Noob issues with threads on first bespoke fountain pen

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DMacinID

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Oct 10, 2022
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Meridian, ID
Hey Folks,

I'm new to this forum, so please let me know if this was addressed elsewhere (I did look but didn't find anything) or, if this belongs in a specific category.

Having made quite a few pens with kits, I've made the jump to bespoke, and now I'm struggling.

Whether it's the M13x.75 tap & die for the cap, or the M10x.75 for the section, the threads in the female section are very thin, and the subsequent hole is too large for it's male counterpart.

I've tried adjusting the original drilled hole smaller, but that didn't solve it.

My next thought was that I just have crappy tas and dies. Possible? Shouldn't even less expensive ones ($25-$35) cut threads on parts that work together?

I've been struggling with this for awhile, and hopeful that someone here has some sagacious wisdom regarding what I might be doing wrong...


- DMac
 
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So many possibilities... questions to maybe narrow the problem down
- what size are the holes you drill for the female thread?
- what lubricant are you using?
- what material are you trying to thread?
 
Fred Bruche said:
So many possibilities... questions to maybe narrow the problem down
- what size are the holes you drill for the female thread?
- what lubricant are you using?
- what material are you trying to thread?
Click to expand...
Hey Fred,

Thanks for lending a hand.

For the M10 I pre-drilled 11/32". For the M13 the link is found said 11.75mm, which I didn't have so I went smaller (11.5) thinking that would also help improve the fit.

For lubricant, I've tried it both dry, as well as with 3-in-1 oil.

The material is ebonite.


- DMac
 
DMacinID said:
Hey Fred,

Thanks for lending a hand.

For the M10 I pre-drilled 11/32". For the M13 the link is found said 11.75mm, which I didn't have so I went smaller (11.5) thinking that would also help improve the fit.

For lubricant, I've tried it both dry, as well as with 3-in-1 oil.

The material is ebonite.


- DMac
Click to expand...
The good news is that your problems seem easily fixable...
The bad news is you would need to invest in a few things...

For M10, invest in a 9 mm drill bit (23/64 should do it too).
For M13, invest in a 31/64 drill bit.
For lubrication, the minimum would be to invest in dish soap and water. There are a few more expensive solutions, the one I use is from BeaufortInk. Dry is for sure a no-no!
I do not have a lot of experience with Ebonite but the above should do the trick or at least help by a bunch.
 
I think your drill size is too small.
M10x.75 Letter U drill
M13x.75 12.25mm drill

Been a rough day here so my memory may be a bit cloudy.
 
Fred Bruche said:
The good news is that your problems seem easily fixable...
The bad news is you would need to invest in a few things...

For M10, invest in a 9 mm drill bit (23/64 should do it too).
For M13, invest in a 31/64 drill bit.
For lubrication, the minimum would be to invest in dish soap and water. There are a few more expensive solutions, the one I use is from BeaufortInk. Dry is for sure a no-no!
I do not have a lot of experience with Ebonite but the above should do the trick or at least help by a bunch.
Click to expand...
Thanks Fred, I should have those bits already, so will give them a try, as well as some better lubricant.

- DMac
 
rixstix said:
I think your drill size is too small.
M10x.75 Letter U drill
M13x.75 12.25mm drill

Been a rough day here so my memory may be a bit cloudy.
Click to expand...
Hey Rick,

I'll pull out some conversion charts and see if your suggestions are the same as Fred's. If not, I'll try them both, until I get some6that works.

Really not sure why this is proving so difficult...

- DMac
 
Fred Bruche said:
The suggestions are practically not the same but definitely go in the same direction ;)
Click to expand...
Hey Fred,

I tried your drill sizes first, and it looks like that was the main issue.

After getting the body drilled and tapped perfectly, I dropped it and broke the tenon
LOL. I've now dubbed this project "the gift that was never meant to be..."

BUT, not giving up!!!

Thanks again for the guidance.

I'll post pics once I finally get it completed.


- DMac
 
As an Aside, MSC sells Odd size drill bits in both metric and fractional sizes. I use a 12.3mm bit for some blanks.
https://www.mscdirect.com/ Look in their "Catalogs", "Big Book" it is easier than going through the web pages. You will learn more than you ever wanted to know about drill bits. I once scored a 115 piece set of Chicago-Latrobe bits for only $130.
 
randyrls said:
As an Aside, MSC sells Odd size drill bits in both metric and fractional sizes. I use a 12.3mm bit for some blanks.
https://www.mscdirect.com/ Look in their "Catalogs", "Big Book" it is easier than going through the web pages. You will learn more than you ever wanted to know about drill bits. I once scored a 115 piece set of Chicago-Latrobe bits for only $130.
Click to expand...
Hey Randy,

Thanks for the tip! I currently have the two Fisch brad point sets (Metric and Imperial), but I'm stoked to know there is a place to get the in-between ones.

I'll have to honest, I occasionally scratch my head when someone says, "Just use a 12.3, or 12.75 bit.", wondering where the heck would I find THAT!

Now I know. :)


- DMac
 
DMacinID said:
I'll have to honest, I occasionally scratch my head when someone says, "Just use a 12.3, or 12.75 bit.", wondering where the heck would I find THAT.
- DMac
Click to expand...

Many folks have a full set of bits which includes all the number, letter & fractional sizes which covers most of those calculated values.
 
DMacinID said:
Hey Fred,

I tried your drill sizes first, and it looks like that was the main issue.

After getting the body drilled and tapped perfectly, I dropped it and broke the tenon
LOL. I've now dubbed this project "the gift that was never meant to be..."

BUT, not giving up!!!

Thanks again for the guidance.

I'll post pics once I finally get it completed.


- DMac
Click to expand...
Finally got it done (thanks in no small part to Fred!)

Hopefully either the link or the attached pic work for anyone interested. I know there are a ton of issues, but any thoughts/critiques/advice would be warmly welcomed!

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DMacinID said:
... I occasionally scratch my head when someone says, "Just use a 12.3, or 12.75 bit.", wondering where the heck would I find THAT!
Click to expand...

MSC Direct is one of several sources. Others are McMaster-Carr and Grainger - and the one I turn to most often for metric taps/dies and drill bits: Victor Machinery Exchange.

The hypothetical downside to Victor is there's a $25 minimum (it's never been a problem!)
 
duncsuss said:
MSC Direct is one of several sources. Others are McMaster-Carr and Grainger - and the one I turn to most often for metric taps/dies and drill bits: Victor Machinery Exchange.

The hypothetical downside to Victor is there's a $25 minimum (it's never been a problem!)
Click to expand...

Duncan; Yes; All those are all good choices. The only reason I normally use MSC is they have a full warehouse about 30 minutes from me that I can order from and do a "will pickup" order, and go get in an hour or two IF it is stock. (These days you never know.)

Take care my friend.
 
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