Cross Pencil

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I was going to order a couple but they won't ship to Canada and they won't ship to P.O. boxes. Don't know how those of us in small towns without mail delivery are supposed to get things.
 
Just received mine and found it to be disappointing in my case.

I bought it and tried it on a cheap 7mm and Streamline from Woodcraft, and a Trimline from PSI.

1. It goes into the transmission but does not snug up. It is loose. When screwed into a real Cross pen it does get snug.

2. When inserted into a real Cross pen the mechanism advances the lead adequately but does not hold the lead in position.

3. On the back of the package it states "Fits Cross ballpoint pens marked with a date code" the date code position is on the transmission. Even my Cross pen does not have a date code.

It cost $8 for the pen and $5.75 to ship it.Nothing ventured nothing gained.
 
Just received mine and found it to be disappointing in my case.

I bought it and tried it on a cheap 7mm and Streamline from Woodcraft, and a Trimline from PSI.

1. It goes into the transmission but does not snug up. It is loose. When screwed into a real Cross pen it does get snug.

2. When inserted into a real Cross pen the mechanism advances the lead adequately but does not hold the lead in position.

3. On the back of the package it states "Fits Cross ballpoint pens marked with a date code" the date code position is on the transmission. Even my Cross pen does not have a date code.

It cost $8 for the pen and $5.75 to ship it.Nothing ventured nothing gained.
Well aren't you a "fun killer" :eek:. Seriously, thanks for the review, hopefully we can find a way to make it better maybe. If not you already pointed it out, "Nothing ventured nothing gained".
 
Wanted to match some bBlack Titanium SlimLines and tehy don't offer in a paecil so I just ordered 5 for $5.19 a pop...i hold opinion tilll they arrive. in the mean time i'll see if they have a bigger discount for bulk... Also noticed in the instructions there are some specific left/right twists to advance and lock.....
 
I bought two of them and found out that they will not work in our transmissions. You can get the lead to extend but it will not stay. The web site does not tell you that it only works with select Cross pens.
Craig Chatterton
Puyallup, WA
 
Mine doesn't work. The lead only holds firm when the mechanism is held in the twisted position, but that cannot happen with the slim transmissions, (SIGH!)

Was hoping for a good thing. Oh well....
 
I picked one up in a local office supply store for $5.99....so when it didin't work I was not as as much money. My experience is the same as everyone elses who has tried. Just doesn't work with our tranny.
 
Don't give up yet folks. There is potential... I've got one to work repeatably but don't like how I did it.....The fix makes it unable to switch back to a pen...I have some ideas to try and will get back to you all...
 
Understanding the Problem

Although we are putting the Switcch-It converter into a twist pen, it's not really twisting. Notice the spring in pic 1. At we twit the pen it extends and seats againest the nib. Continue twisting and the mechanism compresses (pics 2&3) extending the lead. The Normally configured slim line does not allow enough compression to extend and lock the lead in place. Solution: press the transmission in further till you get the correct action (pic 4). However it doesn't look good as the tip extends too far (pic 5) and a standard ink refill really sticks out...:confused:
 

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Vic,
Thanks for that feedback.
As a pencil, it really looks ok from here on how far it sticks out.

You folks should have seen how they used to be 20 years ago. Now those were "pieces of work"
 
Possible Solution

The differnce in length was about 6/64". What I really needed was a spacer. I looked around the shop and spotted a pop rivet I use to clean BLO and plastic polish nozzles. I slipped off the outer sleeve and it slipped snuggly over the pencil tip. I dug up a fresh one and mounted it on the lathe to cut off a small piece (pic 6&7). A slight burr helped keep it snug on the tip (pic 8). If it's too loose it may come off inside. Just try to get it out, DAMHIKT. Makes the tip look better and the ink refill works correct. Pic 9 is a pen with the transmission in the correct position.:cool:

The other issue of the loose threads I've temporarily fixed with a bit of tissue or tape around the threads. It looks like the threaded portion is a touch narrower and posibly a bit courser thread.:rolleyes:

Still working on a viable/sellable solution...
 

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