Problem with Executive kit....

[sachbvn]

So, I bought 4 PSI Executive kits from Woodturningz..... it's irrelevant where they came from, they were PSI kits - except for the fact that Woodturningz is kind of like a small business so I hate biatching and moaning to them about something they literally have no control over.... they get the kits from PSI and resell them - same packaging and everything......

Anyways - so I made one yesterday, it turned out great.... I always check the clicker and twist mechanism a number of times before wiping it clean and bagging it. It worked just fine - except, IMO, the ink stick stuck out kind of far when it was twisted to expose it....when I twisted it the other way it did fully retract so I figured "well......I guess that's the design" See - the way the kit works (if ya don't know) it's kind of like a cigar in the fact that you don't press the trany in so - you can't change how far it fits into the tube. Also - equally as important as with a cigar pen - the barrel needs to be the correct length.... if trimmed too short - you may have a problem.

So, I was working on another one today - and for the record - I did not trim the brass tube at all when trimming the blank down - I trimmed TO the brass, but no more. I turned the blank - it came out ok...it was an acrylic..... so - I assembled the thing and was disappointed to find out that the ink still will not fully retract.

So.... I did not cut the barrel down AT ALL - it was the full length that came in the kit..... I tried a new ink stick, a new tranny, a new spring - still - nothing worked. The instructions say that the finished tube is 2 7/8" long - I measured the tube and it was a fully 1/8" short - I measured two other Executive tubes and they were both a full 1/8" short. The ink stick only sticks out about 1/32" or so when full retracted.

What the hell? What would you guys recommend? I don't want WT to make it right with me because it's not their fault..... I won't want to make the rest of the kits I have for fear that they will FUBAR'd too.

Thanks,
Zac

[TDHofstetter]

I'd complain to WoodTurningZ about it. THEY will gripe to THEIR supplier about it... and somebody'll fix your situation (by replacing your kits). Chances are very good it'll be the importer who winds up eating the defective kits.

They need to know - really, they NEED to know. They'll establish that there's a problem & they'll stop shipping the kits that don't work & you'll have done them a FAVOR 'cause they won't hafta' field so many future complaints.

[sdb777]

You could always unscrew the tranny and CA it to the lenght that works right?




Scott (too easy........might work) B

[sachbvn]

No Scott - because you could never change out the ink once that's done. I thought about it - or creating an insert to make the tranny screw down just a tiny bit less - I'd use it for a personal pen, but I broke the tranny trying something else - I'll use the pen for parts.

Tim - I have to think about what I'll say to em - you're right though.


Zac

[monty]

Zac,
Not much to think about. I had a similar problem with the screwdriver/key ring kits from PSI that I bought from WT. Called WT, talked with Fritz and sent him the bad screwdriver inserts. He showed them to PSI and they replaced them.

[Doug B]

Yeah, you have to let WT know when something they sold is defective...at the very least you will save someone else from getting a bad kit if WT checks and finds a problem with their supply.

It seems like we are going to have to start measuring everything now before even starting on a pen kit QC has suffered lately with the China made kits. The bad thing is that a lot of kits instructions do no tell you the length of the tube so if it is wrong you have no way of knowing. I don't know how you get around that problem. Unless you measure the tubes before assembly and if it is correct then you write that down on the instructions for future reference. That does not help you the first time you make a kit though.

[maxwellsmart007]

If you don't let them know, someone else might boycott them because of the 'crappy kits' they received...

Let them know, and perhaps buy some of those longer tubes that you can cut to length yourself, to save the rest of the kits...

[sachbvn]

Maxwell - I thought about asking for them to send me a 3/8" x 10" long tube or two so that I can use the kits I have left.....it's not like they can send me new kits unless THEY measure the part. I'll call Monday and let you guys know what I find out.

Thanks - and you guys are right, I do need to let them know. Should I speak to whoever answer (Beth or Chris I think) or ask to talk to Fritz or Ryan?

Zac

[sdb777]

Apr 23, 2010 19:09:39 GMT -6 sachbvn said:

No Scott - because you could never change out the ink once that's done. I thought about it - or creating an insert to make the tranny screw down just a tiny bit less - I'd use it for a personal pen, but I broke the tranny trying something else - I'll use the pen for parts.

Tim - I have to think about what I'll say to em - you're right though.


Zac

So you can't change out a refill from the nib on the pen?

Guess I'm thinking about the problem wrong....sorry





Scott (I'll be quiet and use my listening ears) B

[sachbvn]

Nah Scott - the nib is a press fit, and does not screw off - well, I'm almost positive it doesn't - I didn't actually check. It looked like it was just one solid piece, kind of like a slimline.

Thanks for the ideas - I'm always open to creative solutions.


Zac