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Kits with decent wall thickness - steampunk/watchpart pens

Math16

Apprentice Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2019
Posts
13
Location
Northamptonshire
First Name
Mathew
Hi all

Long time lurker but first time poster.

I am looking for pen kits with a substantial wall thickness mainly for watch part pens. I have scoured the forums using the search function and taylor murfields zeta came up which i will look into.

I would also like a traditional ballpoint/rollerball with a removable cap. The statesman seems to be popular but i simply dont have the disposable income to be putting £30 into a pen kit.

Can anyone recommend any other kits?

Any helps is greatly appreciated
 

Morse

Graduate Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2016
Posts
679
Location
Cheshire. UK
First Name
Dave
Welcome Mathew.
Bammer will probably be able to help more than me, as he makes watch part pens.
In the past he’s used the Beaufort Mistral, from Beaufortinks.co.uk
Have a look on their site.

Dave
 

Math16

Apprentice Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2019
Posts
13
Location
Northamptonshire
First Name
Mathew
Welcome Mathew.
Bammer will probably be able to help more than me, as he makes watch part pens.
In the past he’s used the Beaufort Mistral, from Beaufortinks.co.uk
Have a look on their site.

Dave

I recognise the kit now i have looked at it. Im sure there were a few finished examples of it when i was looking through the past threads!

The cost is slightly more palatable as well. I just cant justify £30+. £20 is a push but not as bad.

I had never looked at beaforts kits in all honesty. I wanted to use them for fountain pen nibs but they dont stock jowo so started buying elsewhere and importing. Looks like i have missed a trick and need to revisit their site.

Thank you for your help and warm welcome!
 

flexi

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,159
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
I have done Cigar pens, Zen (imported from US) and all sorts of jnr Gents....they can all work just remember your thicknesses, when you make them think where you are going to put the parts.....thinnest to the ends and maybe thicker to the middle....20170420_173757.jpg, Zen pen blank
 

Math16

Apprentice Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2019
Posts
13
Location
Northamptonshire
First Name
Mathew
I have done Cigar pens, Zen (imported from US) and all sorts of jnr Gents....they can all work just remember your thicknesses, when you make them think where you are going to put the parts.....thinnest to the ends and maybe thicker to the middle....View attachment 39703, Zen pen blank

Thanks Mark.

I have loads of small cogs that are barely 1mm thick and suited to most pens which i have drying up on a TM Ares at the moment but i want to bend all the other watch parts i have which are quite a bit thicker. I dont mind the pens having a slightly raised turned section but dont want it to look abnormal.

The picture you posted sure is interesting. A lot of space to work on! Works well.

I normally work on hybrid pens with wood or honeycomb etc so watch parts are a new venture! Once i have some pen kits capable of taking the bigger stuff i will need to find a decent metal u channel dapping block as well. The small stuff has been fine on hardwood grooves i cut but i cant see thicker pieces working especially if i have to add heat!
 

Morse

Graduate Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2016
Posts
679
Location
Cheshire. UK
First Name
Dave
Hi Mathew.
Just remembered, Bammer did a few watch blanks for the Sierra, Sirroco/Zephyr kits.

Dave
 

Attachments

  • 81392744-7A89-4DB0-BFB1-A8057B26A493.jpg
    81392744-7A89-4DB0-BFB1-A8057B26A493.jpg
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Math16

Apprentice Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2019
Posts
13
Location
Northamptonshire
First Name
Mathew
Hi Mathew.
Just remembered, Bammer did a few watch blanks for the Sierra, Sirroco/Zephyr kits.

Dave
Wow thats stunning. Not only in design but the quality of the watch parts. Beautiful design. I need to look into these kits. It appears i have overlooked quite a few!
 

flexi

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,159
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
Bammer and a few others on here are the casting experts....I use the pre made blanks, but do know how to choose the right kit.....one thing Banner does which 'NO' one else does is to include the minimum size you can turn to(max protrusion of pieces) I have bought hundreds and lost a few:wink:to being a little heavy handed:vangry::vangry:
 

Bammer

Fellow
Joined
Oct 5, 2015
Posts
1,482
Location
Cambridge
First Name
Brad
I recognise the kit now i have looked at it. Im sure there were a few finished examples of it when i was looking through the past threads!

The cost is slightly more palatable as well. I just cant justify £30+. £20 is a push but not as bad.

I had never looked at beaforts kits in all honesty. I wanted to use them for fountain pen nibs but they dont stock jowo so started buying elsewhere and importing. Looks like i have missed a trick and need to revisit their site.

Thank you for your help and warm welcome!

The Beaufort Mistral comes with a Beaufort nib, very smooth and far superior to JoWo in my opinion.

They also stock Bock nibs again far superior to JoWo

As for kits for steampunk, any of them can be done. All down to your skill and craftsmanship. I wouldn't bother with a slimline though, the return will not be worth it for the work you are going to put in. Check out my post.

Brad
 

Math16

Apprentice Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2019
Posts
13
Location
Northamptonshire
First Name
Mathew
The Beaufort Mistral comes with a Beaufort nib, very smooth and far superior to JoWo in my opinion.

They also stock Bock nibs again far superior to JoWo

As for kits for steampunk, any of them can be done. All down to your skill and craftsmanship. I wouldn't bother with a slimline though, the return will not be worth it for the work you are going to put in. Check out my post.

Brad
Yet to try beauforts nibs. Will look into it.

Im a big jowo fan as i have quite a few twsbi's. Yet to try bock but am told they are scratchier and not as smooth. Only one way to find out!

I will crack on experimenting with different kits. Got an ares curing as we speak as a first dabble into watch part pens.
 
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