Convert a Bulb Filler to a Ballpoint Pen

A customer had this pen the other day and thought that it would look good as a ballpoint pen that would take Parker refills.

He asked me if it could be done and I said if you are up to it why not.

I was worried that the nose cone would be too large of a diameter for the end as the threads are right at the end but it was like it was made to be, it fit perfect.

I then had to drill out the inside diameter on the bulb end to let the  refill slide down into the nose cone where there is a spring.  Next I had to epoxy a spacer into the blind cap to keep pressure on the refill.

I think it turned out pretty good.

Before        Rockford Pen

After

Cap Actuated Ball Point Pen

I have been wanting to build a cap actuated ballpoint pen for about ten years now but I really didn't understand the cap and did not want to take apart one of my Parker's to find out
Then I found this mechanism.
So with today to myself this is the pen I built.

All the parts

All done

A Parker Big Red clip

Duofoldish

It all started out in my parts bin.

I had a clip and the top and inner cap and a section with a nib.

I love my full size one and thought I would make him a little brother.

I use all of the measurements of the junior and I think I am pretty close.

Vac Filler to an ED

This beautiful vac has a screwed up lock down filler.

The nib is really nice and the body of the pen is in great shape so to get it so that it can be used without sourcing out an new filler or until the Canadian dollar gets out of the toilet here is what I came up with.

Side note  No vacs were harmed in this repair,  Once a new unit is found that you just unscrew the joiner I made and install the new vac unit.

The interesting thing will be to see if it behaves itself with out burping.

The joiner piece I had to make up

Fitted into the blind cap

I adjusted it in and out a wee bit to get it fitting even a bit better than it is in this picture

Ready for a test run

Mini Lead Holder Repair

Went to my pen case the other day and my small lead holder was broken.

It seems that the threads had broken off the final.

I am thinking that the clip may be putting pressure on the threads.

So I started turning

Now the taper

I used Delron so hopefully I will not have the same problem

Done

Dry Highlighter

I use a highlighter all the time but I hate how it runs my fountain pen inks on the paper so I went looking for a dry highlighter.

I remembered Howard at Bexley Pens had made one years ago and after making mine I did find them online here.

I guess I should have looked online first but I did like what I ended up with.

Inkograph and Esterbrook Conversion

The first one is a inkograph drafting pen that has some really nice coloring that I thought would make a really nice fountain pen.

This is the section that came with the pen

This is the section made up

End result

Very happy with how it all turned out

The Esterbrook was a felt tipped marker that I converted to take a Pilot refill.

I think it took some sort of ink cartridge

Built a new section to take the new nose cone.

Looking good