Don't Be Teflon-Taping Your Pens!

[Richard]

A very nice "51" hit Jim's bench yesterday afternoon. When Jim disassembled the pen, he found that someone, for sone incomprehensible reason, had applied Teflon tape around the filler pump's threaded collar.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/shared/teflon_tape.jpg

 

We have no idea why this was done.

 

This is but one of many applications in pen repair where it is NOT appropriate to use Teflon tape. If we ever think of an application where it actually is appropriate, we'll be sure to say something. (We recommend you not hold your breath.)

 

The pen works much better with its pump installed correctly. (In addition to the Teflon tape job, the last person who tried to repair it before it came to the Nashua Pen Spa had installed an uncut diaphragm, and -- yup -- it was jamming even after it had developed a leak.)

[hruodger]

I've used some teflon tape for "sealing" not only pens, also in many other thing (cars, machines, etc); but just when it's an emergency, or when the spares aren't available. I think that's the only "appropriate" case.

[zermatt7]

Don't Be Scotch-Taping Your Pens!....Don't be teflon taping your pens !

 

Man, how are we newbies supposed to screw up anything with all the great advice !

 

Next thing you'll be telling us not to use "a bigger hammer" to fix try and fix a pen.

[79spitfire]

Don't Be Scotch-Taping Your Pens!....Don't be teflon taping your pens !

 

Man, how are we newbies supposed to screw up anything with all the great advice !

 

Next thing you'll be telling us not to use "a bigger hammer" to fix try and fix a pen.

 

 

:ltcapd:

 

You have no idea how funny this truly is...

 

Or depressing, it's kinda a fine line...

[hruodger]

Also, we could use a torch!!!

[Leftytoo]

I just repaired a vintage hooded Aurora 88 with teflon tape - it works fine, and none is showing. The section threads were leaking. I carefully cut narrow strips of teflon on a glass plate, using a razor blade. I made several strip sizes, varying both width and length, until, on the 4th try, I got just the right size to screw on easily - actually less tight than the original dry joint. By careful, gentle work one can make an excellent seal with teflon.

Bob

[koa]

Next thing, Richard will be telling us no electrical tape, bias tape, cassette tape, or even gaffer's tape! The last straw will be when we can't use Duct Tape. I tell you, it is a sign of the apocalypse! (Though I am not sure whether the sign is the use of such tape, or the advice not to. Could be interpreted either way.)

[Richard]

I just repaired a vintage hooded Aurora 88 with teflon tape...

The problems with Teflon tape in pen repair are manifold:

 

• Teflon is a lubricant. When used in a pen, it does not create a joint that will stay tight.
   
  
• Unlike thread sealant, excess Teflon tape will not be forced out of the joint during assembly. This results in excessive tensile stress on the female-threaded part, and that leads to swelling and stress cracks. Contrariwise, if you haven't used "too much" tape, the joint will likely leak. Maybe not today, or even tomorrow, but...
   
  
• Teflon tape is designed to be used in a tapered threaded joint, where tightening the joint will compress it into a gasket while at the same cutting it into ribbons so that friction and pressure between the mating parts will hold the joint together. Pens are not assembled with tapered joints, and over time the imperfect seal can fail as the joint loosens and works.
  

I'm sorry, but you haven't repaired your pen, you have fixed it and, if you don't remove the Teflon tape, potentially damaged it.

Edited April 23, 2011 by Richard

[professionaldilettante]

I just repaired a vintage hooded Aurora 88 with teflon tape...

The problems with Teflon tape in pen repair are manifold:

 

• Teflon is a lubricant. When used in a pen, it does not create a joint that will stay tight.
   
  
• Unlike thread sealant, excess Teflon tape will not be forced out of the joint during assembly. This results in excessive tensile stress on the female-threaded part, and that leads to swelling and stress cracks. Contrariwise, if you haven't used "too much" tape, the joint will likely leak. Maybe not today, or even tomorrow, but...
   
  
• Teflon tape is designed to be used in a tapered threaded joint, where tightening the joint will compress it into a gasket while at the same cutting it into ribbons so that friction and pressure between the mating parts will hold the joint together. Pens are not assembled with tapered joints, and over time the imperfect seal can fail as the joint loosens and works.
  

I'm sorry, but you haven't repaired your pen, you have fixed it and, if you don't remove the Teflon tape, potentially damaged it.

I especially agree with the second point. It will crack your pen, as that is why many vintage pens have a metal band on the cap, to prevent the cap from capping that uses threads. The same forces are increased with your pen with the use of teflon, but most sections do not have any metal bands, and thus, result in the long run, cracking, as I could imagine.

[UltraMagnus]

And what is the correct thing to use for this then? Loctite?

[OldGriz]

And what is the correct thing to use for this then? Loctite?

 

NO, the filler unit on a Vacumatic or Parker 51 DOES NOT require any kind of sealant at all.... in fact you should put some Vac lubricant only on a small part of the diaphragm...

Richard sells a very nice lube for this...

[Garageboy]

What about for the Aurora hood, the rosin section sealant?

[Richard]

What about for the Aurora hood, the rosin section sealant?

Absolutely.

[pajaro]

Some time ago I had a Parker 51 demi section and a full-sized barrel. I used teflon tape wound around the demi section threads to add enough thickness to allow the demi section to screw into the full-sized barrel. Worked OK for a while. Then I found a demi barrel and had a very tedious time getting all that teflon tape off of the demi section threads.