Here at Newton Pens I will modify different pens in different ways. I won’t modify all types and styles of pens, so if you want to know ask me. [email protected]
Pelikan Bindes – What I do with these is remove the nib and piston unit, hold the pen in my lathe with a special mandrel, and cut off the thin layer of celluloid that surrounds the inner part of the pen barrel. If the pen has an ink window on it I can leave the window for you or cut it down, but I don’t add windows. I prefer not to use clear or very translucent materials for this work so that any small machining marks on the inside of the new binde won’t show when you use your pen.
Aurora 88 or Optima pens – When working with these pens I remove the nib and piston unit and hold the pen in my lathe and just cut off the barrel. Aurora makes their pens in a way that it’s very easy to modify. Same rule applies to translucent materials.
The weak point on these pens is between the section and window. The window has a very small threaded tenon that threads into the section, and the nib unit actually threads into the inside of this clear tenon (red arrow). Threads on both sides of a very thin piece of acrylic means this area is prone to break. When cutting the barrel off the pen I hold it in a way that doesn’t put any stress on this area.
Other pens – With other pens I’m happy to modify the barrel if possible, like on this Delta Scrigno, or simply build a new barrel, like I did for the Sailor King of Pen. If you have something you’d like me to work with just ask. Thanks!
