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Correct Sac Installation


berlinairlift

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I have only recently started to repair pens and have now done sac replacements for a variety of pens from different manufacturers. I have noticed that in some pens I am resaccing the shellac had overflowed the nipple opening and in some cases I have spent a fair amount of time carefully cleaning it out from inside the nipple prior to putting a new sac on the pen.

 

Today I placed a number 16S sac on a Conway Stewart 84 and applied a good 4mm swath of shellac around the nipple and maybe 1mm or so from the end of the nipple; then put the sac on. It was s tight fit and I did get it on and nice and straight but about 1mm less than fully next to the finger grip as the shellac was taking hold. Afterwards I carefully ran a line of shellac around that 1mm space.

 

I looked at it later and it seem perfectly fine and it certainly is tight. What do you think - good enough or not quite?

 

On another matter of sac installation I did an Easterbrook LJ today and the sac installation went well but immediately afterwards I noticed there was an indentation of the latex right after the nipple on two sides and then the sac rounded out. I have seen this on one other Easterbrook on which I replaced the sac and on a couple I did not do. The sac was a 16S so I am wondering why this occurs and if it is anything to be concerned about.

 

Jon

 

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I agree. A #16 is the right size for all but the large Dollar pens and the transitional Esterbrooks without the sac tray. Coat the whole nipple next tie - right to the end, slide the sac on, give a little twist and wipe off the excess. Little indentations or whatever.... don't worry. As long as the sac doesn't kink because it's too long and isn't twisted you're OK.

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Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they Aren't after you.

 

If it will help you sleep better.

 

Let the shellac dry several hours.

Use a syringe to fill the sac with water to the very top of the section.

Plug the section end with your finger tip.

Fold or roll the sac about 1/3 of the way toward the section and lightly squeeze.

Look for the edge of the (maybe unshellaced) sac lifting off the section.

If no water leaks you are fine.

This is much more pressure (testing) than the sac and shellac will see under normal use.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl-who usually just gives the sac a couple good tugs, looks for any sac edge lifting and calls it a day

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Thanks everyone! I'll try those techniques and see how it goes. Yeah, I'm probably overthinking it but I figure as long as I have the pen apart might as well try and do the best job I can with my still nascent skills.

 

Jon

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