I like the idea of using those kids tattoo's to dress up an otherwise plain jane blank. It really makes that white pvc pop. May work on a blah antler or wood blank too. I might have to start looking at the stuff the spawn keep wanting to get out of those quarter vending machines a little closer.
I'm really curious about this new center band section you are having problems with. If the insert really is that tight a fit into the tube, I would expect people to start having problems with it cracking their turned blanks when it's pressed in, as well as having it collapse on them.
Not to give you the third degree here, but a few questions come to mind. How many jr. gents have you done. I get the impression that this ain't your first rodeo? Do you know where and when you got these new style kits from? Did you order straight from CSUSA recently? Were the kits all one plating, or different? I just noticed that the threads on this kit are black enamel, and the center trim ring is black. Is the finial black too? Is this a platinum or rhodium plated kit? If so that's a change from the gold trim ring and finial I'm used to seeing. Once you get them assembled, how do the metal to metal threads feel compared to the old style?
I ordered a black ti jr gent fp kit from them a couple of weeks ago and it was the normal short center section with the black nylon threaded insert.
Thanks;
James