- Pen kits
- Pen kit bushes
- Pen blanks
- Marlas Feathers pen blanks
- DiamondCast pen blanks
- Silver series pen blanks
- Radiance Series pen blanks
- Divine Island pen blanks
- Gilbert House pen blanks
- Crafted Makes Spangle series pen blanks
- Crafted Makes Braided series pen blanks
- Crafted Makes Carbon Fibre series pen blanks
- Blankwerks abalone pen blanks
- Flower Girl pen blanks
- Alternative natural pen blanks
- GPS Ranger pen blanks
- Alternative semi-precious pen blanks
- GPS California polyester series
- Kirinite acrylic collection
- Kirinite Ice series
- Kirinite Pearl series
- Kirinite Stardust Glitter series
- Minerva Acrylics
- Chestnut acrylic collection
- Cullinore Acrylique - acrylic pen blanks
- Semplicita SHDC pen blanks
- Semplicita Nastro pen blanks
- Ebonite pen blanks
- Wood pen blanks
- Marlas Feathers pen blanks
- Project blanks
- Fountain pen nibs
- Understanding fountain pen nibs & choosing the right one
- Bock standard size 6 nibs (type 250)
- Bock standard size 5 nibs (type 180)
- Beaufort standard size 5 nibs
- Bock short body size 5 nibs (type 060)
- Bock wide shoulder size 5 nibs (type 076)
- Bock standard size 8 nibs (type 380)
- Bock calligraphy (italic) nibs
- Bock twin point calligraphy nibs (type 020)
- Bock 14k music nibs
- Left handed Bock nibs
- Bock ready-made nib sections
- Refillable rollerball nibs
- Understanding fountain pen nibs & choosing the right one
- Fountain pen ink
- Pen Refills
- Pen presentation - Boxes, pouches & display stands
- Writing accessories
- Pen making tools & drill bits
- Thread taps and dies
- Kitless pen making - tools and supplies for custom pens and bespoke pens
- Tutorial - An introduction to custom pen making
- Collets & collet chuck sets
- Keyless drill chucks
- Tailstock die holders
- Tailstock tap holders
- Morse taper lathe centres
- Triple lead thread taps and dies for pen caps
- Section sleeves and thread sleeves for kitless pens
- Mandrels for kitless pens and custom pen making
- Single lead thread taps and dies for pen components
- Thread taps for Bock fountain pen nib housings
- Thread taps for Bock ready made nib sections
- Thread taps for kitless pen rollerball nibs
- Bock ready-made fountain pen nib sections
- Clips for kitless pens
- Refillable rollerball nibs for kitless pens
- Drill bits
- Threadable pen blanks for kitless and custom pens
- Tutorial - An introduction to custom pen making
- Finishing and polishing
- Versachuck wood lathe chucks
- Lathe faceplates, micro-chucks and spindle adaptors
- Pen tubes, springs & spares
- Mechanisms, ink converters & pencil inserts
- Bock ready-made nib sections
- Clips for kitless pens
- Casting moulds
- Special offers & clearance




Blog
Notes on making a section for a Bock size 5 nib housing
« Blog Menu | 14 Mar 2016 23:00:00 Phil
We frequently get requests for advice regarding the correct proceedure for making fountain pen sections for Bock nib housings, particularly regarding size 5 nibs, which appear to give more trouble than the size 6 ones.
- Standard practice when establishing the correct drill size for thread taps is to subtract the pitch from the diameter. In the case of a Bock size 5 housing, that would work out as 6.4 – 0.6 = 5.8However, the very bottom of the housing has a tiny non-threaded area which has a diameter greater than the drill size. Therefore we recommend that you use a 6mm drill, which will allow the housing to be inserted easily, without compromising the integrity of the section thread.
- Ensure that the non-threaded part of your section is marginally longer than the non- threaded part of the housing. This will allow the housing to locate on the tiny rim under the nib, and not locate by running out of thread, which could cause it to seize up.
- Run your taps through the thread as far as possible, right to the end of the cutters, to open up the minor diameter of you section thread as much as possible. Once you have cut your thread, run a tap in as far as possible by hand from the opposite end, which will also serve to open the minor and to clear any swarf or other detritus.

Blog Search
Popular Articles
- All about IPG fountain pen nibs - they are not all what you might think
- My word - what talented customers we have!
- Upgrading the nib in a Kaweco Dia2 fountain pen
- Please bear with us whilst we move
- A great new concept in fountain pens - The Lethaby Ion is going places
- Triple lead thread taps and dies now re-stocked
- Thread taps needn't be confusing.
- The pen assembly press has come of age
- Pen boxes and pouches - reduced to clear
- Gold/gunmetal Sirocco pen kits back in stock