Fisher Bullet Space Pen (mini) problem

A

AlphalphaPB

Joined
Apr 29, 2002
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(Note: I have the mini version of the Fisher Space Pen, it's less than 4" long when closed)

I can't open my pen, as the pen body managed to get shoved too tightly into the cover. I've tried pliers, they just slip right off the smooth body. Any suggestions?
 
i've had this problem before but with the black one so its easier to get a grip on it cuz of the finish. if you have any of those rubber doily type deals that are used for opening up jars i bet you could get a good grip on it with that and then use pliers over that. you need to make sure to have something fairly substantial inbetween the pliers and the pen in order to not mar the finish. i would imagine that any type of rubber would work as long as it's porus enough, but if you can't get anything to work you might try putting a little rubber cement on whatever you're putting inbetween the pliers and the pen because rubber cement should be able to rub off but it would provide friction. maybe there's something else that would work better than rubber cement. I would definitely say that using something made out of rubber would help you get a good grip. Let us know how you do and if you figure out an easy way to do it. good luck

- Pete
 
just gotta laugh...

I did the same thing a couple weeks ago. I was using mine on a pressure point to get a kink out of my neck. Being the neanderthal I am, I used my teeth as pliers and wrenched it out. Now I have a "unique" looking pen.
 
Had this problem once too. Held the pen part in my hand and used a screwdriver to push on the rim of the cap. Was still a beeotch to get open but I didn't mar it too badly.
 
I managed to get the cap off with a sheet of rubber (erm, not a rubber :D) and pliers. The body of the pen got dented in the process.

Other problems I've had are the loose clip, and the easily disfigured and cheap looking stylus tip. The display models I saw in the store all had bent tips, mine was bent after just one day of pocket carry. I had to superglue the clip on myself.

This is definitely something I would not expect from a $25 pen, so I'm never going to buy from Fisher again. I've seen better quality and design in Japanese pens selling for half this price. The only things the space pens have got going for them are the hyped-up "write-anywhere" cartridges and the supposedly tough metal construction. Bleh.
 
Wow, giving up in Fisher already? Maybe you didn't put the clip on the fattest part of the barrel?

I only say that because I've never jammed the cap or had a loose clip on my plain chrome Bullet Pen. It's been in the bottom of my pocket for over two years jumbled with my keys. Never had a problem. Maybe I'm lucky. :D I don't have the stylus tip though..I just use a regular stylus instead.

You might consider contacting Fisher and registering your complaint. Maybe they'll send you another one?
 
Are we talking about the same-sized pen here? Mine is the smaller version, with the stylus tip at the end of the cap.

I did try putting the clip on the fattest part, it would still slide off while in the pocket.

I just don't think that the hassle of a warranty exchange is worth it, for a pen that I have to baby. I'd rather just spend the $5 or so on a new plastic :eek: pen that writes better. I've never really liked ballpoints anyway. Or perhaps I'll just go with the Russian "space pen", a pencil. :)
 
You have this pen, but with a clip right?
400s.jpg


This is what I have:
400cl.jpg


Seriously, I've never had the clip slide off. It has been in my pocket every day for over 2 years. No dents either. Lots of fine scratches though.

I carried plastic disposable PaperMate pens in my pocket for almost 20 years. I finally gave those up for a Bullet Pen because I got tired of the long pens wearing holes in my pockets. I don't even notice the Bullet Pen in my pocket at all. :D

Anyway, sorry to hear about your experiences.
 
Just a thought, but have you tried a small drop of penetrating lubricant around the edge of the cap? Should help, along with something rubber to loosen it enough to remove.

HTH,

Mike
 
Thanks for the advice, everyone. I managed to get the cap off already. I'm going to carry the pen around for a week or so, to see how much I like it.

I have the feeling that I prefer $2 plastic gel ink pens more, they offer great writing quality (much better than any ballpoint) for a great price. I buy them in packs of 10 and stash them everywhere.
 
I've got both the stylus and nonstylus versions, and have not had any problem with getting stuck.

How did you finally separate them?

I did start carrying my nonstylus one in a Fisher leather business card-space pen set up. Very nice. Can also carry a fresnel lense, scalpel blade, butterfly bandaids, and $$ in it.

Carry the stylus one in my PDA case. Get lotsa comments.

Mike
 
I also have the nonstylus version. The clip on mine was also lost within two days of carry. On the other hand, I was glad to see it go. It was an afterthought, added to a pen I already liked just fine without it.

About that stuck cap ... next time you have something like that, try those rubber grippers. You may not even need pliers once you get a grip with them. And they are great to have around for their original purpose of removing tight jar caps.

Another trick is to put the pen in the freezer or under very cold water. Once it gets real cold, the metal parts may shrink away from each other. I've used this to get a tight ring off my finger. Warm water or soap will lubricate it, but cold shrinks the ring down that little bit.
 
If I was to get another Bullet Pen I would not buy the Stylus! Mine was gone in a week.

I too have stuck my cap on but that was a stress thing. I was opening and closing the thing over and over in my pocket and smashed it together. It took a while to get it apart which didn't help with the stress just redireced it.

Gadget54:rolleyes:
 
Esav:
Originally posted by pjenkins00
if you have any of those rubber doily type deals that are used for opening up jars i bet you could get a good grip on it with that...

- Pete
Click to expand...

I guess great minds think alike :D
 
I don't understand why so many companies insist on putting exposed stylus tips on pens. :rolleyes: If the stylus is soft enough to be safe it is also delciate enough to need protection!

I have given up on exposed stylus tips. My main "pocket pen" is a Retro 1951 Tornado Data Pen. It's short, but provides a good grip, and both tips retract.

--Bob Q
 
I would have bought the non-stylus version, if they had had it at Chesapeake Knife & Tool. All of the display pens with styli on them showed terrible bending and deformation, but I figured it was just because customers abuse those things.

Usage report:
Sometimes the pen skips slightly and globs when writing, a common problem with the large-diameter ballpoint pens I've encountered in America.
 
Originally posted by AlphalphaPB
Sometimes the pen skips slightly and globs when writing, a common problem with the large-diameter ballpoint pens I've encountered in America.
Click to expand...

From what I understand, you can contact Fisher about the skipping and globbing and they'll send you a new refill. :D
 
Thanks for the info. I will test it for a while first, perhaps it's my writing style that's causing this. I manage to screw up most kinds of pens since I hold them perpendicular to the paper.

It wasn't major skipping/globbing, just a slight annoyance. I might open up my spare cartridge and try that one out.
 
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