How important is triple start cap?

[jhiggi83]

I've been debating whether to invest $300 in an M13 triple-start tap and die set. Up until now, I've only used a single-start tap and die, but I'm curious how much customers actually value the triple-start feature when buying bespoke pens. Some advice I've gotten (including from ChatGPT) suggests that once you're charging more than $200 for a pen, a triple-start cap is almost expected.

What's been your experience — do customers really notice or care about this feature, or is it more of a "maker's detail" than a dealbreaker for buyers?

 

[BHuij]

I'm not trying to sell my pens right now.

So for me, the answer is "not important enough to spend $300 on."

 

[Dieseldoc]

For my customers Triple-start is a very important item, great sales tool, they are willing to pay for the future.

 

[jhiggi83]

For my customers Triple-start is a very important item, great sales tool, they are willing to pay for the future.

Thanks, I appreciate the insight.

 

[leehljp]

If I were buying, I would not buy a single start. Once that level of quality is achieved in a pen, single start holds the price back considerably.

 

[Todd in PA]

With triple, the cap goes on/off in one twist, like other commercial pens.

 

[Penchant 4]

The more familiar a potential customer is with fountain pens, the more important/critical triple start is likely to be to them; and there fore, to you as the maker.

 

[Chriscb]

Umm... I disagree.
I think this is a case of the emperor's new clothes.

A pen with a single start thread has no less quality than a pen using a triple start thread. The quality of the pen is dependent on the skill of the craftsman making the pen - not the thread.

A single start tap and die allows you to set the alignment from cap to body precisely - a triple start gives you a choice of 3 starting positions, only one of which lines up the pattern. If that's not a critical factor for you then fine. For me a misaligned pattern would look how a discordant chord sounds - horrid.

I only use a single start tap/die and can remove the cap within 1.5 turns. I have a waiting list of 8 weeks for my pens, and have sold 40 so far this year. The deal breaker for my customers is not a triple start thread, is only about the design and materials that I've used.

Is half a turn worth £600 plus to setup for triple start - 12mm, 13mm, 14mm and 15mm sets (for #5, #6, and #8 nibs)? Nah, I don't think so.

At the end of the day it's an opinion.

 

[NJturner]

Umm... I disagree.
I think this is a case of the emperor's new clothes.

A pen with a single start thread has no less quality than a pen using a triple start thread. The quality of the pen is dependent on the skill of the craftsman making the pen - not the thread.

A single start tap and die allows you to set the alignment from cap to body precisely - a triple start gives you a choice of 3 starting positions, only one of which lines up the pattern. If that's not a critical factor for you then fine. For me a misaligned pattern would look how a discordant chord sounds - horrid.

I only use a single start tap/die and can remove the cap within 1.5 turns. I have a waiting list of 8 weeks for my pens, and have sold 40 so far this year. The deal breaker for my customers is not a triple start thread, is only about the design and materials that I've used.

Is half a turn worth £600 plus to setup for triple start - 12mm, 13mm, 14mm and 15mm sets (for #5, #6, and #8 nibs)? Nah, I don't think so.

At the end of the day it's an opinion.

I somewhat agree - but limit my agreement to pens with a strong pattern that requires a match. I think a well done single start, allowing a minimum amount of turns from start to finish for the cap to be placed when there is a definite need to match a pattern on the blank is totally acceptable - and reflects the skills of the maker as the pattern is way more important than the threads. Otherwise, I'm definitely aware of any pens I pick up that that are single start - and think the makers concern on quality is also reflected in the threading - and if they wouldn't spend the funds to buy the taps and dies, makes me think where else did they cut corners?

 

[jhiggi83]

I appreciate all of the insights. I went through all of my commercial fountain pens a most are some variation of a single start or a snap close. My favorite is a triple start vintage Montblanc broad nib though. I'll go ahead and order an m13 as I currently only build with Jowo #6 nibs and wait for a group order on others if I start using different nibs.