My first CA pens - Vertex magnetic rollerballs

[jschoolcraft]

Started with 5 and finished with 3. One rosewood wood body I lost a tiny chip by the tip when I switched to the skew. I had another green resin and that one had rapid unscheduled disassembly. The walls are so thin on this pen.

Finished with GluBoost, micro mesh and PlastX.

 

[egnald]

Great looking pens. - Dave

 

[jschoolcraft]

Great looking pens. - Dave

Thanks!

 

[wolf creek knives]

Good choice on the kit. Shows the total pen blank without the clip. Nice work!

 

[jschoolcraft]

Good choice on the kit. Shows the total pen blank without the clip. Nice work!

Thanks!

 

[DesertCanyon]

Great job! I love this kit, and I have found out the hard way as well that the walls are very thin on the ends.

 

[jschoolcraft]

Great job! I love this kit, and I have found out the hard way as well that the walls are very thin on the ends.

Thanks!

Yeah, incredibly thin. Makes me question how big a blank I want to use on these kits because we're talking a wall thickness (at least on the ends) of no more than 1mm. Between that and a 10.5mm tube I'd be surprised if you end up with more than 10% of the total blank in the final pen.

 

[egnald]

I agree with you about the blank size and the length as well. If you like the magnetic cap style of the Vertex but want to feature a little more of the blank (lengthwise), take a look at the Eco Zen, from Exotic Blanks as a possible alternative. It still has a 10.5mm diameter tube, but it is 3-11/32" inch long, nearly an inch longer than the Vertex. Then there is also the Magnetic Graduate which is another favorite of mine. It is similar in function to the Vertex and Zen with a magnetic cap, but the cap is turned as well showing off another 1-11/16" inch of the blank and if you prefer the Vertex style, the Vertex Supreme is similar with its turned cap. - Dave

 

[jschoolcraft]

Thanks Dave, I appreciate the recommendations.