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UPDATE Spares
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Barring any major problems with run pikes yet to be delivered (international ones are still in transit) it looks like we will have five spare pikes! Unfortunately this is obviously a very limited number compared to the amount of people messaging about them.
I think I have decided the fairest way to give everybody a shot at getting one. Given that dumping them all in the Junkyard would precipitate a flood of messages, be limited to RPF members AND those lucky enough be online at just the right time, I am going to try putting them on eBay, one at a time, once a week, ending at the same time with links and times posted in advance.
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In either case, how do we convince you to do a 2nd run, now that all the details are nailed down and you know how to deliver!!
Come on Tommy...run number 2 would be soooo much easier
However, this pic with the helmet has thrown be over the edge, and now definitely call for a second run!
I second Somerset!
Heck I would be willing to pay over some for Tom's time and efforts, reward yourself a bit!
Thank you for your enthusiasm and faith
I'm going to be honest, this run was a LOT more work than I anticipated and as such I'm not super keen to dive into a second run. My primary motivation was producing the most accurate pike possible, providing a quality product that people would be happy with and for the run to go as smoothly as possible, and while making money was not my primary concern making them at a $ loss was obviously not an option.
The run didn't go as smoothly as I wanted, we hit some snags with the original manufacturer backing out, new manufacturer substantially raising the price, later saying the original quote didn't include shipping, the unexpectedly huge customs fees, the finish issues that cost us 4 months etc. etc.
However I never realistically expected a
completely trouble free run, I've been part of and/or followed a lot of them over the years and it seems they never truly are.
I do feel I've succeeded with my first two goals tho, having access to the fantastic reference I firmly believe it is the most accurate (without the wrinkly chrome tape, chipped/scratched handle with heavy sanding marks, holes etc.) pike available, short of tracking down the real found part (which I very much tried to do, and which were all different) and making it from the same materials and techniques. Posts by people that have received them suggest that they are very happy with the pike and it's quality. I've ended up with a little profit, which is nice, but not more than I could make in a day doing something else and certainly nowhere near offsetting the hundreds of hours of R&D analysing photos, 3d modelling, producing blueprints, engineering, liaising with machine shops, checking, assembling, packing etc.
If people are still clamouring for a second run once the spares are gone, and once I've had some time not thinking about this pike (it's been taking up a lot of space in my brain for well over a year ) I'll probably see how much interest there is in having another 50 produced;
However,
If there is a second run they will be more expensive.
After making them redo the finish several times the factory will not do them for that price again, if they would even take it on. I would also change how the pike goes together and split the handle into multiple parts to avoid the finish issues and the difficulties of mirror polishing a piece with a hard line and black anodising. This largely simplifies the finishing process but more or less doubles the number of machined parts.
www.novuspolish.com
