I am looking at 2 click pens to try. I do want to find a good reliable clicker already but just have not pulled the trigger on any. The two I like the looks of is The Luxor and the Stratus from PSI. Are these good quality clickers?? I hesitate from PSI. Do both or either or use that plastic insert that can get lost at times. Do they both use the Schmidt click mechanism? Any pro or cons is much appreciated. If you have a better choice I will listen. I do need to make a decision soon. Thanks in advance.
The Luxor from William Wood-Write uses the Schmidt click mechanism, but the Luxor from Rizheng does not. They also look different, so be sure you get the right one.
I don't think the Stratus uses a Schmidt mechanism. However, the DURA EDC click pen from PSI does.
I haven't made any of them, so I can't comment on their quality.
The Luxor from William Wood-Write uses the Schmidt click mechanism, but the Luxor from Rizheng does not. They also look different, so be sure you get the right one.
I don't think the Stratus uses a Schmidt mechanism. However, the DURA EDC click pen from PSI does.
I haven't made any of them, so I can't comment on their quality.
John, of the two click pens that you yourself mention as candidates for your selection, I MUCH prefer the Luxor.
First let me say that I strongly favor click pens that use the Schmidt SKM-88 click mechanism which is the big plus for the Luxor, IMO.
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This reply has become more lengthy than I originally intended.
But I hope you . . . .John (and others) . . . . will continue to read as it concludes with what I believe is a new and exciting development,
brought to us by McKenzie Penworks, namely the all-American stainless steel Coyote Click Pen Kit with Schmidt click mechanism.
Along the way, I describe how I use and modify the Luxor pen kit which, until now at least, has been one of my favorite, and relatively affordable, reliable, and attractive click pen kits which also features the Schmidt click mechanism . . . . . in a more modest design.
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The Stratus from PSI does not use the Schmidt SKM-88 click mechanism.
Personally, I do not like this pen, partly for that reason.
Also, I just don't like its looks.
It uses a proprietary PSI click mechanism with an uncertain feel about it.
The Luxor is one of my "go-to" click pens because of its high quality and because it uses the Schmidt SKM-88 click mechanism . . .
. . . but bear this in mind . . .
At first sight, the Luxor doesn't meet one of your criteria in that it has a refill extender which can get lost.
But that little problem can be overcome quite easily and quite quickly.
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By way of explanation, first take a look at the instruction sheet for the Luxor Click Pen Kit :
With the Luxor, you can make your own refill extender and glue that onto the SKM-88 mechanism . . . extra work, but this avoids the loss issue.
The replacement extender is quite easy to make from a short piece of aluminum rod.
It's best to make this replacement with an axial hole to fit over the internal SKM-88 shaft and glue it permanently on with epoxy.
The length of the aluminum replacement extender can be just the same as the original plastic extender plus the length by which the hole overlaps the SKM-88 shaft for gluing on.
By making your own refill extender in this way you can even customize the length of the Luxor pen if you wish to do so.
Another way to build the Luxor and avoid the refill extender is to just shorten the 8mm brass tube by an amount equal to the extender length.
Of course, the final resulting pen is shortened by that amount but some people like the slightly shorter pen.
But I prefer to make my Luxors with the permanently installed (glued) aluminum replacement extender rod.
Once you work out your method, the extra time involved is only 5 minutes or less, not counting the time for the glue to set.
I've made lots of Luxors in this way.
After having said all this . . . .
I would be remiss if I did not finally mention the brilliant (but expensive) new Coyote Click Pen Kit by the McKenzie company.
This stainless steel kit uses the SKM-88 mechanism and has a very attractive design.
Put together one of. McKenzie Pen SS kit called Coyote which includes Schmidt SKM88 push button on 8mm tube with Parker refill. Blank use is from ProKraft UK that was used by. ValleyBoy in his fountain pen positiong. Great looking blank. Interesting when putting the tube in. on first blank...
www.penturners.org
You would do well to have a look at it. I have not made one, but I applaud McKenzie for bringing this kit to the market.
Thanks to @Dieseldoc for showing us his work with this kit.
Notice that the Coyote Click Pen Kit does NOT require any refill extender.
Here is a video showing the easy assembly of this new addition to the pen kit inventory that we have access to ! !
Check out the deal on Blade Button Click Ballpoint Pen Kit - Chrome at Pen Kit Making Supplies Berea HardWoods
www.bereahardwoods.com
berea also has the Sierra super click with the Schmidt mechanism.
I have made them and very happy with results. I try to stay away from inserts as well. The penn state kits I like the best are the EDC Classic and EDC Anvil For that reason.
The click mechanism on the psi vertex was pretty bad. I dont know if that is the same as the other kits, but you can tell from their free downloadable instructions
For those who missed it, Gregf posted a simple solution for eliminating the refill extender: Replace refill extender
I like the Stratus, but it suffers from the click button fragility that can happen if it hits just right when it's dropped. The toothpick solution can help with that, but so can not dropping it.
Thanks Jason I did look at the Blade and that nib just turns me off being too short.
Thanks Mal. I think I will buy one of each of the kits. Luxor and Coyote and play with them. I do like the nib better on the Luxor than the Coyote Those rings where the fingers go would be annoying. This is what I tried to explain to Mckenzie in his discussion about new products. Just a personal thing. The PSI has been eliminated from list from description of different people here. I may get a Blade also. It is different looking at photos than having it in hand. I never though picking a click pen kit would be so difficult. Why can these companies not make a good quality clicker. All junk pens I get that are clickers last forever and get abused. How do they do it. ??
For those who missed it, Gregf posted a simple solution for eliminating the refill extender: Replace refill extender
I like the Stratus, but it suffers from the click button fragility that can happen if it hits just right when it's dropped. The toothpick solution can help with that, but so can not dropping it.
Like many others, I don’t like the plastic refill extender that comes with the EDC Duraclick. Too easy to loose in my opinion. I found an easy to make replacement. The Schmidt Easyflow 9000 refills from ExoticBlanks come with a black cap, I guess to protect the tip. Simply drill it out to 9/64”...
Like many others, I don’t like the plastic refill extender that comes with the EDC Duraclick. Too easy to loose in my opinion. I found an easy to make replacement. The Schmidt Easyflow 9000 refills from ExoticBlanks come with a black cap, I guess to protect the tip. Simply drill it out to 9/64”...
I used the same extender to salvage an Athena vs Athena 88 tube length oops.
Used an Athena tubed blank on a Athena 88 kit.
The Athena 88 uses the Schmidt clicker.
I haven't made a Stratus pen since 2015. It does use the plastic piece on the click mechanism. Never had any problems, but I haven't used it that much.
I have made the Duraclick EDC, which has that extender. They are not a problem for me personally, but I am somewhat concerned that a customer would lose or throw them away when refilling. I know the tube can be shortened to compensate for removing it but, as far as kits go, the blank is the only canvas for our art, and that doesn't leave as much blank to show off. Maybe I"ll try the "permanent" extender mod one of these days.
As far as alternatives, how about the PSI slimline pro and everyday classic? They both use the smaller, brass Schmidt click mechanisms.
I do not want a two piece pen so those are out. I do not like the stainless steel pens they look too generic and no style to them. I know it must be a tooling thing but wish he would have changed the style on all the stainless. I believe I am going to order some luxor kits and try a few of those. If I have to make an adapter I will see what that involves and go from there. I found I have some Sierra clicks yesterday as I looked through my inventory so will take a look at them too. Thanks all for the help.
