I took your advice and fitted a nib which imediatelly high lighted a problem I have not drilled the cap deep enough if I screwed the cap on it would bend the nib. Hmm also there is a problem with the section thread connecting to the pen body. They can be fixed but you were right. I can see how the issues can be corrected and avoided next time. Cheers.
Take some comfort in the fact that you are not alone in this. I speak from experience.
I know it can be a little frustrating at first, especially when you spend so much time working on it. It seems like there’s always something that goes wrong and when you try to fix it then it impacts something else. I still have marks on my workshop wall where pieces of resin/pen hit it at very high speed…
However you’re obviously very close and once you get the mechanics figured out (internal diameters/depths and threads) then you can figure out the externals (length, size and shape).
There is always a stage during my pen making process where I have the cap and barrel drilled and threaded, and the section drilled, threaded and turned down to the correct diameter (but not shaped). Then I add the nib and converter and screw it together to make sure it assembles properly. So at this point it is, in theory, a working pen but it just looks like a blank when it’s screwed together. The shaping is the last thing I do.
I recommend you do the same so you don’t waste time shaping something that may end up being put aside due to issues. Also it’s easier to re-mount a component that is still effectively a blank (round and thick) if you need to re-drill it compared to a thinner piece that has been shaped already.
Also consider what I said about cutting things in half (lengthways) and having a good look inside. Maybe not with your first ever pen, but don’t be afraid to do it with other iterations. It will save you a ton of work I promise you. For example with your current issue of the nib hitting the cap you could take a blank, drill it out for the cap, (don’t bother threading it) and cut it down the middle. Then align the pen with the nib inserted against it to see if you have clearance (depth and width) and what changes you may need to make. You could do it with a piece of scrap wood for example. Then once you get it right keep that template for future reference as you may change something on your pen design and you can hold it against your template to see if it has any material affect. It’s a really useful visual guide.
Keep going!
Cheers
Ash
