How to Make a Pen From Vintage Silverware
Vintage silverware can be found at thrift stores and in the home. Many antique silver butter knives were made with round handles. Some butter knife handles are hollow, while others can be hollowed out with a drill bit. Make a pen from vintage silverware by removing the handle and using an ink pen refill with roller-ball tip. Ink pen refills are slender, small plastic tubes filled with ink with a cap on one end and a writing tip on the other.
Things You'll Need
- Heavy work gloves
- C-clamp
- Knife with round handle
- Jeweler's saw
- Drill with 1/8 inch drill bit
- Jeweler's file
- Roller-ball pen refill with roller-ball tip
- Pliers
Instructions
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1
Put on the heavy work gloves. Place the knife on the edge of your work space with the blade of the butter knife off the table. Use a C-clamp to attach the knife handle to the table and keep it steady.
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2
Cut the blade off just above the top of the handle with a jeweler's saw.
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3
Drill through the center of the handle lengthwise from the cut end to the end of the handle with an electric drill with an 1/8 inch drill bit.
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4
Smooth the cut surfaces of the knife handle with a jeweler's file. Tap the knife handle with the hole in the center facing down over a trash can to remove any metal filings created by drilling through the metal.
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5
Insert the capped end of the ink pen refill into the knife handle, plastic capped end first, with the roller-ball tip facing out. If the ink pen refill does not fit right, use a pair of pliers to gently squeeze the end of the knife handle until it closes just enough around the roller-ball tip to hold it in place.
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Tips & Warnings
Wipe down the surface of the knife with a silver cleaning cloth to remove finger prints and polish the metal.
Roller-ball ink pen refills are sold at stationary stores and office supply stores. They often are found near pen displays.
While using the jeweler's saw, take your time and don't force the saw blade, as it is fine and may break.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
