I've been assembling pens for several years and recently have developed a
problem that I cannot figure out. When pressing the top portion of the pen
onto the bottom, if I go so far as to have the decorative ring of the top
part cover the screw mechanism of the bottom part, the mechanism binds and
will not turn. The decorative part on the bottom side of the top appears to
be centered properly, but binds nevertheless. I buy my pen parts from Craft
supplies the one I'm presently using is the Americana style, so assume they
should be good. My lathe -- a Jet mini -- appears to be centered properly,
but with the close tolerance we're talking about, it would be hard to see if
it were off a hair. As I said, looking at the finished product, the
decorative ring does seem to be centered. If I press the top only to where
it just touches the screw portion located on the bottom part it works OK,
just does not look good. Would appreciate any suggestions.

Herb Robinson wrote:
I've been assembling pens for several years and recently have developed a
problem that I cannot figure out. When pressing the top portion of the pen
onto the bottom, if I go so far as to have the decorative ring of the top
part cover the screw mechanism of the bottom part, the mechanism binds and
will not turn. The decorative part on the bottom side of the top appears to
be centered properly, but binds nevertheless. I buy my pen parts from Craft
supplies the one I'm presently using is the Americana style, so assume they
should be good. My lathe -- a Jet mini -- appears to be centered properly,
but with the close tolerance we're talking about, it would be hard to see if
it were off a hair. As I said, looking at the finished product, the
decorative ring does seem to be centered. If I press the top only to where
it just touches the screw portion located on the bottom part it works OK,
just does not look good. Would appreciate any suggestions.



When I've had this problem it was because the end of one of the barrels
were not "perfectly" perpendicular to the pen tube. Using a pen mill to
true up the ends cured the problem.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA

Herb Robinson wrote:
I've been assembling pens for several years and recently have developed a
problem that I cannot figure out. When pressing the top portion of the pen
onto the bottom, if I go so far as to have the decorative ring of the top
part cover the screw mechanism of the bottom part, the mechanism binds and
will not turn. The decorative part on the bottom side of the top appears to
be centered properly, but binds nevertheless. I buy my pen parts from Craft
supplies the one I'm presently using is the Americana style, so assume they
should be good. My lathe -- a Jet mini -- appears to be centered properly,
but with the close tolerance we're talking about, it would be hard to see if
it were off a hair. As I said, looking at the finished product, the
decorative ring does seem to be centered. If I press the top only to where
it just touches the screw portion located on the bottom part it works OK,
just does not look good. Would appreciate any suggestions.


On the rec.woodworking you said that the problem is with Americana pens.
I had this problem with one too. After reading the instructions (not
my normal work flow) I noticed they state to test fit the upper barrel
after pressing on the trim ring and removing some internal barrel
material with a file if it is not a LOOSE fit. The area with the trim
ring has to rotate around the mechanism without binding. Since I
started checking them I find about 75% need some filing to open them up.
It appears that pressing the trim ring onto the barrel causes the
barrel to loose some diameter and if there was any glue or such left on
the barrel to start with it will be to small to clear the mechanism.

Bill B

On Tue, 16 Oct 2007 10:48:30 -0700, "Herb Robinson" wrote:

I've been assembling pens for several years and recently have developed a
problem that I cannot figure out. When pressing the top portion of the pen
onto the bottom, if I go so far as to have the decorative ring of the top
part cover the screw mechanism of the bottom part, the mechanism binds and
will not turn. The decorative part on the bottom side of the top appears to
be centered properly, but binds nevertheless. I buy my pen parts from Craft
supplies the one I'm presently using is the Americana style, so assume they
should be good. My lathe -- a Jet mini -- appears to be centered properly,
but with the close tolerance we're talking about, it would be hard to see if
it were off a hair. As I said, looking at the finished product, the
decorative ring does seem to be centered. If I press the top only to where
it just touches the screw portion located on the bottom part it works OK,
just does not look good. Would appreciate any suggestions.

If your talking "Americana Classic" or whatever, I've been having the same
problem..
I really don't like this kit as instead of the band riding on a tenon, it rides
on the surface of the part that's pressed into the top of the "bottom" pen
body..

I noticed that 1 problem was that my tenon didn't exactly match the part that
the band rotates on, it seemed out of round.. good trick, on a lathe..
I re-centered the headstock, rotated the bushings, tried another set of
bushings, etc.. no help and very frustrating..
I tried blaming myself for too much tool pressure, but after screwing up 5 pens
I knew that it was something else..
Tried a new shaft for the pen mandrel, no help..
Gave up for a while and turned a couple of dozen pens of assorted styles and
they were fine!
I checked the pen parts with a micrometer and they SEEM round, so I just decided
to not order any more of those kits..

On the remaining ones, (I ordered 50 kits), I cut the tenon wider and let the
band be just touching the bottom enough to cover the "problem" part and that
works... But like you said, if I do it according to instructions, the pen stops
rotating smoothly if the band is pressed down over the bottom body ring, or
whatever you call it..
I pretty much gave up and blamed it on bad pen design, rather that on my turning
skills..lol


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing