Tear the clip off of a Vanishing Point?

[BerneseMtDogEatsArco]

Hello and welcome to the court case of "Lefty vs VP".

Today, we decide the fate of a particular scoundrel - the Vanishing Point!

 

This individual has been arrested for being a smooth operator, in addition to the following public offenses:

(1) Carries concealed nibs

(2) most annoyingly - has an offensive, brutal CLIP!

 

The witness has spoken of deep knuckle pains caused by gripping the clip under the left thumb, and the court now awaits the decision of the jurors!

 

Shall we remove the clip?

****Will removing the clip and carrying the pen clip-less in the pocket result in vengeful ink stains???****

 

 

You, the jurors, decide the fate of this pen!

 

[jdboucher]

I don't have an answer but I would like to comment on the clever way this topic was presented.

[yachtsilverswan]

...Shall we remove the clip?

****Will removing the clip and carrying the pen clip-less in the pocket result in vengeful ink stains???****

 

Others have removed the clip from the VP and found the pen very serviceable after the mutilation.

 

You'll want to file down the rough edges well, otherwise the pen will be more uncomfortable. A Dremel electric multitool is reported to work well for this project.

 

 

 

[Pink Ink]

I’m right-handed and I still don’t like that clip.

[BerneseMtDogEatsArco]

...Shall we remove the clip?

****Will removing the clip and carrying the pen clip-less in the pocket result in vengeful ink stains???****

 

Others have removed the clip from the VP and found the pen very serviceable after the mutilation.

 

You'll want to file down the rough edges well, otherwise the pen will be more uncomfortable. A Dremel electric multitool is reported to work well for this project.

 

 

( Happy hop! )

 

Thank you, yachtsilverswan!

 

Does the jury proceed to move for capital punishment?

[MDI]

Just looked at my VP.

 

How are you planning to cover the holes in the stainless steel front section upon removal?

 

In my view, the recommendation cannot be given without knowing how you intend to carry the pen. To me, the VP is a one-handed pen that travels clipped to a pocket. Without its clip, it becomes an awkward two-handed pen that must be retrieved from <somewhere>, unless you plan to store it loose in pocket (and risk it falling out). Two-handedness in retrieval would ruin the appeal of the push-button mechanism, and no longer justify all of its inherent compromises. There are way better two-handed clip-less pens out there to carry in one's pocket.

[BerneseMtDogEatsArco]

Just looked at my VP.

 

How are you planning to cover the holes in the stainless steel front section upon removal?

 

In my view, the recommendation cannot be given without knowing how you intend to carry the pen. To me, the VP is a one-handed pen that travels clipped to a pocket. Without its clip, it becomes an awkward two-handed pen that must be retrieved from <somewhere>, unless you plan to store it loose in pocket (and risk it falling out). Two-handedness in retrieval would ruin the appeal of the push-button mechanism, and no longer justify all of its inherent compromises. There are way better two-handed clip-less pens out there to carry in one's pocket.

 

Yes! The court moves to present more information.

 

Exhibit A:

The accused has been known to frequent shirt pockets, clipped and waiting for the right minute to dart out and exact his messy work upon the unknowing.

 

Exhibit B:

He makes use of an associate, known as the lefty hand. Witnesses have heard the accused refer to his accomplice as "Lefty", or "Southpaw". This "Southpaw" has been known to single-handedly retrieve the accused from the messy crime scene. At times, "Southpaw" has been caught on closed-circuit security tapes while transporting (again, singlehandedly) the accused to the victimized paper.

 

Additionally, it has come to the attention of the court that capital punishment - namely, removing the offensive clip - may leave unsightly marks on the body of the accused. The court requests further opinions regarding this issue.

 

[MDI]

Perhaps you can remove the factory clip, then spend coin to have someone custom-make you a clip that does not offend your hand grip.

[Donald594]

well, i love the clip and I'm a lefty.

[BerneseMtDogEatsArco]

Perhaps you can remove the factory clip, then spend coin to have someone custom-make you a clip that does not offend your hand grip.

 

 

That's a cool idea! I hadn't thought of that. I could use the two remaining cuts in the body to anchor a clip. I'm looking into this as a alternative.

 

Thank you MDI!

[yachtsilverswan]

After removing the clip, you will need to seal any holes left by your surgery. The retracted nib remains wet because the trap door seals the nib against circulating air.

 

Unless the retracted nib remains sealed against outside air, the nib will dry out.

[BerneseMtDogEatsArco]

After removing the clip, you will need to seal any holes left by your surgery. The retracted nib remains wet because the trap door seals the nib against circulating air.

 

Unless the retracted nib remains sealed against outside air, the nib will dry out.

 

 

Youch - I had no idea ("D'oh", huh?). Thank you again, yachtsilverswan! I will seal the surgical incisions.

[piojo]

Man, I would just sell the pen. I don't like explicitly right handed pens, and for the price, you could get a different reasonably nice pen. Do you think the result of your surgery will be more fun to have and use than what you could get by selling or trading that pen?

[BerneseMtDogEatsArco]

Well, the jury had made its decision - leave the clip be.

However, I mentioned to my mom that I was considering removing the clip, and she asked to test the pen out and give her opinion. She snatched it out of my hand, and IT NEVER CAME BACK.

 

So, thanks all for your help - but apparently, we now have a hostage situation.

[thibaulthalpern]

After removing the clip, you will need to seal any holes left by your surgery. The retracted nib remains wet because the trap door seals the nib against circulating air.

 

Unless the retracted nib remains sealed against outside air, the nib will dry out.

 

 

Youch - I had no idea ("D'oh", huh?). Thank you again, yachtsilverswan! I will seal the surgical incisions.

I believe that's not true. The nose cone portion and the clip is not mechanically necessary for the VP to operate. The nose cone and clip is just like a cap that clips on to the rest of the pen. It doesn't provide the "air tight" function.

[chris burton]

The nose cone portion and the clip is not mechanically necessary for the VP to operate. The nose cone and clip is just like a cap that clips on to the rest of the pen. It doesn't provide the "air tight" function.

 

This is correct. I've had these pens all the way "apart" and can attest firsthand that the clip holes will in no way compromise the "air tightness" of the nose of the pen.

 

[Bryant]

The clip is the reason I dont have one of these pens. I cant stand how it feels. Its just so in the way for me. It sucks, because I really like the whole concept of this pen. The Quick Draw Mcgraw of fountain pens...

 

[Ledjeffelin]

I went through similar problems with two VPs and finally gave up. The solution for me was the Fermo. It has a completely different feel and the clip design is much different. There is at least one review here comparing the VP to the Fermo and it highlights the differences very well.

 

I would suggest you sell the VP and buy the Fermo. The Fermo can easily be sold if it too disappoints.

 

 

 

 

Hello and welcome to the court case of "Lefty vs VP".

Today, we decide the fate of a particular scoundrel - the Vanishing Point!

 

This individual has been arrested for being a smooth operator, in addition to the following public offenses:

(1) Carries concealed nibs

(2) most annoyingly - has an offensive, brutal CLIP!

 

The witness has spoken of deep knuckle pains caused by gripping the clip under the left thumb, and the court now awaits the decision of the jurors!

 

Shall we remove the clip?

****Will removing the clip and carrying the pen clip-less in the pocket result in vengeful ink stains???****

 

 

You, the jurors, decide the fate of this pen!

 

[youstruckgold]

Have it; love it; use it.

 

Off with his head! :ph34r:

[Richard]

After removing the clip, you will need to seal any holes left by your surgery. The retracted nib remains wet because the trap door seals the nib against circulating air.

Removing the clip does not expose the pen to dryout. The clip is secured to the metal nose cone by a retaining clip that slips under two folded-over ears that protrude inward through slots in the nose cone.

 

Remove the nose cone.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref_info/vp_clip_removal/nose_off_vp.jpg

 

Slide out the retaining clip and remove the pen's clip.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref_info/vp_clip_removal/clip_off_vp.jpg

 

Reattach the nose cone with a good household glue (not white glue). The nose cone's holes look remarkably like the windows of an aircraft pilot's cockpit, and the clipless pen looks sleek and jetlike in a futuristic kind of way. It's wicked cool, actually.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref_info/vp_clip_removal/clipless_vp.jpg

 

(Edited to add the following)

 

I just put up a slightly more detailed version of this posting on my blog.

Edited December 11, 2008 by Richard