New jig from Rick - easier pen clips

[duncsuss]

For a few years I've been making pen clips for my pens from stainless steel plate, and the trickiest part has been getting the bends right. Sometimes there would be a crease (I want a smooth radiused curve, not a fold), sometimes the bend would not be square and I'd end up with a clip that leans off to one side.

I had a couple of ideas for a jig to help with both issues and messaged @rherrell about it. He came up with an even better idea (and made it).

Here are some pix of the steps I take - from marking out the blanks, the rough cut outs, shaping, and finally using the jig to make the bends.

 

[thewishman]

Nice tool! Is the bar on the right to put the recurve into the bottom of the clip?

 

[NJturner]

Clips are on my list of things to figure out - looking at your pictures, can you give us some details on how you punched the holes and did the rough shaping as well? My goal is to make as much of my pens as I can, so clips are something I can construct if its not a deep cash commitment. I buy them from Beaufort now.

 

[duncsuss]

Nice tool! Is the bar on the right to put the recurve into the bottom of the clip?

Exactly - put the end of the clip on the slot, wedge tight with shims (I used feeler gauge blades), and bend against the round bar.

Rick is going to make a half-round bar for it so I can get the bend closer to the end of the clip.

 

[duncsuss]

Clips are on my list of things to figure out - looking at your pictures, can you give us some details on how you punched the holes and did the rough shaping as well? My goal is to make as much of my pens as I can, so clips are something I can construct if its not a deep cash commitment. I buy them from Beaufort now.

The holes are drilled, not punched. I have a bench-top drill press. I use a center drill bit (HarborFright) to get started, then a step-drill (Amazon). I touch the next step up against the edge of the hole to remove any bur (and when I've done the whole row of holes I flip it over and de-bur the other side.)

Cutting out: I use a portable band saw (HarborFright) mounted on a SWAG Offroad "Portaband" platform, which turns it into a mini benchtop metal band saw.

 

[NJturner]

The holes are drilled, not punched. I have a bench-top drill press. I use a center drill bit (HarborFright) to get started, then a step-drill (Amazon). I touch the next step up against the edge of the hole to remove any bur (and when I've done the whole row of holes I flip it over and de-bur the other side.)

Cutting out: I use a portable band saw (HarborFright) mounted on a SWAG Offroad "Portaband" platform, which turns it into a mini benchtop metal band saw.

Thank you for the detail! I didn't realise you were drilling - it looked punched! The small band saw is a great idea - way easier than hand cutting for sure!
Great work!
Kevin

 

[duncsuss]

Thank you for the detail! I didn't realise you were drilling - it looked punched! The small band saw is a great idea - way easier than hand cutting for sure!
Great work!
Kevin

I cut out a few by hand when I first started making clips. If I hadn't gotten a tip about the SWAG table, I would most likely have gone back to buying them ready made.