In my quest to fabricate a pen using stainless steel braid I have built a holding fixture to assist in the attaching the braid to the pen tube.

   For those that remember the Chinese finger, the stainless steel braid works the same way once separated from the underlying rubber hose material. After separating the braid you can insert a pen tube and then pull on the ends it will tighten around the tube making even contact around the tube, once the braid is stretched and the pattern looks straight I apply CA glue to the braid securing it to the tube at least that's the theory. Once the CA is cured trim the excess and then cast the assembled tube in resin.

This jig or fixture holds and stretches the braid. It's adjustable for any length tube. It also can be used to support a tube for applying a decal, feathers or anything else you wish to apply to the tube.

 

 

This fixture is only for applying the braid over the tube before casting it in resin. The excess braid is cut away then rubber plugs are inserted into the tube before placing it in the mold and then resin is poured into the mold and allowed to cure. After curing the blank is cut to length, squared on the ends and then turned as you would any blank. I hope this answers your question Charles.

Thank you Arlin!

I'll be tweaking and improving as I go but for now it works well for it's intended use.