Celtic mechanism broke...how do i get apart

[Cabanamancan]

The title really does say it all....I was trying to make a unique pen for my sister and as I was pushing the mechanism in on the press I didnt realize it was so close to the center hole on my press (which honestly I dont like it there it puts a ring on the tip but that will be another days thread) it slipped into the hole as I pressed and totally ruined the twist on part. How do I get a pen apart and where can I get just the part I need??

 

[qquake]

I'm confused. Why were you pressing on the twist mechanism? It screws into the clip assembly. You press the clip assembly into the body then screw the twist mechanism into it. It shows this clearly in the instructions. If you pressed hard enough onto the twist mechanism to ruin the top of it like that, you probably ruined the threads, too. Can you unscrew the mechanism with pliers?

https://www.pennstateind.com/library/PKCPENXX_INS.pdf

 

[WriteON]

Contact PSI for twists. They might sell them.

 

[qquake]

Did I scare the OP away?

 

[duncsuss]

You should be able to disassemble this model by unscrewing the tip from the tip coupler then use a transfer punch & mallet/hammer to tap the clip assembly out of the opposite end.

That said ... as qquake pointed out, pressing the parts in with the transmission screwed into the clip assembly is asking for trouble.

And what kind of press are you using that damages the pen parts you are assembling? It should be really easy to fix that - if you can take it apart and either replace the face that presses against the parts, or put it on the lathe and face it off. If you can't take it apart, make something that fits into that hole (turn a short tenon the diameter and depth of the hole) that has a flat face with a tiny dimple in the center (just so you can see if you've got the parts aligned.)

 

[qquake]

I've always pressed with my drill press. I never saw a reason to have a dedicated press. I have a piece of Delrin that I turned, that goes into the chuck. It has a flat face. I have a piece of UHMW to press against. It has a series of holes to put the tips in. Early on, I discovered that pressing against the very end of the tip, can misshape them.

 

[duncsuss]

Early on, I discovered that pressing against the very end of the tip, can misshape them.

In my experience, if you have to press so hard it deforms the tip, it will also crack the pen barrel.

 

[penicillin]

I use the SawDust Bros. Lathe pen press adapters (MT2 only):

SawDust Bros. Lathe Pen Press Adapters #2 MT | Woodcraft

Buy the Lathe Pen Press Adapters #2 MT for sale online from Woodcraft. Visit us to order online or find your local Woodcraft store today!

www.woodcraft.com

The two parts are identical, except that one has a hole. I assume that the hole is intended to press in pen tips. When I first used it, I dented the sides of the pen tip. From that point on, I always use the non-hole side for the part that will be pressed into the pen.

I only dented one pen tip, and changing to the non-hole side for pressing parts has worked perfectly for me. It is important to make sure the pen part is perfectly straight and aligned as you press it in, but that's true for any kind of pen press.

I have used a few different pen presses over time, and I like the SawDust Bros lathe version the best. It is simple, basic, convenient, reliable, and small.

 

[KenB259]

Although the press I have is different than yours, it also has a hole in one. I made an oak sleeve that slides over it. If I don't want the hole, I just slide on the sleeve.

 

[magpens]

@penicillin

Thanks for showing the above pen press arbors .... the working surfaces appear concave .... is that the case actually ?

 

[penicillin]

@penicillin

Thanks for showing the above pen press arbors .... the working surfaces actually appear concave .... is that the case actually ?

Yes. They are slightly concave, like a very shallow, rounded cone. They help guide the part to the exact center of the press. It works well for me.

 

[qquake]

Still no OP?