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DIY Sewing Caddy (Made From Used Pens)!

by on Oct 15, 2007

Here’s another project from my quest to re-use old ball point pens. (Here’s a first.)

Materials:
12 used ball-point pens
Three pieces of 1” hardwood: 11 1/2 x 4 1/4”; 11 1/2 x 3”; 11 1/2 x 1 3/4”
Wood glue
Bar clamps
Electric Drill and Masking Tape or Drill Press
1/8” Drill bit
3/8” Drill bit
Wire cutters

1. Cut (using a miter saw or miter box) or have the wood cut to size.
2. Disassemble the pens into their component parts: the ball point and ink insert, the cone-shaped tips, and the shaft and end cap. (A pair of taped needlenose pliers will help)
3. On the longest piece (11 1/2 x 4 1/4”) mark 8 evenly spaced holes 1 1/4” apart on the front (thickness) of the wood.
4. Using an 1/8 inch drill bit, drill the 8 holes 1/4” into the wood. If using a hand drill, use masking tape to indicate the appropriate depth.
5. On the top of the same larger piece, draw a line, parallel the edge, 5/8” from the end. Repeat for the medium sized piece (11 1/2 x 3”).
6. Drill six 3/8” holes 1 3/4” apart, evenly spaced from the ends, 3/16” deep.
7. On the smallest piece, drill four 3/8” holes 3 inches apart, 3/16” deep.
8. Stack the wood together, lining up the back edge, like stair steps.
9. Glue the pieces together, clamp, and let dry overnight.
10. Cut 8 ink inserts to 1” lengths. Make a pool of glue, and dip the ball points in glue to prevent any ink flow, and then dip the cut ends in glue. Insert the pen inserts into the 1/8” holes, and remove any excess glue.
11. Repeat the process, dipping 12 cone-shaped tips in glue and inserting them into the 3/8” holes of the two lower tiers.
12. Lastly, dip the pen shafts in glue, and insert them into the four holes of the top tier.

Ideas to make purpose of used pens.

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