Manufactum orders & shipping

Heh, I can be grumpy—I just want to enjoy a new pencil without $20+ and associated hassle just to make it usable.

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I have an all brass PG5 coming as we speak!

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I thought the PG5 brass variant was a selectable item on the site, but it looks like it was taken down as well as the Orenz adapter. I also see his prices have gone up! What’s he charging for the PG5 now?

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I emailed him directly about each.

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Currently somewhere over the Atlantic. I’m stoked.

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Facebook?

Yes

I’ll have to dust off my old account. I abandoned the platform when Zuckerberg began to infuriate me.

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I get it.

I think he posted the same pictures on the subreddit

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Same. Ten years ago.

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I am brand new to this hobby and this forum. But just wanted to chime in and say what an incredible thing this was in coordinating a Germany only pencil shipped to the USA!

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Hey. Glad you are here.

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Just an FYI… this “hack” that I did hasn’t held. As I indicated, there’s a curved metal catch or “flange” with an extra bending at the corners (looking almost like little fangs). The internal mechanism core is plastic (unfortunately) and a “raised donut” in the center is where the metal flange hooks to keep the mechanism extended. On the faulty example I have, the “donut” isn’t perfectly round, so in one position the catch holds it. In the other positions, it’s not enough.

EDIT
I had initially tried to use aluminum tape to add a little thickness to the raised donut, but it was too much. The donut would not clear the tube opening. I then remembered I have a small reel of kapton tape (great stuff, btw). At first I wrapped a layer around it twice. That was too much, so I went with 1 layer about 3mm wide. And this… seems to have done the trick.

At first I thought this wouldn’t be a viable solution for the long haul, but then I discovered that the metal catch is not “scraping” across the tape. It’s a very smooth action. And what’s happening is that the tape is assuring the raised donut is perfectly aligned in the center of the tube. With that? The mechanism works properly now. I used the mechanism a dozen times and then examined with a loupe – no signs of slipping, scoring or other damage.

So, if any of you discover you have this slippage problem, the DIY kapton tape application seems to fix it.

I had previously written to Manufactum back in April of 2023, where their contact had told me the reason why they don’t ship to the USA (their transport partner is DHL, and their method of shipping internationally creates an extensive delay for a company based in small-town Germany, like Manufactum). She’d said travel time is upwards of 60 days. This was unacceptable, hence they don’t ship internationally. Anyway, idiot me… I didn’t think to write to them when I first discovered this flaw back in September. It’s now a year since the order was originally placed, but I’m hoping they might honor a materials/defect warranty and help me out. We’ll see. I’ll post here later with results.

Btw, my older Manufactum in brass has the same mechanism. A close examination of the raised donut on the mechanism shows a small amount of scoring. I do not know how extensively the previous owner had used the pencil. The clearance of the donut through the tube is very tight. There’s no way I could add any kapton tape to it. The newer ones? They have just enough clearance. I may add tape to those as a “preventative wear” measure, just to satisfy the OCD in me. :smirk::smile:

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edit: nvm pls, I thought it was a recent thread!