3Doodler troubleshooting

3Doodler is the handheld "3-D printer" which was a big hit on kickstarter.   Essentially it is a big fat pen with a drive system, heater, and nozzle through which you can extrude ABS or PLA (using their proprietary filaments.... a significant upsell!)

I got mine recently and am here to report on its premature demise.  After 8 or 10 filaments over 3 days, I started a real design project, using black ABS. Shortly the pen clogged or jammed.  Nothing coming out.  Their site advises trying to push it through with a new filament -- no go.  Then it advises removing and unclogging the nozzle with flame or acetone. Don't burn your fingers.  Still my device was jammed.  When I tried the last step on their FAQ guidance, to advance or back up the filament, instead a white nylon sleeve/tube came out from the distal end.  It appeared to be jammed and filled with solid black ABS.   I could not reinsert this tube into the pen.

So far the company has not responded to customer service requests.