Pen Press: Try to fix or toss?

[naynay]

I like this pen press. It's simple to use and doesn't take up much space. I have a small storage space I turn pens in then take them inside to press together. It's hit or miss but I'm tired of the tips getting small dents in them. If I plug the small hole with epoxy, you think this will stop the denting of pen tips? I used clamps when I first started turning then found this WEN pen press that I've used but tired of the every once in a while a tip gets bent. Not a good look. Here is what the cup looks like where the tip sits. I was going to fill it with epoxy but thought I'd inquire here. Again, space is at a premium so I can't set up a vice like I've seen in youtube videos. and I like to assemble pens inside after turning which is why I don't get the rubber cups for my lathe.

 

[randyrls]

A Pen press has a HUGE mechanical advantage and you can easily press too hard on the blank. I use a woodworkers vise with wood jaw covers to press in fittings. It gives me a good "feel" on how hard I am pressing.

You should not have to use excessive force on the pen nib to seat it. I suspect you want to take a 1/8" drill bit and drill the center of the nylon piece a bit deeper. The tip of the pen nib should not bottom out. The bearing surface should be on the sides of the nib.

Best Practices:
Clear out any glue or gunk on the inside of the brass tube. It has to be clean!
Use a camphering tool to put a bevel on the inside of the brass tube. This reduces the force needed to seat the nib. I campher every brass tube end.

 

[montmill]

I've done the same thing. I covered the end with a felt pad like you put on the legs of a chair. As has been suggested, go easy.

 

[greenacres2]

@randyrls is on the mark, but if you still want to eliminate that divot--a piece of 3/4" thick hardwood could be stood on the base between the nib and the pen press. Fancy solution, since you have a lathe--make piece of wood 2" or so in diameter, and hollow the backside the same as the diameter of that white thing, leaving 1/4" of so thickness. That would allow you use it when needed, remove it if you need to for some rason.

Edit--@montmill solution is even better, and much faster than mine!!

 

[cozee]

My wife will attest to my passion for tools of all kinds. When it comes to pen turning there are no exceptions, usually. I have tired a couple pen presses over the years but they usually get covered with dust from not being used. I always go back to what works for me, one of my drill presses. I keep Delrin stock on hand so I turned myself a couple soft-faced pieces over the years along with one of my "drilling aids" (piece of 2x4) I have laying around and viola, my drill press becomes an arbor press. I use a deburing tool to clean up the inside of the tube ends and this also creates a slight taper which aid with the parts aligning easier and more quickly for and during insertion. I also found that for me, maintaining parts alignment is easier in a vertical position than a horizontal one. Excuse my mess, been busy and haven't cleaned.

 

[Woodchipper]

I found that I was cracking CA coatings. It was due to excess CA glue...removed it with sandpaper and moving the blank in a figure 8 pattern. Yes, not a lot of pressure to insert a nib or transmission, etc.

 

[egnald]

I have a similar style pen press and the dimple sometimes caused deformation (marks) on the nib/tips of my kits - especially visible with shiny finishes like chrome and gold. It also seems like it happened on Cigar style pens more than it did on other kits.

To fix it I did what Earl (greenacres2) suggested, I made sleeves out of HDPE to slip over the ends of the press. I did both ends, one side to eliminate the "dimple" and the other side to provide an HDPE surface to press against instead of the aluminum piston. I also made one with a 31/64" inch recess drilled into it to accommodate the rounded top on Sierra/Gatsby type pens to help hold things square while pressing. Here is a link to the thread "New UHMW Sleeves for my PSI Pen Assembly/Disassembly Press" that has some pictures.

Dave

 

[naynay]

I clean the tubes inside very well so I know that's not the problem. I go slow but the slimline tips still have a casualty now and then and I want to eliminate them entirely. I tried drilling out the hole more but ended up drilling through the cap. I'll try putting a small piece of wood over it to prevent the tip from going into the hole. Such a simple issue ruining work I put into pens.

 

[WriteON]

I've done the same thing. I covered the end with a felt pad like you put on the legs of a chair. As has been suggested, go easy.

This is it. The last pen I pressed the tip got slightly distorted...had to gently filed with a round file. Also the "cup" marred the finish. It's felt pad time.