Help removing twist mechanism.

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:47 am

Nothing frustrates me more than having a defective twist mechanism when I have completed a pen. Has anyone discovered an effective way to remove these things. I have so far only been successful at demolishing the rest of the pen and still not removing the mechanism.

[ATTACH]4915[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]4916[/ATTACH]

Thanks for any suggestions
Mark

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:59 am

I am assuming it is glued in with ca. As has been suggested to salvage tubes when turning destroys a blank, soak overnight in acetone. This will not do the finish any good however.

tom_k/mo · Post by **tom_k/mo** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:02 pm

Mark, have you tried a pen dis-assembly tool? I have one and it worked for me. I found out (after pressing the twist mechanism into the tube) that it was manufactured faulty and didn't have the threads cut to screw the pen refill in. The dis-assembly tool has a small rod that you insert THRU the twist mechanism that you use to drive the tip out, once it's removed you have a second rod (7mm dia) that goes in that end and drives the twist mechanism out the other side.

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:05 pm

JPG

The finish is already destroyed on the left one and the wood is cracked on the one on the right. I used debonder while trying to remove but just cant get a good grip even with vice grips. The top of the shaft always breaks before the knurled brass part moves.

Mark

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:08 pm

Tom

Thanks for the advice. I will order one of those right away. Oh and by the way I like the Chuck that followed you home.

Mark

mdwine · Post by **mdwine** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:39 pm

A set of those punches from Harbor Frieght is a tad less expensive, and certainly more useful than that 'dis-assembly' tool!! Those punches work very well!

jbooher · Post by **jbooher** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:47 pm

The only time I have had trouble with the twist mechanism is when I was making pens using 30 06 casings. I had to insert the mechanism deep into the tube. The problem was that the mechanism would bend and then not twist. Most likely there was a burr in the tube so I made desk pen sets with those. To correct the problem I rolled up a piece of 400 grit sandpaper and reamed out the tube. Then used a lubricant when inserting the mechanism.