Fixing A Pen Which Takes A Zillion Turns To Un-Cap

[Precise]

I hate pens which take too many turns to uncap.

 

Having my own shop, I began to think about fixes. I imagined removing the threads and making it into a snap-cap with and O-Ring seal. Then it occurred to me to machine away some threads.

 

My guinea pig was the Kaigelu 316. When it arrived, I was so disgusted with the required 4.7 turns to uncap it that I put it aside without inking it. It took about two minutes in my lathe to remove 0.28" of thread length inside the cap. You can't see what I've done short of looking inside the cap.

 

Happily it now uncaps with just under a single turn. Yay!

 

This is a pic borrowed from the internet. Incidentally, from the smell of the cut threads I'd guess it's acrylic resin.

 

 

Edited September 17, 2015 by Precise

[Precise]

I checked turns to un-cap some other pens:

 

Duke D191 = 0.5 turns

Jinhao 159 = 0.8 turns

MB149, Pelikan M800, Delta Horsepower, Duke Mentor = 1.0 turns

Rosetta Coronado = 1.3 turns

Pilot Custom 823 = 1.7 turns

Montegrappa Melody = 3.0 turns. A lovely pen, but a bit smaller than I like.

 

Regards,

 

Alan

Edited September 17, 2015 by Precise

[Biber]

Careful what you wish for.

[penrivers]

Careful what you wish for.

Santa Teresa. Be careful with your wishes God can answer your pries.

[Biber]

Santa Teresa. Be careful with your wishes God can answer your pries.

 

huh?

[Water Ouzel]

Interrupted screw?

 

It works for large artillery...

[Precise]

Interrupted screw?

 

It works for large artillery...

Indeed, a fine idea. More challenging to machine than my two minutes in the lathe. Furthermore both the pen and cap threads would require interruption vs only the cap with shortened threads. But I like the idea.

 

I played with a Visconti Homo Saphiens which has a fraction of a rotation lock. But it required a firm inward push prior to turning.

 

Alan

[Precise]

Update:

 

I've since applied this to several other pens, including a Montegrappa Harmony.

 

Alan