This pen is my adaptation of the "Parker" style to a make a lighter weight pen that uses the basic "Slim-Line" parts kit. It came about because I wanted a larger pen than the "Slim-Line", without having the extra weight and "top heavy" feel of the Parker-style pens. There was nothing
available other than these two pen styles at the time. The name came about because this was often referred to as "Russ's Pen".
This pen is different from the basic "Slimline" by removing the center band, changing the diameters of the two pen barrels where they meet in the center, and adding the decorative bands. Craft Supplies has since introduced a similar pen that they call the "KC". Follow these instructions, and there will be no need to purchase another pen kit.
The following describes how to make the "Russ-Line" pen. A "link" is provided to go back to the "Slim-Line" discussion where the steps are the same, rather than repeat them again here. I trust that this effort to concerve time and space on my part does not offer too much inconvenience to the reader.
Leave the diameter of the lower barrel 1/64" larger than the smaller center-bushing on the mandrel, and the upper 1/64" larger than the larger of the center-bushings. These dimensions can be increased to make a "fatter" pen.
Use the skew to taper down the tip end of the lower barrel. The skew that I use is described on an earlier page "The Turning Tools"
The spindle gouge can also be used. However, it is easier to make these shallow planing type cuts with the flat skew.
Always practice on another piece of wood if using the skew is a new turning technique.
Go to the cap end of the pen and do the same thing.
This is a long curving taper that starts at about the mid-point of the upper barrel and tapers down to about 1/32" larger than the bushing at the cap.
Again, practice on another piece of wood if using the skew is an unfamiliar technique.
Center bushings for the "Russ-Line" pen
The following describes a set of bushings that can be assembled for sizing the center section of the pen. There may be other alternatives available in the sea of different pen kits and bushings that are available. I turn these pens without the benefit of bushings to determine the barrel diameters. I use a standard "Slim-Line" bushing as a spacer.
1 -- The center bushing for the "Father Sing" pen. Craft Supplies as their Catalog No. 155-0040.
2 -- The smaller of the bushings for the "Ameroclassic" pen, Hut Products, Catalog No. 326. There may be other options available.
3 -- A short piece of the 7mm "Slim-Line" brass tube to adapt the larger bushing to the mandrel. It is a sloppy fit, but still suitable for our use.
We will have to choose which end of the matched pen blanks will be the cap and tip ends while the wood is still in the rough.
The pen blanks are slipped on the mandrel with the tip towards the headstock, and the grain oriented as it was marked.
The bushings are put between the two pen blanks as shown. All steps are the same as for the "Slim-Line" pen.
