Problem with Cortona pens

[qquake]

I made two PSI Cortona twist pens with stylus this weekend. When assembled, both of them have a gap between the pen body and tip. Anybody have any idea why? I've made these in the past, and it seems like I had the same problem, with no resolution.

 

[jttheclockman]

I have noticed this as well so I will be watching this thread.

 

[KenB259]

I have made many of these and they have all done at first. If you wiggle the barrel, back and forth as you push it together, it will "snap" into place. Every single one that I've made, I've had to do that.

 

[Karl_99]

I have found that it needs to be pressed together further or I have trimmed the blank a bit short.

 

[qquake]

I have made many of these and they have all done at first. If you wiggle the barrel, back and forth as you push it together, it will "snap" into place. Every single one that I've made, I've had to do that.

I tried that, and while it does "wiggle" a little bit, the gap is still there.

 

[qquake]

I just finished another Cortona, and it has the same problem. I don't want to press it together, because it has to be able to be pulled apart to replace the refill. I looked at some past photos from several years ago, and it doesn't seem like they had this problem initially. I might contact PSI technical service and see if thy have any insight. But I've found their technical is hit or miss.

 

[jschoolcraft]

I've made about 8 of these so far and in my last batch 2 of them have a small gap. Not as pronounced as qquake but maybe 2 sheets of paper thickness.

I tried wiggling and that didn't tighten it up. I was going to try to sand of the slightest amount from the tip end but maybe someone else has other suggestions?

 

[cmiller]

Saw this thread and figured I'd try one and see. I wasn't happy with the instructions, couldn't really tell what to do, but it only came with two pieces, so I figured one went in one end and one went in the other. Brilliant, right? The instructions say to press the clip end in first, but I put the tip in first then pressed the clip in after (I use one of those pens presses with the hole for the tip, see attached). I think if I tried to push the tip in second it might have left the gap others are experiencing. Even after this, it seems like the tip is not securely fastened, seems like it might fall out on its own. I like the look of this kit but I think it needs to be re-engineered.

 

[jrista]

I just finished another Cortona, and it has the same problem. I don't want to press it together, because it has to be able to be pulled apart to replace the refill. I looked at some past photos from several years ago, and it doesn't seem like they had this problem initially. I might contact PSI technical service and see if thy have any insight. But I've found their technical is hit or miss.

Does this not unscrew to replace the refill? You really have to PULL it apart? I know with Sierra kits, when I first started making them, I pulled them apart (which is overly easy to do.) I then realized I could just unscrew the nib to replace the refill without pulling them apart... You SURE this pen is not similar in that way?

 

[cmiller]

Yes, you just pull the tip out. See attached for how it works. That last little bit at the end is the insert seating itself in the forward end of the clip assembly.

 

[cmiller]

Hmm. I guess videos are not supported as file types.

 

[cmiller]

See if this works. Sorry, never posted a video before.