"What is this, and what do I do with it?" #2

[Ron Z]

Last week I put up a picture of an item and asked, "what do you do with this?" If you missed that one, and want to see what I have in mind, take a look at last week's post.

 

The idea of course is to think of repair uses for ordinary items that we have in front of us.

 

So here's this week's picture. Now don't be fooled! Not all of them are the same, so could (and do!) have different uses!

 

What ideas do you have?

 

[aunt rebecca]

hi ron,

 

ernestine says: you obviously use the wire to connect the nib and section to an electrical socket to produce a hair raising nib with great line variation.

 

:roflmho: :roflmho: :roflmho: :roflmho:

 

:ltcapd: :ltcapd: :ltcapd: :ltcapd:

 

:blink: :blink: :blink:

[antoniosz]

Guitar string can unclog a feed with dried ink.

[Maja]

I think Antonios' answer is correct..... but how about using it to remove lead stuck in old mechanical pencils, too?

[JimCouch]

I would say different sizes for cleaning feeds, snorkels, and breather tubes.

 

Jim

[DWL]

Agreewith everyone abobe. Thats what i use the strings for.

[Ron Z]

Ah, but observe - they're not all the same size!

[Maja]

Ah, but observe - they're not all  the same size!

http://www.junkbunny.net/archives/stringed_instruments.jpg

 

 

I knew this question wasn't as easy as it looked.... ^_^

[Johnny Appleseed]

Well, I am not sure what you would use all of them for,

 

but what size do you use to unclog a %$^ Sheaffer Vac-Fill center feed?

 

John

[dwmatteson]

1. Attach undrained fountain pen to string via duct tape, nib facing away from string.

2. Sneak into neighbor's/in-laws'/boss's yard/driveway/garage/whatever.

3. Swing pen over head rapidly, allowing centrifugal force to drain ink.

 

What? You don't have to use a salad spinner.

 

 

Don

[Ron Z]

OK, it's true that I do use the guitar strings for cleaning feeds. The first 75 I bought had a really clogged feed, and wire was the only thing that could clear it out enough to flush the pen. (You don't really want to get into removing the nib on a 75). I also cleaned out a Parker VP that had India ink in it. The feed, collector AND the "converter" (for lack of a better word) were loaded. It took lots of pen cleaner and 3 weeks, but clean it is. Richard now owns it.

 

To answer Jonny Appleseed's question - guitar string if you can't get the nib and feed apart. The finest of the steel strings. It's nice and stiff, and really fine.

 

If you notice, one of the wire rolls doesn't have the ends on it. That's not guitar string. It's piano wire, used for pins for some of the early lever fillers, like Wahl and Sheaffers. A slightly thicker wire can be used to make replacement ring that hold the levers on the inside the pen. I bought mine in a display of wire rod and brass tubing at the hardware store. You'll find the same display in most hobby shops.

 

Using the same wire, you can also make a tool to remove the existing lever pins without damaging the plastic of the barrel.

 

I'll scrounge in the old tool box for another "what is this......" for next week.

Edited September 25, 2006 by Ron Z

[kissing]

What a shame nobody could figure out what the TRUE purpose of those guitar strings. . .

 

It was SOOO obvious!!

[aunt rebecca]

no kissing,

 

all wire has to be used to string my widgets which i and my sidekicks, olga, ernestine, and angelina rescue from empty guinness cans.

 

:blink: :blink: :blink: :blink:

 

:ltcapd: :ltcapd: :ltcapd: :ltcapd:

 

:roflmho: :roflmho: :roflmho: :roflmho:

[Oxonian]

Hi Ron,

 

This tool to remove the lever securing rings is there any chance you might post a photograph or a description.

 

Just recentlyI would have near on killed for one of those things, rather than spending several hours and lots of imagination on fiddling and inventing new words for the sort of things that one says when the world is not going quite the way one would like and that are not used in company, not even impolite or downright rude company, particularly not on Friday,Saturday or Sunday depending on one's religious persuasion. No offense intended of course.

 

Cheers, John

[Johnny Appleseed]

guitar string if you can't get the nib and feed apart. The finest of the steel strings. It's nice and stiff, and really fine.

 

I will have to try that. Incidentally, I am talking about the Sheaffer center-feeds. Even when you take the nib and feed apart, the ink channel in the feed runs through the center of the feed, so you can't floss it out from the top. I am sure you know the ones I mean.

[Ron Z]

I will have to try that. Incidentally, I am talking about the Sheaffer center-feeds. Even when you take the nib and feed apart, the ink channel in the feed runs through the center of the feed, so you can't floss it out from the top. I am sure you know the ones I mean.

Yup, I do. Though those do pull out after a soak if you're really gentle. Runing a roto-rooter might be better.

 

Also good for running through a snorkel tube.