Daniel
Member
I was not sure just where to post this thread, so I put it here.
there is a seemingly never ending conversation about the "quality" of materials we have available. (namely kits)
the Phrase (cheap kits) has become so common that for the most part it requires no explaination.
When I first started making pens. "cheap kits" refered to slimlines with 24k gold plating. now it means anything less than Ti gold, regardless of kit style.
Besides plating material and quality of the plating. what factors determin a quality pen.
It seems that we compair one kit Vs. anouther kit. But how do our kits compaire to name brand pens? have you ever compaired a slimline to a cross?
what determins a quality transmission? are there better ones and if so where?
I ahve watched the development of the higher priced kits. Does higher price mean higher Quality? I have seen tones of bugs ge worked out in these quality high priced kits. most of them are in there second, third or even fourth generation. does this result in better quality? If so why?
I have people from work bring me all sorts of pens to be repaired. I am usually amazed at how they are assembled and the materials in them.
usually the weight is the first thing I will notice. most pens are very light compaired to what I make. the materials are much thinner. I have often thought that the material in most pens I see weigh less than the brass tube I use in mine. I can usually take any of these pens apart with my bare hands, they are either press fit with a very loose fit or threaded. the internal workings are poor to the point of actually being fragile, mostly plastic and operate anything but smoothly. most of the parts have not even been made to fit each other.
flash from being molded are still on them etc. most internal parts wil only stay together when the pen is actually assembled, when you take the pen apart they simply come tumbling out. what I have described above is what I consider a cheap pen.
I have had several pens brought to me that the owner received as a gift. These are the ones that where bought from Office Supply Stores or gift shops and are ment to be lifetime pens. these pens usually begin to look and feel like I would expect a pen to feel like. nearly always they are assembled much like a slimline or other pen we make would be. the transmission looks and feels familiar. often the enternal workings are loose and you can hear them rattle when the pen is assembled. When you write with them you can actually feel the refill move in side the body of the pen. still the pen fills light in comparison to what I make. comments form people I have asked to use my pen or loaned my pen to is that the heavier weight of my pens is better. I have noticed that the clips on these store bought pens are usually stronger and more securely mounted. the finish on most of them does not hold up any better or or even as well as the plating on my pens.
I am not questioning that we ahve better and worse kits available. I am wondering when you say "cheap kit" jsut waht sort of scale are you using to determin it is cheap.
founatin pen lovers can eat this thread up, I would like to see ballpoint and rollerball users be able to do the same.
there is a seemingly never ending conversation about the "quality" of materials we have available. (namely kits)
the Phrase (cheap kits) has become so common that for the most part it requires no explaination.
When I first started making pens. "cheap kits" refered to slimlines with 24k gold plating. now it means anything less than Ti gold, regardless of kit style.
Besides plating material and quality of the plating. what factors determin a quality pen.
It seems that we compair one kit Vs. anouther kit. But how do our kits compaire to name brand pens? have you ever compaired a slimline to a cross?
what determins a quality transmission? are there better ones and if so where?
I ahve watched the development of the higher priced kits. Does higher price mean higher Quality? I have seen tones of bugs ge worked out in these quality high priced kits. most of them are in there second, third or even fourth generation. does this result in better quality? If so why?
I have people from work bring me all sorts of pens to be repaired. I am usually amazed at how they are assembled and the materials in them.
usually the weight is the first thing I will notice. most pens are very light compaired to what I make. the materials are much thinner. I have often thought that the material in most pens I see weigh less than the brass tube I use in mine. I can usually take any of these pens apart with my bare hands, they are either press fit with a very loose fit or threaded. the internal workings are poor to the point of actually being fragile, mostly plastic and operate anything but smoothly. most of the parts have not even been made to fit each other.
flash from being molded are still on them etc. most internal parts wil only stay together when the pen is actually assembled, when you take the pen apart they simply come tumbling out. what I have described above is what I consider a cheap pen.
I have had several pens brought to me that the owner received as a gift. These are the ones that where bought from Office Supply Stores or gift shops and are ment to be lifetime pens. these pens usually begin to look and feel like I would expect a pen to feel like. nearly always they are assembled much like a slimline or other pen we make would be. the transmission looks and feels familiar. often the enternal workings are loose and you can hear them rattle when the pen is assembled. When you write with them you can actually feel the refill move in side the body of the pen. still the pen fills light in comparison to what I make. comments form people I have asked to use my pen or loaned my pen to is that the heavier weight of my pens is better. I have noticed that the clips on these store bought pens are usually stronger and more securely mounted. the finish on most of them does not hold up any better or or even as well as the plating on my pens.
I am not questioning that we ahve better and worse kits available. I am wondering when you say "cheap kit" jsut waht sort of scale are you using to determin it is cheap.
founatin pen lovers can eat this thread up, I would like to see ballpoint and rollerball users be able to do the same.
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