how to tighten the section

[magan]

i've just received two trans J's this week and i'm happy with them. the only problem i have is that one of the pens's section is too loose. if i replace the nib, i really have to hold the section to prevent it from spinning with the nib. if i don't hold it down, i won't be able to take off the nib as the section will just spin and spin. any ideas how to tighten it? it's loose enough that i can remove the section with the sac easily...

Edited March 26, 2010 by magan

[tmenyc]

I fixed that earlier this week: took one drop of slow-drying superglue, the thicker kind, and spread it around the ring of the section that fits into the barrel, stood up the section on end, let the CA dry completely, and it fit. Had it been a little too much, I would have sanded the added layer down until the fit was right; had it been too little I could have added a second drop/layer. There may be other ways of doing it, but this worked for me.

 

Tim

[davidjs]

I believe there are specific shellac's which are designed to seal the section to the barrel, but still be removable (unlike super glue!) if when you need to replace the sac or j-bar...

[Brian Anderson]

I would only use shellac. Sand down as necessary. Shellac can always be heated up and removed.

 

Best-

Brian

[OcalaFlGuy]

If you want a "down and dirty" method and don't have the preferred shellac, you can always cut a thin strip of paper, maybe 1/4" wide to go all or partially around the section (depending on how loose it is) to act as kind of a shim. No one will know what is or isn't around your section but you and the paper can be most easily discarded if you or someone else attempts a proper fix at a later point in time. (Of course, you want JUST the right thickness of paper such that you tighten the section, but DON'T crack the barrel when you push the section into it...)

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

Edited March 26, 2010 by OcalaFlGuy

[ANM]

Make sure the barrel isn't cracked. If the section is loose because of that, expanding the diameter of the section can make it worse.

[tmenyc]

A little clarification on my use of super glue...it was NOT to glue the section in, but to dry and create a little sandable width. But, next time I'll use shellac too...

Tim

[ZeissIkon]

A little clarification on my use of super glue...it was NOT to glue the section in, but to dry and create a little sandable width. But, next time I'll use shellac too...

Tim

 

Actually, I think the recommendation is/was to use shellac instead. Applied as you recommend for super glue (i.e. let a thin coat dry, test, add more or sand as needed), it's not intended to cement the section into the barrel, but just to add a tiny increment to the friction fit. The advantage of shellac is that it's much more readily removed if/when it's no longer wanted -- CA debonder is mostly acetone, which is very bad for many pen materials. Shellac will usually just flake off, or if not can be softened with heat or, at worst, dissolved with denatured ethanol (which last will damage pen materials if used incautiously, but is much less hazardous than acetone).

[tmenyc]

ZI -- "instead of" is how I meant it as well...I was using "too" as in "I too will use shellac in future." I did not know that acetone might harm the plastic, but would have sanded off the CA if thinning had been needed. thanks for the help.

 

Tim

[lovemy51]

scotch tape is wrapped around many of my 3rd tier vintage sections!!