Pen blanks for "what"?

[Matts]

So, I'm new to this...recently picked up a small lathe and getting some practice in. Picked up a large box of pen blanks at an estate sale (owners not available)...lots of nice wood cut to length and tubed. They still need the ends trimmed flush.
Half are paired, 7mm tubes and approximately 2" in length. I've found these should work with Slimline type pens.
The other half have me puzzled...
7mm tubes, one section approximately 2.4", the other section approximately 2.16".
I went to Penn State Industries and looked through all the different pen styles since they show all the dimensions on the website, but could not find one that used these dimensions. Nor could I find a single section pen kit for these...
If anyone knows what the owner had in mind for kits, I'd surely appreciate the information.
Thanks,
Matt

 

[jcm71]

Try a Father Sing.

 

[Matts]

Thanks...I'll look into that...

 

[magpens]

I have started a conversation with you . . . further info is contained in that.

Click on the "envelope icon" beside the "bell icon" on the long blue bar above, near the top of the screen

 

[magpens]

By the way . . . .

The Father Sing pen kit is sold mainly by the CSUSA company (and perhaps other companies as well).

For the Father Sing pen kit instructions, if you find that kit is actually the pen kit that you want to make with your blanks,

go to: https://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/

That's the name of the website for the company that we call CSUSA ( Craft Supplies USA ) . . .

. . . I have never understood why the CSUSA company calls their website "woodturnerscatalog" . . . just one of those oddities, I guess.

 

[magpens]

Check the conversation again . . . . I did some editing.

Also . . . .

The Father Sing pen kit description is here :

Artisan Father Sing Pen Kit | Pen Making | Craft Supplies USA

Shopping for Ballpoint Pen Kits, like Artisan Father Sing Pen Kit is easy at Craft Supplies USA. Not only do we offer Ballpoint Pen Kits, we also have a full range of related items for woodturners at exceptional prices.

www.woodturnerscatalog.com

and . . . .

The Father Sing construction instructions are here (in case you might want to refer to them ) :

https://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/docs/father_sing_pen.pdf

 

[Edgar]

Possibly a Designer Twist BP - it has tube lengths of 2.38" & 2.13"

That's an older kit that required turning a tenon at the end of the 2.13" (upper) blank. The newer version is the Designer NT (no tenon) that uses a 2.03" upper tube.

Instructions for both are in the IAP Bushings & Tubes App. Here's a photo:

The Father Sing tubes are a little shorter, but those blanks would work as has been pointed out.

There are also several other kits that would work if you can find them: Surfix (Berea), Oxford (PSI), KC (CSUSA) - those all have a metal upper cap and have a single lower tube that's 2.36" or 2.37" long. The Oxford & KC have been discontinued - not sure about the Surfix.

 

[Edgar]

Just another thought - you could make virtually any slimline, trimline, streamline, etc. with them. Use the shorter blank for the nib end - you will need to seat the transmission just a little bit deeper than with a standard 2.09" slimline tube. Use the longer blank as is for the top - your pen will just be a little longer than a standard slimline which is no problem. You can sand down the longer blank a little while squaring up the ends if you don't like the extra 0.3" length.

You can also use them for any number of single tube projects like key rings, ornaments, letter openers, magnifiers, etc.

 

[Matts]

...a lot of good suggestions...I want to thank you three for replying so quickly with information...it's greatly appreciated!
Mat5