Thanks for the suggestions. I have made a few desk pens, and I have sold or
traded a few parts and kits when someone has inquired about them. I also have a
small bucket full of centerbands, heavy parts, and miscellaneous nuts and bolts
that I am using as a counterweight for a panel saw in the shop.

Rich, I made one of the laser cut wood clips after reading your article. It must
have been 2 years ago?? The pen has had almost daily use in a shirt pocket and
the clip shows no signs of coming apart or breaking. It looks like a good option
for a custom pen, but I am reluctant to do anything based on a sample of 1. Do
you have any service experience with it??

Here is something to at least consider.........

Why not give the clipless kits to a charitable organization?

There is a fellow named Dion in Conroe, Texas helping out with a charitable
organization and has actually set up a shop for the folks to use.  I know where
the next batch of clipless kits are going!

You can read about the cause he is associated with here:
http://www.penturners.org/forum/showthread.php?t=49272

Another post showing the results of contributions can be seen here:
http://www.penturners.org/forum/showthread.php?t=50499

I realize this isn't the answer for those seeking monetary gain from the kits
but you just may reward yourself in a different way.


--- In PenMakersGuild@yahoogroups.com, Steven Jackson <steven.jackson@...>
wrote:
>
> ( or offer the kits for reduced price to those that make their own clips )
>
> LOL, the possibilities are endless :)
>
>
>
>
> "Richard Kleinhenz" <richk@...>
> Sent by: PenMakersGuild@yahoogroups.com
> 04/12/2009 15:56
> Please respond to
> PenMakersGuild@yahoogroups.com
>
>
> To
> PenMakersGuild@yahoogroups.com
> cc
>
> Subject
> Re: [Pen-Makers' Guild] Small Parts Casting
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> (or offer the kits for reduced price to those that would make clip-less
> pens)
>
> On 12/4/2009 at 10:40 AM Richard Kleinhenz wrote:
>
> >Make clipless pens perhap? :-)
>
> --
> Best regards,
> Rich
> =============================================
> Richard Kleinhenz
> http://beautifulhandmadepens.com
> http://penmakersguild.com/browse.php?gallery=kleinhenzr
> =============================================
>

( or offer the kits for reduced price to those that make their own clips )

LOL, the possibilities are endless :)

(or offer the kits for reduced price to those that would make clip-less pens)

On 12/4/2009 at 10:40 AM Richard Kleinhenz wrote:

>Make clipless pens perhap? :-)

--
Best regards,
Rich
=============================================
Richard Kleinhenz
http://beautifulhandmadepens.com
http://penmakersguild.com/browse.php?gallery=kleinhenzr
=============================================

(or offer the kits for reduced price to those that would make clip-less pens)

On 12/4/2009 at 10:40 AM Richard Kleinhenz wrote:

>Make clipless pens perhap?  :-)

--
Best regards,
Rich
=============================================
Richard Kleinhenz
http://beautifulhandmadepens.com
http://penmakersguild.com/browse.php?gallery=kleinhenzr
=============================================

Make clipless pens perhap? :-)

On 12/4/2009 at 3:13 PM russ wrote:

>I am always looking for a source for clips as an option to buying a kit
>just for its clip. I am glad to learn about some sources for casting or
>buying a clip, but buying the kit for its clip is still the least cost and
>there are more design choices available. I don't have any real complaint
>with the kit clips, but I do wonder what to do with all of these clipless
>kits that I am accumulating.

--
Best regards,
Rich
=============================================
Richard Kleinhenz
http://beautifulhandmadepens.com
http://penmakersguild.com/browse.php?gallery=kleinhenzr
=============================================

Make clipless pens perhap?  :-)

On 12/4/2009 at 3:13 PM russ wrote:

>I am always looking for a source for clips as an option to buying a kit
>just for its clip. I am glad to learn about some sources for casting or
>buying a clip, but buying the kit for its clip is still the least cost and
>there are more design choices available. I don't have any real complaint
>with the kit clips, but I do wonder what to do with all of these clipless
>kits that I am accumulating.

--
Best regards,
Rich
=============================================
Richard Kleinhenz
http://beautifulhandmadepens.com
http://penmakersguild.com/browse.php?gallery=kleinhenzr
=============================================

I am always looking for a source for clips as an option to buying a kit just for
its clip. I am glad to learn about some sources for casting or buying a clip,
but buying the kit for its clip is still the least cost and there are more
design choices available. I don't have any real complaint with the kit clips,
but I do wonder what to do with all of these clipless kits that I am
accumulating.

Does this mean you have this in progress?  Or just thoughts?

For me, I don't think just a solid precious metal clip will be enough, that
takes a better salesman perhaps ;-)  Or maybe it's just if I imagine me as the
buyer...  would that make the big difference?  (If I thought so I would have
bought a couple of Barry's.)  But I figure the clip is the toughest part to
shape, maybe when the rest of the stuff falls into place this will be the
crowning touch?

On 12/1/2009 at 6:11 PM russ wrote:

>Thanks Rich. I knew somebody had to be casting clips. There is no way
>that I am ever the 1st to be doing anything associated with a pen.

--
Best regards,
Rich
=============================================
Richard Kleinhenz
http://beautifulhandmadepens.com
http://penmakersguild.com/browse.php?gallery=kleinhenzr
=============================================

Thanks Rich. I knew somebody had to be casting clips. There is no way that I am
ever the 1st to be doing anything associated with a pen.


- Russ, you wanted to know about upscale clips :-)

By the way, having worked with the cylindrical wax tubes, which are just like wooden tubes, I think that you could form a clip that could be attached the usual way after casting. Again the potential decorative options are great. I have just not had time to get there yet, but this is one of the functions of this guild; i.e. to share ideas. // JL

>On 11/29/2009 at 11:16 AM Jeff powell wrote:
>
>Rich..I am in Michigan.  I don't exactly know what a Foreign National is.

Neither do I :-)  I just made up the word.  Just reacted to some comment about
'Americans' in another post - so you're like me, an import job :-)  Although I
got citizenship years ago.  When I did not have money to consider a lawyer even.
For a fee you can maintain dual citizenship, I understand...  another option I
did not know or could not afford then.  Good luck with your 'conversion' :-)

>I am down with the metal on metal, not good, but I see absolutely no
>reason with the threads won't cast perfectly in silver.  There won't be
>any shrinkage, and if there is, it's surely not on a scale that someone
>like us could calculate.  I bet the threads look exactly like the wax and
>perform great.

Well, if I ever do it, I'll let you know :-)  I suspect it's hard to anticipate
what cast threaded metal parts will feel like...

--
Best regards,
Rich
=============================================
Richard Kleinhenz
http://beautifulhandmadepens.com
http://penmakersguild.com/browse.php?gallery=kleinhenzr
=============================================

Although I haven't used mine, that link you sent is the same place I purchased my wax.  They had it here the next day.  Even better, they are another Michigan Company!  I am amazed at how many companies I deal with in the pen world that are from Michigan.  It's great to hear the wax turns beautifully and is easy to hold onto.  I had some reservations about it too.  I know I'm going to get to mine someday.  Far as center band threads though..would you not rather have plastic threads inside your cap and a metal thread for your external nib section threads, or do you like the metal on metal contact? 

Everyone can read, only members can post

On 11/27/2009 at 12:25 AM texatdurango wrote:

>Can anyone on the internet read our posts here or does one have to be a
>guild member?

--
Best regards,
Rich
=============================================
Richard Kleinhenz
http://beautifulhandmadepens.com
http://penmakersguild.com/browse.php?gallery=kleinhenzr
=============================================

Thanks, John, I checked out their website
http://www.billanticasting.com/BillantiCasting/Home.html .  Yes I remember you
showed me something.  These guys look pretty good!  Looks like they don't do
argentium though, at least not listed on their site.  Argentium is a low-tarnish
form of Sterling, having the same amount of silver (92.5%) but instead of copper
7.5% it is some copper and some germanium.  Sounds like a really good pen
material!  I wonder whether that would work in concunction with ebonite even?

I have some machineable wax, no experience with it.  Making parts out of it, I
suspect I'd have to use some other workholding techniques.

I'm not sure how to shape a clip at all.  Does anyone have ideas how to do that?
I'm also thinking about clip attachment.  I am thinking that perhaps some short
tubes like rivets on the backside might work, as part of the casting.  Then you
could use short SS angle, with appropriate precision-drilled holes, that fits
over these, and you'd peen over the rims.  The other part of the SS L would go
into a slot, and attached with an internal screw, e.g.

I've also seen 2 strips attached ot the back of the clip.  The strips go through
2 slots into the cap.

But this is jumping ahead, I have more basic conceptual problems with the
workholding and shaping a wax clip.

On 11/26/2009 at 11:53 PM l0ngjohn2 wrote:

>Richard the last time I saw you in DC I believe that I showed you and Pat
>a silver spiral pen that I had had cast. I cut the spirals in wax and had
>a mold made by Billanti casting of New York. They cast for me several
>tubes out of silver,bronze and brass, and they will apparently do any
>small project. Clips , bands, etc. would be no problem. I learned about
>them from my wife who is a silver smith. They specialize in small things.
>Go look at their website. Thay are also very helpful. With the creativity
>in the Pen Guild I think that the members could come up with a lot of
>great designs for cast metals to embellish their work with. /.Happy
>Thanksgiving./John Long
>
>
>Billanti Casting Co., Inc. - Home

--
Best regards,
Rich
=============================================
Richard Kleinhenz
http://beautifulhandmadepens.com
http://penmakersguild.com/browse.php?gallery=kleinhenzr
=============================================

Can anyone on the internet read our posts here or does one have to be a guild
member?

Richard the last time I saw you in DC I believe that I showed you and Pat a
silver spiral pen that I had had cast. I cut the spirals in wax and had a mold
made by Billanti casting of New York. They cast for me several tubes out of
silver,bronze and brass, and they will apparently do any small project. Clips ,
bands, etc. would be no problem. I learned about  them from my wife who is a
silver smith. They specialize in small things. Go look at their website. Thay
are also very helpful. With the creativity in the Pen Guild I think that the
members could come up with a lot of great designs for cast metals to embellish
their work with. /.Happy Thanksgiving./John Long


Billanti Casting Co., Inc. - Home

I would vote for a PMG pen swap..but not at the same time as the IAP one.