Not giving up on the ATX and its slippery chrome grip

[Scribero ergo sum]

I've read several times where folks have had no trouble with shiny grips, especially like the kind on Cross's ATX, but I'm nearing my wit's end and need a solution.

 

I just picked up the blue ATX RB from the Cross Web site's sale. It performs beautifully in every way I was hoping for: the balance is beautiful, the Cross RB hardware is excellent, the weight, size, and shape all are typical Cross exceptional.

 

Then it's Catch-22 time---this pen I'm loving, therefore I pull it out at work just about every day and use it constantly. And the more I use it, the more my hand might warm up just the tiniest bit, and then it's over---the thing's slipping and sliding all over the place. I'm lucky it doesn't spurt out of my hand with enough thrust to impale a co-worker across the hallway.

 

But I'm not giving up: if anyone has an idea or suggestion as to what could be done to even just barely alter the surface of the polished chrome grip that would increase the grip friction at all, I will gratefully listen. This pen is otherwise the usual Cross perfomance, bulletproof in nearly every way.

 

Thank you very much.

 

And I hope the good folks in Rhode Island have heard some of this.

 

Cheers.

 

[Russ]

Using micromesh pads with foam backing, you might be able to uniformly texture the surface of the chrome such that you achieve better grip without creating a distressed look. Again, micromesh is the only thing I would consider for this since it is so very, very fine and comes in closely-spaced grades. You should be able to gradually, gently rough up the chrome more in the manner of (un)polishing rather than scratching ... although creating very fine, uniform scratches is exactly what you would be doing.

 

 

[Cedar]

Has anyone tried etching the section with a chemical? I'm thinking of a product that I used in high school art class for etching glass.

Or are there any section one could buy and just replace that part with something rubberized or such?

I'm of the same mind as Scribero in this regard.

I have the same problem with my Lamy Studio Palladium. Both pens write too nicely to give up on.

 

Cedar

[rroossinck]

The Studio problem can be solved, although it might cost just a little bit to do it. If you were able to buy the section from the Studio stainless model, it's got what essentially looks like heatshrink on the section. Swap the nib on to the section, replace on your Palladium model, and re-sell the stainless model.

 

I'm interested in hearing more about this etching process, though.

 

Heatshrink tubing might be an option, although it might not be the easiest thing to work with.

 

What about cutting off the neck of a balloon and fitting that around the section? There'd be enough elasticity if you used a small-enough balloon that it'd probably hold there. If you greased up the section with a bit of shellac first, it might be enough to bind the balloon rubber to the metal so it wouldn't move around too much on you.

 

Just an idea. Wish I'd thought of this when I had my Van Gogh!

[Beechwood]

I alter my grip with the ATX, and pens like it so that more pressure is applied by my thumb which sits half way down the pen, with hardly any pressure from my index and middle finger, therefore no sliding

[CRB]

I think the etching process sounds the most promising. I've tried wrapping the section in closed cell foam: that makes the pen much better to handle, but the cap won't close over the wrapping. Covering it with a balloon neck is an interesting idea.

 

Here's what mine looks like after some mechanical etching with a rotary tool, then brushing with a manicure buffer. There is some improvement, but it's still not textured enough for me to control well.

 

I'd be interested to hear of any modifications that prove successful.

 

Good luck,

Joe

[PenHero]

Cross did make some special edition pens with a sandblasted section that you might like. I would contact Cross service and see if they would sell you one.

 

Cheers,

 

Jim Mamoulides

www.PenHero.com

[Scribero ergo sum]

Cross did make some special edition pens with a sandblasted section that you might like. I would contact Cross service and see if they would sell you one.

 

Cheers,

 

Jim Mamoulides

www.PenHero.com

 

Thank you, sir, much appreciated.

 

I splurged for one of those autumn (or whatever they called it) series ATX FPs last fall (coincidence unintended), and it's seemed to have worked just fine. Instead of that excellent chrome that the RB has, the FP's section and clip, etc., are brass (or copper, whatever). But either way, it seems to give more than enough grip such that I've never noticied any slipping.

 

I'll look into it. Thanks again.