Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: More Bolt Action Pens

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Manistique, Michigan
    Posts
    1,367

    More Bolt Action Pens

    This was the final Christmas order sent out yesterday.

    Photo #1 - The 4 Pens
    Photo #2 - Cherry Burl - Gun Metal. This wood was from bowl scraps that I dried with DNA and bagged with the bowl.
    Photo #3 - Buckeye Burl - Gun Metal
    Photo #4 - Olive Wood - Gold Olive wood is becoming one of my favorites for pens and stoppers.
    Photo #5 - Birdseye Maple - Gold. This peice of Birdseye is the best one I have found.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by Rich Aldrich; 12-24-2013 at 10:11 AM.
    Thank you,

    Rich Aldrich

    65 miles SE of Steve Schlumpf.

    "To a pessimist, the glass is half empty; to an optimist, the glass is half full; to an engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be." Unknown author



  2. #2
    All very nice, someone will be very happy.
    _______________________________________
    When failure is not an option
    Mediocre is assured.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Inver Grove Heights, MN
    Posts
    798
    Good looking pens. The bolt action pens with deer antler continue to be best sellers for me.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Manistique, Michigan
    Posts
    1,367
    Thanks guys. I havent tried antler yet, but it is on my list now.
    Thank you,

    Rich Aldrich

    65 miles SE of Steve Schlumpf.

    "To a pessimist, the glass is half empty; to an optimist, the glass is half full; to an engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be." Unknown author



  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Northeast Georgia
    Posts
    834
    Very nice. I like the olive wood as well. Turns very nicely.

    A buddy gave me a few of these bullet kits. Trying to round up some antler to go with them. Any tips for turning antler?
    Where did I put that?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Inver Grove Heights, MN
    Posts
    798
    Same advice you always get, sharp tools and light cuts. Actually the biggest problem is finding straight sections thick enough to handle the 3/8 hole. Also holding a curved section and drilling through the "average center" can be interesting. Some antler comes off in chips. Best to leave a little proud and sand the last bit. It sands and polishes easy.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Mechanicsburg, PA
    Posts
    402
    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Williams View Post
    Same advice you always get, sharp tools and light cuts. Actually the biggest problem is finding straight sections thick enough to handle the 3/8 hole. Also holding a curved section and drilling through the "average center" can be interesting. Some antler comes off in chips. Best to leave a little proud and sand the last bit. It sands and polishes easy.
    I've done a bunch of these in antler.

    Drilling is the challenge for sure. I've found turning pretty easy with many different tools.

    Please use good breathing protection. And smell protection for that matter.

    And, nice looking pens here!!!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Centerville Indiana
    Posts
    80
    I am glad I found this thread, I have made 5 with PSI Kits and all 5 the tip of the pen needs to come out a tad bit farther. I was wondering if anyone else is having this issue?
    I see in Riches picture his one that shows the tip out looks fine. In the 5 that I have made I dropped a BB in before the ink cartridge and that works great.

  9. I've made 4 of these with kits from PSI as well, but have had no issues with the tips not coming out far enough.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Manistique, Michigan
    Posts
    1,367
    Jerry,

    It seems like maybe your pen body is longer than it needs to be - maybe longer the tube? I have had a couple where I had to trim off due to blow out from drillling the blank and ended up trimming the tube a bit. This made the pen stick out further than I like, but it was ok.

    One other issue I had was one pen pressed together very hard. The tip mushroomed slightly - enough so the tip of the pen would not protrude and the bolt would not lock. I took a tip from another kit and it worked fine. Now I use that mushroomed tip for pressing all of my pens together so that I wont mushroom a tip again. I think the real issue was the tube probably had glue left in it, making it press together harder.
    Thank you,

    Rich Aldrich

    65 miles SE of Steve Schlumpf.

    "To a pessimist, the glass is half empty; to an optimist, the glass is half full; to an engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be." Unknown author



  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Centerville Indiana
    Posts
    80
    If it keep happening I could ever so slightly trim the tube making the overall all pen slightly shorter.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Manistique, Michigan
    Posts
    1,367
    Measure the body with a caliper after assembled. It should be 1.97" long. (the dimension is on the drawing in the instructions)
    Thank you,

    Rich Aldrich

    65 miles SE of Steve Schlumpf.

    "To a pessimist, the glass is half empty; to an optimist, the glass is half full; to an engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be." Unknown author



  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Inver Grove Heights, MN
    Posts
    798
    I suspect that as has been mentioned your blank is a little too long. I have done 90 to 100 of this pen and not had a problem with length. I do trim until I see brass savings from the tube.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Centerville Indiana
    Posts
    80
    ok, I eyeball it and get what I feel is right at the end of the tube as felt if I see shavings I maybe in trouble.... I also will check the 1.97 thanks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •