with light
colored swirls. To avoid the risk of the
brass tube showing through the pen
blank, paint the tubes white or black
before gluing them in.
• The barrel trimmer guide also cleans
any adhesive that may have gotten
inside of the tube.
TURNING THE BLANK, HINTS & TIPS
1. Mount the bushings and blanks onto a
pen mandrel according to the diagram
(If using a wooden blank, check the
grain alignment).
2. Secure the bushings and blanks onto
the mandrel.
3. Slide the tailstock with a live centre into
place against the mandrel and lock in
position. This is for support; only slight
pressure is required.
4. Using sharp tools, turn the blanks down
to become the Upper Pen Barrel and
Lower Pen Barrel with profiles of your
choice.
5. Turn the blanks very slightly oversize,
then sand and polish the ends down to
the same diameter as the bushings.
6. Using successively finer abrasives
gradually sand and polish both Pen
Barrels.
7. Finish both Pen Barrels with your
preferred choice of polish.
Tips/Hints
• Don’t be afraid to sharpen frequently
especially when turning acrylics.
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ASSEMBLY, HINTS & TIPS
1. Layout parts according to diagram A,
ensuring the turned Barrels are the
same orientation as when mounted on
the mandrel.
Hint: When removing the blanks from
the mandrel, mark the inside of each
tube where they join to maintain grain
alignment, if using a wooden blank,
during assembly.
2. Press the Nib into the bottom end of
the Lower Pen Barrel.
3. With the threaded end exposed, press
the Twist Mechanism brass end first
into the top of the Lower Pen Barrel,
only as far as the indentation.
4. To determine if the Twist Mechanism is
positioned at the correct depth, thread
the Refill into the Twist Mechanism.
When properly fitted, approximately
3mm of the writing point shows
when the Twist Mechanism is twisted
open, and is covered when the Twist
Mechanism is twisted closed.
DIAGRAM A
5. If the point does not extend far
enough, remove the Refill and press
the Twist Mechanism a little farther
into the Lower Pen Barrel. Be careful
not to press it in too far as the Twist
Mechanism cannot be pulled back out.
6. Slide the Centre Ring over the Twist
Mechanism.
7. Carefully unscrew retaining ring from
the the top of the End Cap and gently
tease off the soft stylus tip.
8. Slide Clip onto the stepped end of the
lower half of the End Cap. The Clip
will only slide on a short distance until
pressed into place. Do not attempt to
force the Clip all the way onto the End
Cap by hand as this may damage the
parts
9. Press the Clip/End Cap assembly into
the top of the upper Pen Barrel.
10. Replace the soft stylus tip and screw
the retaining ring back onto the End
Cap (small chamfer at the top).
11. Thread the Refill into the twist
mechanism, then gently push by
hand the upper and lower Pen barrels
together
Tips/Hints
• Use a woodworking vice, one handed bar
clamp, arbor press or a dedicated pen
press.
• Press parts together slowly and steadily
• When pressing the parts together,
CHECK the parts are correctly aligned
with each other and straight. If the part
is crooked or misaligned, it will result in
a poor fit.
Visit the Knowledge blog ‘How To Make A Pen’ for hints, tips and videos
knowledge.axminstertools.com/pen-turning
VIEW OUR FULL RANGE OF
PEN CASES AND DISPLAY BOXES ONLINE
Axminster Tools, Axminster, Devon, EX13 5PH
AXMINSTERTOOLS.COM
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