Superb pen and kit! Thanks for sharing.
I've done this in both and also the jr gents. The diamond knurl is definitely easier to disassemble only you have to turn the center band to finished size and part it off because of the plating on the metal. After doing several Band-It sets I like how I can just turn it down to size on the center band and not worry about the finished size before I part it off and can't change it afterwards, like on the diamond knurl. They take about the same amount of time. I think it's just what you get used to doing. I also like to do the finial on to complete the look on the Jr's and Band-It.
The band-it is definitely geared towards an inlay process. It would be next to impossible to use that process on a standard diamond knurl without damaging the platings. Plating issue aside it would be extremely difficult to inlay the standard diamond knurl since there's no defined channel.
Yes, with the diamond knurl rollerball and Jr's you have to turn the piece completely down to size and then install it. There's no turning it on the metal center band piece. They are much thinner but very doable.
I definitely wouldn't want to mess with turning something glued onto a regular DK and scrape up (or off) the plating. My thought was with a band that didn't specifically use inlay material, because you have to make the custom band, cut it, then glue it back together in the channel on the band-it. John probably does a lot cleaner job than I would of that, though. If you prefer to use stainless, this is the way to go unless a stainless version becomes available in the standard DK version.
Oh, I've done a few. My comment was just that, if you weren't filling the band in the band-it pen, It seems it would be easier to just use the DK rollerball. Don't get me wrong, I'm not being critical. I'm very impressed with what you have done on the band-it pens you have shown (including the videos) (and pretty much all of your blanks and pens).
Can you share any tips or tricks on how to press the Diamond Knurl center band apart without damaging the plating? I've watched an old YouTube by Lynn Lacey (2016) on making custom center bands, but the center band assembly he had just slipped right apart. The Diamond Knurls I have feel like the center band is pressed together really tightly and are not likely to come apart without some kind of fixture or something. - Dave
The Diamond Knurl Rollerballs I have just slide apart, but the Jr's are pressed tightly together. To disassemble them I place them upside down. Then I drill a hole in a piece of corion that just slips over the chrom edge and rests on the thin gold center band. Then I tap the corion down the band, moving the gold center band and lower chrome ring done the center of the assembly. It will slide off easily after you tap it down the assembly. After I make the new ring, I slip it all back on and press it gently together as I assemble the pen. Just make sure your custom center piece is a little loose or it could crack.
Thanks John. - Dave
Cool. I never thought about those coming apart.
