Pen + Pencil Fletching (Orc Arrow Feathers)

I was printing the most excellent Boromir Pen Holder for Gondor for a LOTR superfan that I know, and I realized it wasn't quite complete for my liking. To really take this to the next level, I thought that the pens and pencils really needed to look a lot more like orc arrows. 

There are lots of solid, arrow-like things around to print, but I couldn't find anything to truly turn my pens and pencils into feathery, black, evil-looking orc arrows.

So I whipped together some “feathers” and a pen adapter to stick them into. This is a pretty quick modelling job and, I have to say, getting things to join together at sub-mm widths is finicky. Print a few extra feathers in case you bend some.

But these work pretty good for casual display! If you really want to toss the pens and pencils around, I would suggest supergluing the “feathers” into the grooves in the adapter to make them permanent.

🗚 Instructions

I've included several dozen pen adapters for pens from 6.5mm wide to 14mm wide, with varying “clip” sizes (the clip width on the pen cap). Download both the .3mf file for the feathers, and the “PenAdapters.zip” file with the .step files for all the pen adapters.

1. Measure the widest width of the end of your pen/pencil with calipers or a ruler. Round DOWN to the nearest model size. (e.g. if your pen is 8.6mm wide, choose the `tube-8mm-xxxxxxxx` models.)
    
2. Measure the widest width of the pocket clip on your pen lid, and round UP to the nearest mm clip size. (e.g. if your clip on your pen from above is 5.3mm wide, choose the `tube-8mm-6mmClip.step` model.
    
   1. If you want to put the arrows on the other end of your pens, or you're executing Boromir with pencils, just print the “NoClip” models instead. 
       
3. Print the feathers. They are very thin! I would recommend using a scraper or thin knife to lift them off your bed if they get stuck, and go slowly. Normally just flexing the build plate should pop them off pretty easily.
    

4. Print your chosen adapters.

    

5. Assemble the feathers onto the tube gently. The tubes have arrow-shaped holes in the grooves. Push the nubs on the feathers gently down into the holes, and then firmly grip the feather and push it towards the front of the adapter to “lock” it in. (It doesn't really lock, it will pop out if pulled hard enough, but it will stay in well enough for normal use).
    
6. Glue if you want to make them permanent. (Why not?)

Happy to add other custom sizes to the .zip file if people need them.