COOLEST new pen of the year!

Originally posted by CD Fleischer
How do you hold the pen when you do it?

Hold the barrel in your hand and grasp the telescoping end with your index finger and thumb and extend it, deploying the writing tip. It is definitely doable, though at first awkward.

I've have had a problem with this pen: the filling became somewhat loose and the tip could protrude even though the sliding tip protector end was extended. By shaking the pen, I could also deploy the filling (in the non-telescope position). As a fix, I had to put a single layer of Scotch tape around the filling near the top to give it sufficient purchase within the barrel. It is normally a fiction fit I believe, and the tape just snugged it up. Anyone else have this tip slip occur? Am I correct in thinking that the filling stays snug normally because of the close metal-to-metal tolerance between it and the inner core of the barrel that accepts it?
 
Hold the back end of the ION with your ring and little finger against the palm of your hand. Use your thumb and first finger to move the rubber wrapper (front) away to open the action.

It is rather intuative once you have the pen in your hand... plus I am a Spyderco (linerlock) afficianado so, I am used to one hand operation.

I carry the ION and a Wegner Jr. (Plain edge) in my right pocket. Skipping the usual shirt pocket pen... at least for summer where pocket Tees just don't look right with a pen in the pocket with my glasses... that is probably more than you wanted to know.
 
Thanks for the tip, Ulsterman. I can do it, but it seems like there should be a way to make it a little easier.

Played with an Ion this weekend at Office Depot. Wasn't that impressed. Felt cheap compared to the Telescoping Pen. Just me, I guess.
 
Thanks for the tip, Ulsterman. I can do it, but it seems like there should be a way to make it a little easier.

Played with an Ion this weekend at Office Depot. Wasn't that impressed. Felt cheap compared to the Telescoping Pen. Just me, I guess.
 
Originally posted by Skyline
It'll have to be pretty cool to replace the Fisher Bullet that I carry in my pocket.

I carry one in my pocket, too. Every other pen wound up wearing holes in my pockets.
 
Originally posted by Sproles
I looked at the Fisher Bullet pen, but I didn't like the uncap/ecap ordeal, so I held off.

Yeah, but that's part of its style, like flicking up the cap on a Zippo. You can do it with a flourish. You whip the pen out of nowhere, smoothly and dramatically remove the cap with a satisfying popping sound, and you're in business.
 
Clay,

I don't have one, but I did handle one at a store. The way I remember opening it one handed is to hold the pen in an ice pick grip with the tip end pointing down. You grasp the lower part of the pen by curling your middle, ring and pinky fingers around it. You pinch the tip extending section between the pads of your index finger and thumb and pull up until the tip is extended. You then rotate the pen to its normal writing position. To close the pen you just push down on the top with your thumb.

Hope that helps,

Axel
 
After reading the great # of posts praising the new Fisher Telescoping Pen, I couldn´t resist. Ordered one from www.thewritersedge.com

Well, my disappointment was quite severe. First of all; the pen did write - for about ten seconds. Then it simply stopped and refused to come to life again :(

The second set back; a misspelled engraving. Now, I was really furious :mad:

Two flaws of two possible. My problem is that living in Sweden, this complicates this issue a lot. Just to send it back will probably cost as much as the value of the pen. I am considering just throwing it away and give the f... about it, never ordering from US again.

What´s your comment?

Regards
 
Ok, as a brit, I *really* shouldn't frequent this forum, as it is just too depressing when I find out how much all the gear costs.

I found a shop which sells the telescoping pen - at £29.95 - which is $43.50+

::sigh::

So, happy ending, I ordered using the link quoted above from penwa - $5 shipping, $20 pen - eight days later I'm the proud owner of the *very* cool pen for about $20 less than I could get it in the UK.

For any other Brits (Europeans?) I'd recommend penwa, as even the custom declaration was friendly, as they quote the value of the goods... not the price :-)

Incidentally the price of the pen is well below the £18 limit for duty anyway.

Every one thinkgs the pen is well cool.
 
Originally posted by Ulsterman
I've have had a problem with this pen: the filling became somewhat loose and the tip could protrude even though the sliding tip protector end was extended. By shaking the pen, I could also deploy the filling (in the non-telescope position). As a fix, I had to put a single layer of Scotch tape around the filling near the top to give it sufficient purchase within the barrel. It is normally a fiction fit I believe, and the tape just snugged it up. Anyone else have this tip slip occur? Am I correct in thinking that the filling stays snug normally because of the close metal-to-metal tolerance between it and the inner core of the barrel that accepts it?

I just experienced this same problem. When I first got the Telescoping pen, I replaced the black ink cartridge with a medium blue Fisher refill. The refill uses a press fit to hold it in place, and this one fit perfectly. After a few months of use I noticed that the tip of the cartridge would protrude past the sliding tip and that I could shake it loose like you did. I checked the fit and discovered that the cartridge was now too loose to be held into place. I tried switching out the cartrige with the blue refill from my Bullet pen, but found it too loose as well. I put the original black ink cartridge back in and it fits perfectly. I'm not sure what to make of it all and I'd really prefer to use blue ink, but I can't afford to have ink get on my clothes. :(
 
Originally posted by Senator


I put the original black ink cartridge back in and it fits perfectly. I'm not sure what to make of it all and I'd really prefer to use blue ink, but I can't afford to have ink get on my clothes. :(

It is the original black filling that came with mine that loosened after a few months of use. I tried other Fisher cartridges from my Bullet pen and spares I had around, different colors, even one made by Eversharp, but all were similarly loose. The bit of Scotch tape I put on the original filling has kept it firmly in place, but it seems a bit of a jury-rigged solution for a pen that is otherwise so well machined. There is nothing I found on the official Space Pen site to indicate that they were having manufacturing problems with the Telescoping Pen, but as the tolerances would have to be highly critical, there is little or no leeway when it comes to the press fit of the cartridge: either it fits tightly or it doesn't. What is puzzling to me is that the cartridge loosened over time even though it needn't move to be deployed. One would think that the "press fit" would be stable. I could understand a failure if there was a small gasket involved, if that gasket wore away, but I don't believe there is one in this pen. I think my next move will be to email the Fisher folks and find out if there is a design flaw that they are aware of. The loosening of the cartridge jeopardizes the usefulness of this otherwise perfect pocket pen.
 
4 pages on a pen????

Oh wait I just read all of them :)
Man you guys are going to get me into trouble, have 2 pens and 2 refills on the way.
Thanks I think..... :)
 
I ordered my Telescoping pen about 4 months ago when this post started. When I received it, I thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread. I carried it for a while and loved it. Then, about a month or so later, I had it leak in my pocket and ruin a pair of pants. I noticed that when I closed the pen, the ink portion was not always covered - it would still protrude many times. Anyway, I shelved the pen until about a week ago, when I decided to give it another chance.

I have carried it lately, albeit with more caution, and it really is a great pen. Like I said though, I have the same problems as others. The ink portion still does not get covered every time it is closed. Has anyone found any better solutions to this quite unofortunate problem? Has anyone contacted Fisher directly?

Bucky
 
When I first got my telescoping pen, I took it apart. (Old, bad habit.) When I put it back together, the refil protruded. I took it apart again and pushed the refill further into the pen body. Mine had a tight fit. This fixed the problem with mine. You may want to see if it solves your problem.
 
I have taken mine apart and added tape to every possible part of the ink cartridge and I have tried everything I can think of to end this problem - yet it continues. Something is definitely wrong with the design. I carried the pen today and again it did not close everytime and left many small ink marks on the inside of my pants pocket. I am obviously now aware of the possibility of the cartridge not being covered completely hence causing a severe ink leak, which means that I did not have any serious problems.

I will continue to look at the pen and try to come up with a solution.

Bucky
 
<<Man, you guys are going to get me in trouble.>>

Join the club, Eich1911. My wife blew a fuse when I told what that $35 charge on the credit card was for.

She normally doesn't begrudge me my toys. I spend a lot of money on my hobby (radio controlled aircraft), but she knows all the places I order from and never raises an eyebrow. She didn't recognize Penwa and asked what I had bought.

I guess the moon phase was wrong or something. When I told her what it was she coded out; "WHAT??? Are you NUTS? Thirty-five dollars for a freaking PEN???" She asked to see it, so I showed it to here. She handled it like it was a bomb, then muttered to herself the rest of the evening...<G>

Mind you, this is a woman who won't say a word if I drop two hundred on a new engine, servos, etc. But for some reason, this deal set her off. Needless to say, I was skulking pretty low around the house for a day or so. Seems a bit ludicrous to get one's ass in a sling over a stupid pen, eh???<G>

On the bright side, the pen is still working great and is a really neat conversation starter... The concept is excellent. I now always have a pen with me.

Steve
 
HA! Pen is here!!!!! I love it.

Cant wait to use it!
Also broke down and got a Sensa at the same time. Wow 2 new pens what one to write with????? Havent even looked at the Sensa yet too busy pulling my pen open!!

If I start to have a problem with it Thankfully I have a Fisher store out in Boulder City. I bet they would be happy to replace if for free if you have any problems. (For you guys in Vegas they also give a 10% discount for locals)
 
Okay, truth or tell time. I dropped my Space Pen the other day, and now it won't stay closed. It locks out fine when I retract the back, and still writes great. But the tip keeps slipping out when the pen is held down; similar to Bucky's problem.

Any suggestions before I call Fisher? I don't think I'm gonna pay to have it repaired, but perhaps they'll fix it gratis???<G>

Steve
 
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