Tools

[Time2Write]

Can anyone suggest what tools I would need to make "service" repairs? I used to get the odd watch and tinker with that. Yet another addictive hobby. So far I have not bought a watch in 3 month. Just a pen that may have ignited a new found hobby.

[risingsun]

Good start for learning and spending your $$$:

http://www.richardspens.com/?acc=01_tools

http://fountainpensacs.com/tools.html

http://pentooling.com/tools.html

http://www.penpractice.com/page3.html

[risingsun]

Here is another I have used:

http://woodbin.ca/Tools.html

[Time2Write]

Thanks for the links.

 

What would you recommend for a beginner?

[risingsun]

Start with the basics needed for re-saccing a lever filler. Sac scraper, alligator forceps, rubber sheets and/or section pliers. Sac cement. Talc. Sacs. Pen polish. Then start looking for lower-cost but quality lever fillers to re-sac. Sheaffers, Esterbrook J, LJ, SJs. Eversharps. Or maybe some Parker button fillers.

 

From there, you can move on to slightly more involved repairs. The Sheaffer touchdown fillers are a natural progression from the lever/button fillers, are only slightly more complex, and need only a few extra tools/supplies. Read all about it in the reference section of richardspens.com.

[pen lady]

A good "how-to" book is a good idea too. Lots of people swear by "Da Book" a.k.a Fountain Pens The complete guide to repair and restoration by the late Frank Dubiel, though some of his methods are a little antiquated. I would also recommend Pen Repair by Jim Marshall and Laurence Oldfield. I've had my copies for a while, can anyone out there say if they are still available please?

[Chi Town]

If interested I have a copy available of Da book that you can get......just PM me for specific's :-)

[white_lotus]

Marshall and Oldfield book very much available through the PenPractice website. http://www.penpractice.com

 

Comes from England so shipping may be a bit more, but the wealth of information is amazing from simple to very complex repairs. Emphasis on UK pens, but the major brands covered well.

 

I've never gone much beyond fixing lever fillers (mostly sac replacement), but the book is amazing.

[risingsun]

My opinion is to save your money that you would spend on a book and put it towards tools and supplies for the time being. There is a wealth of information on basic repairs available online. If you move towards intermediate repairs, then I recommend the book.

[Hooker56]

Andy,

 

The Marshall & Oldfield repair book is an excellent resource, but it's about $80 USD. When I started doing this I learned so much from buying different pens and researching on the interweb, like RisingSun suggests. As my experience and confidence grew, I added more resources, tools, and techniques. I'm still a novice by a commercial repairman's standard, but in my 100+ plus collection and half again that many that I've restored for friends, I have only a few pens that I had to punt to repairers. The real fun has been in learning and growing. I only recently bought the M&O Repair Book. I think it means much more because I put the early money into parts pens for practical experience.

 

Hard to explain, but sometimes you learn more from making a few missteps than from following someone else's formula. It helped me think in a more innovatie way towards pen restoration.

[Ron Z]

Two comments - the Marshall and Oldfield book is miles ahead of Da Book which hasn't been (and by agreement can't be) updated since Frank died over 10 years ago. I don't recommend it, and take issue with many items in it.

 

I have a couple articles on my website about how to make basic repair tools. You'll find the Cheap Tools articles and links to other articles here. If you're at at all handy, you can make these, and will have basic tools for pen repair without laying out a bunch of money.

[Hooker56]

May I also add at this point that Ron Zorn, Gerry Berg, Tim Girdler, Jim Fraembear, Danny Fudge, Todd Eberspacher, Daniel Kirchhmier, and yes, Bruce you and all the others who contribute their time and expertise that has been invaluable to those of us who try to maintain our own pens.

 

You've saved me a mountain of money and given me joy unmeasurable by helping me with expert advice.

 

Not to mention saving all of those pens from sure demise!

 

Thank you once again!

 

Clayton

[gweimer1]

Start with the basics needed for re-saccing a lever filler. Sac scraper, alligator forceps, rubber sheets and/or section pliers. Sac cement. Talc. Sacs. Pen polish. Then start looking for lower-cost but quality lever fillers to re-sac. Sheaffers, Esterbrook J, LJ, SJs. Eversharps. Or maybe some Parker button fillers.

 

From there, you can move on to slightly more involved repairs. The Sheaffer touchdown fillers are a natural progression from the lever/button fillers, are only slightly more complex, and need only a few extra tools/supplies. Read all about it in the reference section of richardspens.com.

 

Without reading your post, that's pretty much the path I've followed. I went from buying my first vintage Parker 21 in May(?), to picking up a few more, and better, Parkers. In August, I made the leap into learning how to repair an Esterbrook (and also how to buy a WHOLE BUNCH...), and then did my first Sheaffer snorkel repair. So, here I sit, with many pens, and at least 3 more Esties and a couple Sheaffers needing work. I love this stuff!

[Ron Z]

 

 

I love this stuff!

 

Careful. It's addicting. For years I went to antique shows and shops just to buy pens so that I could repair them.

[Time2Write]

Every day I am learning new things like how sacs fit, what comes apart and what doesn't and even more importantly, how long it takes for years of dried ink to soften. I've had the nib section in a bowl of water for 3 days now. The wife thinks I am crackers.

 

As with most collecting hobbies, they are addictive. I have only just got over my watch phase and now it's pens. I find myself looking everywhere for old pens!!

 

Thanks again for the links and suggestions.

 

Andy

[tmenyc]

 

For years I went to antique shows and shops just to buy pens so that I could repair them.

Ron, it takes a rare person to put out there what we all do but would never admit in public...thank you for having the courage.

 

Tim

[gweimer1]

I've starting going to a local flea market every Saturday at 6:30 am. There is a lady there who has a bunch of old stuff, and says that she has a box of pens somewhere, but hasn't located it yet.

[Ron Z]

I've starting going to a local flea market every Saturday at 6:30 am. There is a lady there who has a bunch of old stuff, and says that she has a box of pens somewhere, but hasn't located it yet.

 

...and then one day she'll say "OH, I just sold them. Some guy came by 5 minutes ago and bought the whole bunch." Hence the well known term in pen circles that they were, or are a "sumguy" If you got them, you're a sumgy.

 

Tim - I still buy pens and fiddle with them just for fun, but the issue of having enough pens to work on was solved about 10 years ago.

[pen lady]

Andy, buy yourself an ultrasonic cleaner and tell your wife that you can clean her jewellery in it. Maybe that will help.

[Time2Write]

Andy, buy yourself an ultrasonic cleaner and tell your wife that you can clean her jewellery in it. Maybe that will help.

Are you crazy?? She will want some more just to put in the ultra sonic cleaner.