Oh, let's see...

[vacuumkid3]

Well, I am pretty new to fountain pens, but do know a fair bit. Maybe you could call me an amateur pen expert! But...a few questions and comments:

 

Is naptha really okay for fountain pens for loosening threads/rubber?

I got my "51" apart finally! Now I am just awaiting a diaphragm...

What in "Da Book" is considered outdated?

Does the vac-block have matching threads?

How do you use a Sheaffer Vac-Fil tool?

What is the RIGHT way to replace the packing?

Where do you get the packing and rubber, and must you cut it to size?

Is it true that if you pull UP on the tube of the Snorkel or Touchdown while it is in the ink, it will spew ink into the barrel? (I have done it and it did NOT!)

How do you empty (properly) a Vac-Fil?

How do you empty and fill (properly) a Vacumatic?

WHO can EVER repair my Pelikan M-20 for a fair price??

How do you replace the blue paint on a clip of a Parker?

WHY THE HECK ARE INNER CAP PULLERS SO EXPENSIVE?!?!?!?!?! (that is one I'll NEVER figure out!)

Are there any other ways to pull the inner cap without damaging it?

Do they make replacement inner caps for say, Sheaffer?

Alrighty...I think that is enough! Thanks in advance!

 

~~K~~

[SMG]

Ok here we go:

 

1 Yes, naptha is OK. Lighter fluid is OK too as it is mostly Naptha.

2 Da book lists some things which are definitely outdated, one of which I believe is the use of rubber cement to seal pens. That said, I haven't read the book in a while but I know Ron and Richard do have some opinions on this.

3. Vac Block, matching threads to what?? If you mean the threaded filler collar on the Vacumatics, yes. There are two thread sizes, both of which totally escape me at the moment, and they both have non standard threads per inch.

4. Vac fil tool, don't know never had to use one.

5. Right way is to replace grease impregnated felt packing. The most commonly accepted best way is to remove the felt by drilling through the retaining washer in the barrel and replacing it with O rings (see below for source) and sealing it in with a packing washer (again source below).

6. See Vintagepens.com for the materials to restore a Vac fill Sheaffer. Also check for Francis Goosens convertor, I have used it on two occasions and it has worked well for me.

7. It will do it eventually if you keep this activity up. The pen was designed to create a vacuum through the down stroke of the filler tube. If you have a weak sac in the pen and it is full, putting suction on it via raising the filler tube while the nib is immersed in ink could be the straw which breaks the camels back.

8. Over the sink, pull up on the filler rod, then push down on it forcefully. This will expel the ink inside the pen and draw up air. Once there is no more ink coming out from the above step, fill with clean water. Expel, repeat until clean. Place the pen nib down on some paper towel in an empty cup overnight and come back in the morning. The paper towel will wick out the remaining ink.

9. Vacumatic, slowly press the plunger down which should expel a few drops. The slower you press the filler plunger the more ink it seems comes out. If you force it you blow the air pressure through the ink and out the breather tube, effectively expelling no ink whatsoever. Do this until you cannot get any further drops of ink out of the pen. Fill with clear water, expel, repeat. It usually helps in the later stages of this operation to wrap the nib in a couple of layers of paper towel and flick the pen like shaking a thermometer.

10. Pelikan M20 no idea.

11. With a very small paintbrush. Use testors 1111 blue ink.

12. Because. They are not easy to manufacture, and are not made in mass production in sufficient quantities to lower the price much more. At least that would seem obvious to me. Cannot be a great market for these devices. That said, I have been a Manufacturing Engineer, Process Engineer and of late a Project Manager for the last 15 years or so. It could be done more economically, but the market would have to be there to force the issue.

13. Which inner cap?

14. Yes, they are in other Sheaffer caps at the moment.

 

Does that help.

Cheers,

SG

[psfred]

Pulling up on the TD tube creates a vacuum inside the pen. Usually causes the pen to "spit" some ink.

 

If the snorkel tube is in ink, it will pull some up and then spit it back out. No problem.

 

However, if the sac is broken, or the section is in the ink when the TD tube is pulled up, the vacuum can draw ink around the cracked sac or through a leaking nib seal, directly into the pen body. This won't happen on a pen in good condition, but is a very common state of affairs when the pen starts to work badly, most notably when the sac is leaking (or nib seal is bad). Pen won't fill when operated correctly, but yanking up the TD tube with the nib and secion immersed gets some ink into it and it will write some.

 

Usually wrecks the pen these days, as the only source for sac protectors and springs are other existing pens.

 

I've had too many of these come into my posession.

 

Peter

[Nihontochicken]

QUOTE

Is naptha really okay for fountain pens for loosening threads/rubber? I got my "51" apart finally! Now I am just awaiting a diaphragm... What in "Da Book" is considered outdated? Does the vac-block have matching threads? How do you use a Sheaffer Vac-Fil tool? What is the RIGHT way to replace the packing? Where do you get the packing and rubber, and must you cut it to size? Is it true that if you pull UP on the tube of the Snorkel or Touchdown while it is in the ink, it will spew ink into the barrel? (I have done it and it did NOT!) How do you empty (properly) a Vac-Fil? How do you empty and fill (properly) a Vacumatic? WHO can EVER repair my Pelikan M-20 for a fair price?? How do you replace the blue paint on a clip of a Parker? WHY THE HECK ARE INNER CAP PULLERS SO EXPENSIVE?!?!?!?!?! (that is one I'll NEVER figure out!) Are there any other ways to pull the inner cap without damaging it? Do they make replacement inner caps for say, Sheaffer? Alrighty...I think that is enough! Thanks in advance!

 

Buy more 51s.