When things go wrong...

[L33]

Now I've sold a few pens, I'm wondering where I stand if somebody brings a pen back and says the pens bust...and on inspection I realise that it's a kit failure. I'd obviously replace the pen, but I'm not just going to have to replace the kit that's faulty, I have to make a whole new pen. So even if the kit is at fault and the kit company reimburse...id still have to spend time making a new one...which means losing money on time, blanks etc etc. I can't see Axminster saying.."Apologies for the faulty kit, here's a new one and a few extra quid for your time...and have a new blank on us too".

 

[rayf6604]

I've sold a few hundred pens in the last few years and I've only had two or three returns, and they were 1, customer broke fp nib they paid for a new nib. 2, a pencil mechanism was faulty, replaced mechanism and that's actually all I can remember. You're unlikely to get a complete failure of a pen, and if you did it likely to be customer fault. Spare parts for pens are readily available from several suppliers iron someone here would likely be able to help. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

 

[Buckeye]

That's why you should price your pens accordingly, not just for barebones costs. Mind you if it is just the mechanism that's faulty you can disassemble the pen and fit the blanks/barrels to the new kit, saving you having to do the lot again.

Peter

 

[L33]

That's why you should price your pens accordingly, not just for barebones costs. Mind you if it is just the mechanism that's faulty you can disassemble the pen and fit the blanks/barrels to the new kit, saving you having to do the lot again.

Peter

Is that possible, I've never tried. I assumed that once all the parts were assembled that's it for good. Obviously if the barrel was damaged its a no no, but it the parts can be withdrawn and new ones put back then that's certainly one less worry.

 

[L33]

I've sold a few hundred pens in the last few years and I've only had two or three returns, and they were 1, customer broke fp nib they paid for a new nib. 2, a pencil mechanism was faulty, replaced mechanism and that's actually all I can remember. You're unlikely to get a complete failure of a pen, and if you did it likely to be customer fault. Spare parts for pens are readily available from several suppliers iron someone here would likely be able to help. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

What's got me concerned is that I've just assembled an Axminster Scribe Rollerball. Nice looking pen, but when I've inserted the brass nib insert, there doesn't seem to be much of the insert in the barrel (if that makes sense). I'm concerned that it could work its way out over time and if it becomes wobbly, it could also slightly enlarge the barrel meaning a replacement nib wouldn't fix the problem.

 

[Woody]

I always worked out my price and added 10% on to the price of every pen to allow for pen failure of any type

 

[bluntchisel]

I always offer a no-quibble guarantee and, like Ray says above, very rarely will you get a complaint. If the owner has obviously been playing darts with the pen then tell him/her to f***k off, otherwise swallow it - it pays in the long run.

Bob.

 

[Buckeye]

What's got me concerned is that I've just assembled an Axminster Scribe Rollerball. Nice looking pen, but when I've inserted the brass nib insert, there doesn't seem to be much of the insert in the barrel (if that makes sense). I'm concerned that it could work its way out over time and if it becomes wobbly, it could also slightly enlarge the barrel meaning a replacement nib wouldn't fix the problem.

Are you sure you have assembled it the way it should be, there should be more than enough depth on the inserted part.

Peter

 

[Buckeye]

Is that possible, I've never tried. I assumed that once all the parts were assembled that's it for good. Obviously if the barrel was damaged its a no no, but it the parts can be withdrawn and new ones put back then that's certainly one less worry.

Of course it's possible, get yourself a set of transfer punches to disassemble pen kits. Have a look in the Tutorials to see how to do it.

Peter

 

[L33]

Are you sure you have assembled it the way it should be, there should be more than enough depth on the inserted part.

Peter

The instructions say:

"Screw together the tapered nib and the brass insert, then push the brass insert into the 80mm brass tube"

What it doesn't say, is do you screw the nib all the way onto the insert, then put into the 80mm tube, or just screw onto one or two thread, then push into the tube. Im assuming it means all the way, in which case leaves only about 5 to 6mm to be inserted into the main tube...doesnt seem enough to me.

 

[Buckeye]

The instructions say:

"Screw together the tapered nib and the brass insert, then push the brass insert into the 80mm brass tube"

What it doesn't say, is do you screw the nib all the way onto the insert, then put into the 80mm tube, or just screw onto one or two thread, then push into the tube. Im assuming it means all the way, in which case leaves only about 5 to 6mm to be inserted into the main tube...doesnt seem enough to me.

Going by other kits with similar screw fittings it should be screwed all the way in. 5-6 mm does sound too little I would have expected 7-10mm.

Peter

 

[L33]

Going by other kits with similar screw fittings it should be screwed all the way in. 5-6 mm does sound too little I would have expected 7-10mm.

Peter

Just measured this spare one...only 3.3mm goes into the tube!

 

[Buckeye]

That doesn't sound a lot, I would ask the supplier if that is right.

Peter

 

[Dalboy]

With that one I would screw the end on until just past the last thread and then push on that would give enough in the tube and also enough for the nib to screw on.

Like others I price just incase there is a problem I had a JR gents with a problem replaced with a part from another kit as it was the only pen with that burr on it, done at no extra charge to the customer result was I got another sale from him for a second JR Gents for his secretary

 

[rayf6604]

If I may say, I would avoid buying Axminster kits, I've never thought they were up to much judging from the quality, or lack of, with the Empress. If you haven't already tried Dan at Taylor's Mirfield kits, you'll find them much superior to the Chinese stuff sold by Axminster.

As Peter said, transfer punches are available from eBay, metric or imperial, it doesn't matter which.

What are you using to assemble your pens? You might find it easier to fit the brass threaded insert on its own, if you're careful you should be able to press it into the tube just enough to leave sufficiently to leave the right amount of thread to screw the nib onto. With transfer punches, if you happened to push the brass bit in too far, you can always knock it back out a bit.

 

[L33]

If I may say, I would avoid buying Axminster kits, I've never thought they were up to much judging from the quality, or lack of, with the Empress. If you haven't already tried Dan at Taylor's Mirfield kits, you'll find them much superior to the Chinese stuff sold by Axminster.

As Peter said, transfer punches are available from eBay, metric or imperial, it doesn't matter which.

What are you using to assemble your pens? You might find it easier to fit the brass threaded insert on its own, if you're careful you should be able to press it into the tube just enough to leave sufficiently to leave the right amount of thread to screw the nib onto. With transfer punches, if you happened to push the brass bit in too far, you can always knock it back out a bit.

I'm using a self made press I made for my lathe...

Had a look at TM...I'll have to order a couple of kits to try...any excuse for a new purchase ;)

 

[Penpal]

Your best friend and cheap as can be a full set of transfer punches, they are very versatile. Many members of the forum use them to support their blanks when sanding the ends etc, see the library.

Peter.

 

[L33]

With that one I would screw the end on until just past the last thread and then push on that would give enough in the tube and also enough for the nib to screw on.

Like others I price just incase there is a problem I had a JR gents with a problem replaced with a part from another kit as it was the only pen with that burr on it, done at no extra charge to the customer result was I got another sale from him for a second JR Gents for his secretary

Did as you suggested and it seems to work...peace of mind really.

 

[L33]

Your best friend and cheap as can be a full set of transfer punches, they are very versatile. Many members of the forum use them to support their blanks when sanding the ends etc, see the library.

Peter.

I'll check them out cheers...don't know what they are...but will check them out :)

 

[chas_41_uk]

Unfortunately it happens occasionally.

l can't see Axminster saying.."Apologies for the faulty kit, here's a new one and a few extra quid for your time...and have a new blank on us too".

Take the pen back to the Axminster store you bought it from you might be pleasantly surprised. The only time I've had a faulty kit from them they gave me two for free