I'm a new pen turner now - what fun! Turned my first pen today - a cigar pen with a kit from Woodcraft.
Quick question - is there an issue or something with the cigar pen kit from Woodcraft, or did I do something wrong? The pen comes to a hard stop when it opens, but when it closes, it does not. It can go "past" closed, where it opens again partially. Seems wrong.
Signed-In Members Don't See This AdIt should open fully in both directions - the mechanism is called 'double-twist'. Sometimes when the pens are new, it simply takes a bit of playing with the mechanism to make it work fully. Some folks (I never have) clean the transmission with a solvent to get all the grease out of it, and then put a bit opf light oil back in it.
Also, make sure the end where the tip comes out is good and clean - if you can push it in and out against the spring with out the transmission assembled to it, it should be OK.
I see. Thanks. If I try to fully open the pen in the other direction, it comes out part way and then starts to unscrew instead of coming all the way out to the locking position. Has this happened to you, and what is the fix?
The Cigar from CSUSA only opens in one direction. Turn cw to write & cc to retract. Doesn't turn left after it retracts the refill. It doesn't unscrew, it pulls apart. I've got a Cigar I got from another forum member that works the same. I didn't know they were 'double twist'. Woodcraft may be different. You might re-check your instructions & see if you made a mistake.
Sounds like you need to clean the transmission. Woodcraft carries the Berea style cigar, which is a double twist as mentioned in the earlier post. When turning it counter-clockwise after it comes to the "open" position if you keep turning it will start to unscrew the transmission, which will stay in the cap and allows for replacing the refill. Instead of unscrewing, pull the upper barrel and lower barrel apart, which will leave the transmission in place screwed to the center coupler on the lower barrel. Then unscrew the transmission and clean it up (DNA, wd40, etc). Obviously be carefull with the finish on your pen- I'm guessing if you're just getting started you used a friction polish finish, so make sure your hands are clean and dry, free of whatever you used to clean up the transmission. Go ahead and screw the transmission back onto the center coupler of the lower barrel with the refill inserted, and work the transmission back and forth through both rotations a number of times, until you can feel that it is moving freely and fully extending in both directions. Once that's done, press the upper and lower barrels back together, and you should be good to go.
I see. Thanks. If I try to fully open the pen in the other direction, it comes out part way and then starts to unscrew instead of coming all the way out to the locking position. Has this happened to you, and what is the fix?