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Author	Topic: Pen Clips
scogre Posts: 2 Registered: Nov 2005	posted 11-14-2005 04:57 PM Hello, I am new here, so take pity on me! I am a pen maker, and have reached the point where the metal pen componants available on the market just don't meet my needs anymore. I am designing some pieces to go on my pens and can come up with everything but the clips. Pen clips need to be long and resilient, able to bend and spring back. Silver is an appropriate metal for the designs I'm working on right now, and I would like to cast my pieces to get the exact design. But I don't know enough about silver and it's properties to know if I can make a clip from cast silver that will work as a clip needs to work, and yet retain the look of a nice jewelry piece. So, can I cast a piece about an inch and a half long, and about an eighth of an inch in diameter that will be stiff, yet flex enough to clip onto a shirt pocket, and spring back without too easily losing it's original shape? Would a particular alloy be needed to do this? Thanks in advance! Scott. IP: Logged
FWG Posts: 845 Registered: Aug 2005	posted 11-14-2005 05:23 PM Welcome! There are others who will probably speak to this as well, but I'll get the ball rolling. Silver can be used for such pieces, but not as simply as you might like. When cast, silver is very soft; it needs to be hardened to get that springy quality, usually by hammering. I would think the best approach would be to cast a piece with a desired end and some extra metal that can then be forged to form the clip body itself. The purer the silver, the softer it is, so for the best results you'd probably want to use a relatively low alloy (say, .800 fine rather than .925 -- the latter being the sterling standard). Then you can hammer it with a compound curve to further increase its springiness (although even a round wire can be a springy form, properly treated). I've seen vintage pens with sterling clips that had good spring, even with the clip made from fairly thin metal. But it does take a bit of effort to make it come out right, and the key lies in the hardening. IP: Logged
scogre Posts: 2 Registered: Nov 2005	posted 11-14-2005 06:02 PM Thanks FWG! Hammering, huh? Probably hammering enough so that it wouldn't really do any good to cast an intricate design into the metal first? And after it's hardened would it be difficult to work a design into the metal? Hmmmm. Are there other methods of hardening, such as through heating and cooling? I'm trying to get a feeling for how to approach the making of a functioning clip, and still retain the intregity of the metal used. Some of my fellow penmakers tell me I should form the clip from steel and then have it plated. To do this I would need to harden the steel after forming, and then have it machined to the design I want, then plate it. If I can acheive the same effect using an alloy of silver, it would really be in keeping with the theme of the design I'm working on. Thanks again! Scott. IP: Logged
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 Registered: May 2003	posted 11-14-2005 07:23 PM Welcome to the Silver Forums. We have a few active silversmith members who may be able to address your concerns from experience, but be patient and keep checking - it may take a while for them to see your questions, as they, like most members, do not check in constantly. IP: Logged

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