Apollo pen gets a clip!

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mikeschn

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Jan 6, 2016
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Lake Orion, MI
Hey Guys,

I know some of you are making Apollo pens from Bullseye... do you ever wish it had a clip? I do, or I should say, I did! This morning I experimented with adding a clip to the Apollo. Besides the clip, it also required making a set screw M8x0.75 and a finial. This one happens to have a hole in it. I could plug it maybe, by making a longer set screw, and sanding it flush with the finial. What do you guys think?

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On Facebook Marc Werner suggested just using a tenon and pressing it in. Seems to me that would work also!

Here's the Facebook group... I'm sure Kate would love to have you!

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Mike...
 
mikeschn said:
On Facebook Marc Werner suggested just using a tenon and pressing it in. Seems to me that would work also!

Here's the Facebook group... I'm sure Kate would love to have you!

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Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.
www.facebook.com www.facebook.com

Mike...
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I Believe I'm already a member there, but I rarely use facebook
 
That look great! One thought - could you have made the finial w/o the hole in the top and then just screwed it on top of the set screw? I think given the current finial I would, as you mentioned, make a longer set screw and sand flush. I think once it's polished up the black set screw sanded flush would look good with the blue.
 
Hey @InkyMike

Hindsight is always 20/20. I was not planning on making a finial out of that blue blank. So Kate's instructions say to cut the blank for the cap to 2.5" long (I cheat, I cut it to 2.625"). Then I drilled a hole all the way through for the M8 set screw... Then Kate said, cut your cap down to 2.25" long. So I did, and let the scraps fly where they will.

A short while later I said, I need a finial. Hey wait, where did that 3/8" piece of scrap fly to? I found it, and it became my finial.

Next time I won't drill the hole all the way through! Haha!

Mike...
 
Excellent modifications. I have two Apollo kits waiting for some shop time, but looking at the instructions am wondering why this was designed so complicated. I get the steps and they are manageable, but I have made closed end pens before, and this seems a bit overkill. Maybe I'll understand better after I get around to turning it.
 
mikeschn said:
Hey @InkyMike

Hindsight is always 20/20. I was not planning on making a finial out of that blue blank. So Kate's instructions say to cut the blank for the cap to 2.5" long (I cheat, I cut it to 2.625"). Then I drilled a hole all the way through for the M8 set screw... Then Kate said, cut your cap down to 2.25" long. So I did, and let the scraps fly where they will.

A short while later I said, I need a finial. Hey wait, where did that 3/8" piece of scrap fly to? I found it, and it became my finial.

Next time I won't drill the hole all the way through! Haha!

Mike...
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AH - gotcha. Like @mark james I have one of these ready to turn - I just haven't got to it yet. Sounds like there is a step or two that could be consolidated if one wants to go this route. I do think the black will look good sanded flush and polished - or - you could even put a slight dome on it
 
rixstix said:
Why not thread a finial tenon from blank leftovers or other attractive blank & eliminate the setscrew?

What you've done is attractive in itself. :)
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Well, the setscrew was turned from alumilite, but it could have been turned from anything in the garbage can. And yes, whatever it takes to make the pen pretty... especially if it pokes through the finial!
 
InkyMike said:
AH - gotcha. Like @mark james I have one of these ready to turn - I just haven't got to it yet. Sounds like there is a step or two that could be consolidated if one wants to go this route. I do think the black will look good sanded flush and polished - or - you could even put a slight dome on it
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I like sanding my 10 degree finials on the bench sander... quick and easy, so your idea of a dome would become a 10 degree finial! Haha!

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mark james said:
Excellent modifications. I have two Apollo kits waiting for some shop time, but looking at the instructions am wondering why this was designed so complicated. I get the steps and they are manageable, but I have made closed end pens before, and this seems a bit overkill. Maybe I'll understand better after I get around to turning it.
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Happy to explain if you ever want to get into it lol
 
mikeschn said:
Hey @InkyMike

My first pens were squared off, kinda like this. I like the 10 degree finials better.

P.S. You should add a few photos to your website so I can see what you are making! ;)

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I like the look of that, but I can also see how the 10 degree would look great as well.

As for my website - yeah - I have great aspirations to get that done at some point. I have a bunch posted in the "Show off your pens" forum, and also on my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/MJBPens
 
InkyMike said:
I like the look of that, but I can also see how the 10 degree would look great as well.

As for my website - yeah - I have great aspirations to get that done at some point. I have a bunch posted in the "Show off your pens" forum, and also on my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/MJBPens
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Hey @InkyMike

I made a pen with squared off ends today... I see your point! The squared off ends look good too! ha!

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