[Pyrographer]

Hi and welcome back. If your burner is still working why not just keep using it until it dies. It is a good burner the problem is with the customer service, not the burner itself.

But to answer your question the Optima pens can be used with the Razertip burner by changing the cord to the #2 Razertip cord...preferably the Heavy Duty (HD)

Nedra

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I would give them the benefit of the doubt and try them before giving up...they are all in business and need to take care of customers to stay that way....my experience has been that its not the manufacturers that are the problem it is the small suppliers that don't take of business sometimes...fortunately here, we have several small business owners that go out of their way for us.......got off track....we are talking about manufacturers and I would try them before discounting them imho

[Pyrographer]

I don't want to start another disagreement but having had the experience first hand I feel the need to respond to this.

Unfortunately in this case it goes down stream. The manufacturer is the problem and as a result the small business owners are not getting the service/deliveries in a timely manner in order to serve the retail customers. I've also been told by some of my customers that they did not get their retail orders (made directly to the company) in a reasonable time (still waiting after 3 weeks) and ended up cancelling the orders.

We experienced this ourselves as dealers and finally got tired of the promises for delivery. Several of my friends who are/were Optima dealers have had and still have (those that are still selling them) experienced the same thing and some have finally given up as well. When I switched to Razertip he called me and we talked for a long time about why I was switching and that his dealers (some, not all) couldn't maintain customers if they can't get product in a timely manner and I had hoped that perhaps he would work on improving his time in getting orders out to dealers AND retail customers, but my friends tell me they still have lots of problems getting merchandise and they are very frustrated.

It's very unfortunate because it's a good burner, but when I talked to him he told me he was the only person making the pens and burners and he said he was a perfectionist and was unwilling to turn over production to anyone else to help meet the demand and as I told him you can't run a business like that. I thought perhaps he might reconsider that decision.

Nedra

[WOODIE13]

I like the Colwood Detailer and use the replaceable tips, no issues. It also survived a trip to Iraq with no issues.

For the cords, they offer 14, 16 and 18 gauge cords for thier pens to follow along with your style of burning. I have never had a problem with mine over heating the pen.

Colwood also uses Nichrome wire for their tips.

http://www.woodburning.com/toolshop/type.asp?iType=17

Another good thread for helping to decide (or confusing you even more)

Razertip or Colwood?

Good luck and happy burning.