Hi All,
The two kits in this review are the Elegant Sierra chrome (ES) supplied by Timberbits and the Sienna Titanium chrome supplied by CSUSA.
Both kits are the 27/64 (10.5mm) single tubes kit and have the long transmission type that is screwed in to the nib section. To replace the refill you need to pull the top off the pen and unscrew the transmission from the nib section to reveal the refill.
With the above mechanism set up the bottom of the tube is not pressed in to position (not an interference fit) as it’s held in place with the mechanism.
Both kits use the Parker type refills.
Executive Sierra, kit B078 Manufactured and packaged by Millylime
Retails at AUS $ 8.50 Chrome Kit, (The Gold Titanium retails at $12.00)
Fittings weight =35g
Picture of how the kit is supplied.
None supplied but Instructions are downloadable from web site.
Drill for the Tube size 27/64 (10.5 mm is tight fit and the 11mm in my opinion you will get away with Epoxy adhesive.)
The return spring for the refill is 19.5mm long
Artisan Sienna, kit 050-4561 Manufactured and packaged by Dayacom
Retails at $10.90 Black Titanium plating (Chrome is $9.50)
Fittings weight 38g
Picture of how the kit is supplied.
Comes complete with instructions packaged but instructions are also downloadable from web site
Drill for the Tube size 27/64 (10.5 mm is tight fit and the 11mm in my opinion you will get away with Epoxy adhesive.)
The return spring for the refill is 25mm long
Findings.
Sienna
Weighed in slightly heavier. It appears that the clip fitting is made up of four parts whereas the ES is made up of three parts. Even though the Sienna clip fitting looked smaller than the ES the Sienna fitting weighed 3g more.
The nib fitting where it is pressed in to the tube was 3mm longer on the Sienna, but weighed the same as the ES.
Executive Sierra
Slightly lighter in weight (see above comments)
Came with the same amount of parts and all tubes and fittings, the return spring was 5.5mm shorter than the Sienna I don’t believe that will have any issues longer term use though.
My opinion.
This kit is a simple one tube kit design that can be turned out of a 18x 18 x 60mm long blank
Both kits are good quality for this type of pen kit. It is difficult to separate them for kit quality. It’s really down to your choice of looks, designs and the style you like.
In my view the better quality platings are the Titanium kits which is usually reflected in the higher price as well.
The Sienna is looking a little old in design now as that shaped top has been around a while on the early Sierra entry level kits that was available over 5 years ago.
The ES gives the looks of something a little different than the normal round topped Sierra and does stand on its own in likeability; however there are other kits with similar designs available on the market.
My only “niggle” with this type of kit is that the transmission can be unscrewed by the innocent user when in use or indeed changing the refill.
This results in the transmission coming un-screwed and then being pushed further up the tube when the user is trying to re-fit it. The only way back from this problem is that the transmission is pulled out with long nosed pliers and back in place.
This problem does highlight the fact that the transmission does need to be in and very tight. Also when replacing the refill then its best to twist the upper tube in a clockwise motion while holding the nib and pulling the pen apart, that way it minimises the risk of undoing the transmission.
When operate the transmission they sound a little “crunchy” although they operated quite smoothly when turned. I checked other kits of this type and only one out of the ten kits I have had no sound when operating the transmission. Now which is the right one.
Other kits that use the tube sizes and transmission type are:
PSI Gatsby
Artisan Classica (old type sierra from CSUSA)
The Messa from Stiles & Bates
Sierra Stylus and Sierra kits from Axminster
Elegance from Axminster
Diplomat and Aureus from Exotic Pen Blank
There may well be others but this is a general list of kits I have used or handled at some time or another.
If you need any more information then ask away..
Hope this helps with choosing a kit, if not then ignore me..
The two kits in this review are the Elegant Sierra chrome (ES) supplied by Timberbits and the Sienna Titanium chrome supplied by CSUSA.
Both kits are the 27/64 (10.5mm) single tubes kit and have the long transmission type that is screwed in to the nib section. To replace the refill you need to pull the top off the pen and unscrew the transmission from the nib section to reveal the refill.
With the above mechanism set up the bottom of the tube is not pressed in to position (not an interference fit) as it’s held in place with the mechanism.
Both kits use the Parker type refills.
Executive Sierra, kit B078 Manufactured and packaged by Millylime
Retails at AUS $ 8.50 Chrome Kit, (The Gold Titanium retails at $12.00)
Fittings weight =35g
Picture of how the kit is supplied.
None supplied but Instructions are downloadable from web site.
Drill for the Tube size 27/64 (10.5 mm is tight fit and the 11mm in my opinion you will get away with Epoxy adhesive.)
The return spring for the refill is 19.5mm long
Artisan Sienna, kit 050-4561 Manufactured and packaged by Dayacom
Retails at $10.90 Black Titanium plating (Chrome is $9.50)
Fittings weight 38g
Picture of how the kit is supplied.
Comes complete with instructions packaged but instructions are also downloadable from web site
Drill for the Tube size 27/64 (10.5 mm is tight fit and the 11mm in my opinion you will get away with Epoxy adhesive.)
The return spring for the refill is 25mm long
Findings.
Sienna
Weighed in slightly heavier. It appears that the clip fitting is made up of four parts whereas the ES is made up of three parts. Even though the Sienna clip fitting looked smaller than the ES the Sienna fitting weighed 3g more.
The nib fitting where it is pressed in to the tube was 3mm longer on the Sienna, but weighed the same as the ES.
Executive Sierra
Slightly lighter in weight (see above comments)
Came with the same amount of parts and all tubes and fittings, the return spring was 5.5mm shorter than the Sienna I don’t believe that will have any issues longer term use though.
My opinion.
This kit is a simple one tube kit design that can be turned out of a 18x 18 x 60mm long blank
Both kits are good quality for this type of pen kit. It is difficult to separate them for kit quality. It’s really down to your choice of looks, designs and the style you like.
In my view the better quality platings are the Titanium kits which is usually reflected in the higher price as well.
The Sienna is looking a little old in design now as that shaped top has been around a while on the early Sierra entry level kits that was available over 5 years ago.
The ES gives the looks of something a little different than the normal round topped Sierra and does stand on its own in likeability; however there are other kits with similar designs available on the market.
My only “niggle” with this type of kit is that the transmission can be unscrewed by the innocent user when in use or indeed changing the refill.
This results in the transmission coming un-screwed and then being pushed further up the tube when the user is trying to re-fit it. The only way back from this problem is that the transmission is pulled out with long nosed pliers and back in place.
This problem does highlight the fact that the transmission does need to be in and very tight. Also when replacing the refill then its best to twist the upper tube in a clockwise motion while holding the nib and pulling the pen apart, that way it minimises the risk of undoing the transmission.
When operate the transmission they sound a little “crunchy” although they operated quite smoothly when turned. I checked other kits of this type and only one out of the ten kits I have had no sound when operating the transmission. Now which is the right one.
Other kits that use the tube sizes and transmission type are:
PSI Gatsby
Artisan Classica (old type sierra from CSUSA)
The Messa from Stiles & Bates
Sierra Stylus and Sierra kits from Axminster
Elegance from Axminster
Diplomat and Aureus from Exotic Pen Blank
There may well be others but this is a general list of kits I have used or handled at some time or another.
If you need any more information then ask away..
Hope this helps with choosing a kit, if not then ignore me..
