UPSB v3
Approved Tutorials / Retractable Flex MX tutorial
by K4S
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Date: Mon, Jun 16 2008 05:44:38
Welcome to the Retractable Flex MX tutorial!
The 11th tutorial by me, K4S
I don’t remember why I came up with this pen but there’s a good chance I just decided to make one out of boredom. Anyway, this is the first mod of my comssa quadrilogy and because of how nice the end result was I chose to extend its versatility to the other subsequent pen mods which now make up the comssa quadrilogy.
The retractable flex MX is a nice school pen since it still looks like a pen and it spins moderately well. Overall, it probably doesn’t spin exactly identical to the original Flex MX, but that is unfortunately the case for most mods when you take something and make it retractable. It still spins well though, so don’t fret
(I assume no responsibility if you are careless and sustain eye damage or dismember your finger/hand from trying to follow my tutorial to make this pen mod. Remember, you can’t spin pens without fingers.
)
Some basic stats/info:
-18.8cm
-COG = COP (this is adjustable depending how you grip the final pen)
-slightly heavier than an rsvp MX
-single sided
-retractable
-Total cost is about $7 (give or take depending on how much grip you use and where you get your pens)
-Back cap does rattle a little bit when spun**update** Very very minimal rattling when spun if made correctly
So let us begin…
1.
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg96/jt...acFlexMX001.jpg
Pens you need:
1x G3 (metal tip)
1x comssa
1x Zebra F-301 pen
Grips of your choice (anyball/profile grips are used in this tutorial; not seen in picture)
2.
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg96/jt...acFlexMX002.jpg
Disassemble the F-301 pen. Wrap an elastic around the body for added leverage. Grab the metal body and pull out the retractable mechanism.
**Tip: twist the whole retractable mechanism as you pull it out of the metal tube.
This is what you need from the F-301 pen:
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg96/jt...acFlexMX003.jpg
3.
CLOSE UP PICTURE OF THE CUT SECTION
**I checked my own pen and I actually cut it 2.4cm long…shouldn’t make any real difference though
4.
Once you have the back section cut correctly you need to re-assemble it. Use the G3 inktube to push against the long white plastic piece to push it back onto the metal back clicker completely, and then put in the other small white plastic piece of the mechanism.
**update** In order to reduce how much the back cap rattles when spun you can wrap tape around the bottom section of the long white plastic piece. (consult the picture below)
What it looks like assembled
5.
Disassemble the comssa by removing the backplug, inktube, and felt tip.
Cut 1.1cm off the front of the comssa and then file it down as the picture states.
The tape on the back is to prevent the back cap from wobbling around so much when the pen is complete.
6.
Empty out the G3 gel ink and use the empty inktube. The two pieces are held together with tape (any tape should be okay).
**You may want to cut more than 4.7cm of G3 inktube and shorten it at the final stage so you get a perfect fit (highly recommended)**
**update** I realized after analysing my pen that the part that rattles the most when spun is actually the inktube since it does not fit into the small slot in the F-301 mechanism. So to muffle the rattling you need to wrap extra tape around the inktube assembly (consult picture below)
7.
Pry off the G3 grip without ripping it and cut the grip as according to the picture. Consult the Q&A if you are having trouble removing it.
8.
Push in the 1.4cm section of grip as far into the cap as possible! If you fail to do this, the backcap will not stay on the metal back clicker piece.
9.
If the G3 doesn’t screw on far enough you may need to file down the comssa tip more. Or if you filed it down too much you can use teflon tape to hold the metal tip on.
10.
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg96/jt...acFlexMX011.jpg
Put the F-301 mechanism on the back of the comssa. It should snap into place.
11.
Hold the pen upright (like you’re trying to write with it), push the metal tip down against the table (so the inktube CANT come out of the metal tip) and then push the cap on. The reason you want to do this is because if you try to push the cap on regularly the metal back clicker will just push forward as you try to put the G3 cap on and you won’t be able wedge the G3 cap onto the metal clicker as much.
what it looks like with the G3 cap on
Once assembled completely, add grips of your choice to the front and back.
***If you only put grips on the front it will likely be front heavy***
Final Product!
Trouble Shooting Questions:
Q: Is a dremel needed for this mod?
A: Nope, I just used an xacto/utility knife
Q: Can I use a different metal tip?
A: Yes, but I used the G3 tip to minimize cost
*Q: I don’t have G3’s so I plan on using signo metal tip and an rsvp cap…will this work?
A: The tip doesn’t matter but the G3 cap is significantly larger than an rsvp cap so likely the back metal clicker wont fit along with the G3 grips inside the rsvp cap. If you want to use an rsvp/sunburst cap consult my retractable HCMX tutorial and look how I attached an rsvp cap and then apply it to this tutorial
*Q: I checked out your other comssa quadrilogy tutorials and I noticed that you cut the F-301 mechanism shorter in those tutorials but left it slightly longer for this one…why?
A: I left the back section of the F-301 longer (not the front, consult the close up picture to understand) because then you do not see the white plastic clicking piece on the final product. If you cut it as short as my retractable HCMX, the G3 grip will not completely cover the white plastic piece of the F-301 mechanism.
*Q: Okay, so you updated the tutorial with ways to virtually eliminate the pen from rattling when spun, can I get a quick summary because I’m a lazy bastard.
A: Wrap tape around the long white plastic piece in the F-301 mechanism, wrap more tape around the inktube assembly to prevent internal movement (<-- this is the most important step) and put tape on the back of the comssa to prevent the G3 cap from wobbling.
*Q: So do these minor updates affect the COG in anyway?
A: No.
Q: So I can grip this anyway I want?
A: Yes, I chose anyball/profile grips to keep the original look
Q: Length doesn’t match the original Flex MX!
A: I have never made nor did I have an original flex MX to compare against when I came up with this mod, sorry.
Q: The backcap wont stay attached to the F-301 clicker
A: You need to make sure the G3 grip is really shoved as far into the back cap as possible so that the F-301 clicker will wedge in there and fit tightly.
Q: Where do you buy the pens for this mod?
A: Zebra F-301 can be found at walmart/staples. The comssa and G3 can be bought at penwish or you can just trade someone for some.
Q: The little white piece of the back clicking mechanism keeps falling out
A: Yes, after you cut the F-301 mechanism the little tabs which hold that white piece are taken off so the white little plastic piece easily falls out. Just assemble it correctly and you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. And be careful not to lose it ._.
Q: I can’t push the F-301 mechanism into the back of the comssa T_T
A: Grow some muscles and try harder ._.
Q: I followed your tutorial exactly but it doesn’t work.
A: It’s likely even though you measured everything exactly the same, the actual assembly of the pen mod changed a few variables and it doesn’t fit the same as when I made it myself. The mod is simple enough you can probably figure out what went wrong and fix it yourself. If not, post your question.
Q: The mechanism won’t click forward
A: The inktube is probably too long.
Q: HOW DO YOU GET THE G3 GRIP OFF?!?!?!
A: A lot of prying unfortunately…why do you think the grip got stretched out so much when I was trying to remove it myself haha…
Q: Did you cut the G3 grip before taking it off?
A: Not when I first made the tutorial but cutting it prior to removal would probably make it a bit easier.
Q: Why did these tutorial take so long to make?
A: School, work, going to the gym 5 days a week, friends, life in general….and procrastination.
Q: Why do you release your tutorials in clusters instead of doing them 1 by 1?
A:
…it’s a quadrilogy ._.
Q: Wait a sec, this Q&A looks oddly similar to your other comssa quadrilogy tutorials…
A: Yep, the 4 mods part of my quadrilogy all use the same mechanism and body, hence why I call it a comssa quadrilogy and why the Q&A are quite similar.
Q: Your pen mod sucks
A: I have moderator powers now, choose your words wisely
Q: Pffft, you wouldn’t abuse your powers to hurt me
A:
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Date: Mon, Jun 16 2008 05:46:42
Holy shit. This looks awesome!!!
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Date: Mon, Jun 16 2008 05:52:36
Nothin like another K4S tutorial for UPSB's modders
I will make this using signo tip and rsvp cap once I get an f-301. Im assuming itll work. Im looking forward to more tuts
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Date: Mon, Jun 16 2008 05:55:41
Does it rattle?
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Date: Mon, Jun 16 2008 05:56:15
Dude, I might actually try this since, I have some G3's from you
and have to get Zebra F-301 -
Date: Mon, Jun 16 2008 05:58:14QUOTE (nateiskewl @ Jun 15 2008, 10:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Does it rattle?QUOTE (K4S @ Jun 15 2008, 10:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>-Back cap does rattle a little bit when spun
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Date: Mon, Jun 16 2008 06:07:01
I love you K4S
I just need the Zebra pen.. -
Date: Mon, Jun 16 2008 07:11:43QUOTE (K4S @ Jun 15 2008, 10:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Q: Your pen mod sucks
A: I have moderator powers now, choose your words wisely
your pen modsucksis great
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Date: Mon, Jun 16 2008 09:31:46
Take it easy with the tutorials man, I have to organize these things for my RD project.
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Date: Mon, Jun 16 2008 13:57:54
WTF
Get me some Zebra F-301 NOW bitch. -
Date: Mon, Jun 16 2008 14:56:34
you can use a pilot better retractable. Its much simpler, just break the barrel and take out the back clicker part. I've already made a few using better retractables, and then i found this!
oyeah with better retractables the length is about 20 cm, which is a better length in my eyes. Nevertheless great tut as always K4S -
Date: Mon, Jun 16 2008 19:06:20
sweet
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Date: Tue, Jun 17 2008 03:56:10
Nice! Y all of ur new mods uses f-301s... Just asking... Lol...
Its good though cuz i can get tons of f-301 here! Haha! -
Date: Tue, Jun 17 2008 06:17:44
god! TEK also have 1
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Date: Tue, Jun 17 2008 06:19:02QUOTE (BlacknWhite @ Jun 16 2008, 11:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Nice! Y all of ur new mods uses f-301s... Just asking... Lol...
They all use the same mechanism and body, hence why i called it the comssa quadrilogyQUOTE (pholord @ June 15 2008, 11:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE (nateiskewl @ Jun 15 2008, 10:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Does it rattle?QUOTE (K4S @ Jun 15 2008, 10:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>-Back cap does rattle a little bit when spun
I updated my tutorial with ways to almost completely eliminate any rattling when the pen is spun
Tutorial updates are noted by "**update**". New questions for the Q&A are noted by a small "*" beside the 'Q' -
Date: Wed, Jun 18 2008 17:11:43
Again you proved, that you're the most mighty pen modder and tutorial writer in the word
You should study something that has a connection to mechanics and stuff like that (or did you already? ) .
Well, I also want to say that all the mods you released recently are completely awesome, I just don't want to spam in all the threads something like "OMFGTWFTBBQ?! You're so awesome!!1!" but I would if it wasn't against the board rules .
Greetz,
Patrick -
Date: Wed, Jun 18 2008 17:35:38
cant wait to make! damn, just went to staples yesterday and was looking at the zebras (but hadn't seen this tut yet
)
anyways, great tut K4S!!!!!!!!
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Date: Wed, Jun 18 2008 18:01:04
Quick question:
G3 and G2 inktubes are the same diameter, right? So I could use a G2 inktube if I wanted to keep the G3 ink for whatever reason?
Edit: "G3 and G2 inktubes..." -
Date: Wed, Jun 18 2008 20:20:35QUOTE (Ryuukohaden @ Jun 18 2008, 02:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Quick question:
G3 and G2 inktubes are the same diameter, right? So I could use a G2 inktube if I wanted to keep the G3 ink for whatever reason?
Edit: "G3 and G2 inktubes..."
G2 inktube is slightly wider in diameter than G3 but since it's only for extension purposes a G2 inktube should work. I used the G3 inktube to reduce the total number of pens required for the mod but if you have spare G2 ink and want to keep the G3 inktube intact then by all means use G2 ink to extend the length.