so... that's the question. I have two Estie renew points I'd like to disassemble to make sure the feeds are clean and other bits not clogged. Is it safe to pull the nibs out of the base of these nib units? IF so, what's the best approach. On one, the nib is slightly off-center after I had to wrench it from the pen so I imagine it is loose enough to pull.
I know some will say "but why not just buy new" - because these are not the easiest points to find and the flexy one is exceptionally flexy for a 9128 nib. The other is an oblique fine.
ta muchly,
k
Full Version: Estie Renew nibs
If they come out with just a tug, that's the way to go. Most don't as the collar holds them pretty tight.
I find the best way to remove the collar is by driving the feed and nib out of the collar much like one might drive a feed and nib out of a section.
It helps if you have the following:
Heat - one of the following - in order of preference - hot air, hot water, small flame (alcohol lamp etc.)
An appropriate size punch (can make do with a nail with the point ground off, or some rod stock or drills.
A knock-out block - or an appropriately sized hole drilled in some hardwood, steel, aluminium etc.
Estie section - or appropriately threaded nut that fits on the collar.
Assemble the parts and see that the nib will fit in the knock-out block while the section holding the nib assembly stops (is supported by the block).
See that the punch can travel through the nipple end to rest against the feed - not the collar.
If you can see all that happening (it's easier with a broken section, nut or something that holds the nib assembly but lets you see where the punch is resting), but is possible using a full section, you're ready.
Heat the collar area that was pressed (indented) to fit in the notch in the feed.
Screw the nib assembly in the section.
Put the section on the block.
Tap the punch gently until the nib and feed pop out of the collar.
Unscrew the collar from the section.
Do whatever you wanted to with the nib.
Reassemble, tapping the collar with a small hammer while holding the nib and section in the alignment you want.
Use heat and a cold nail/rod/punch to press the collar down into the indentation again.
You're done.
NOTE: SOME EARLY ESTIE NIB ASSEMBLIES WERE PINNED THROUGH THE COLLAR - LOOK CAREFULLY NEAR THE THREADS FOR EVIDENCE OF A SMALL PIN GOING THROUGH THE COLLAR AND FEED.
If you find one, use a small punch or nail to press it out. You will not likely need heat to dissassemble further, but generally follow the above.
Good Luck and let us know how it went.
Gerry
I find the best way to remove the collar is by driving the feed and nib out of the collar much like one might drive a feed and nib out of a section.
It helps if you have the following:
Heat - one of the following - in order of preference - hot air, hot water, small flame (alcohol lamp etc.)
An appropriate size punch (can make do with a nail with the point ground off, or some rod stock or drills.
A knock-out block - or an appropriately sized hole drilled in some hardwood, steel, aluminium etc.
Estie section - or appropriately threaded nut that fits on the collar.
Assemble the parts and see that the nib will fit in the knock-out block while the section holding the nib assembly stops (is supported by the block).
See that the punch can travel through the nipple end to rest against the feed - not the collar.
If you can see all that happening (it's easier with a broken section, nut or something that holds the nib assembly but lets you see where the punch is resting), but is possible using a full section, you're ready.
Heat the collar area that was pressed (indented) to fit in the notch in the feed.
Screw the nib assembly in the section.
Put the section on the block.
Tap the punch gently until the nib and feed pop out of the collar.
Unscrew the collar from the section.
Do whatever you wanted to with the nib.
Reassemble, tapping the collar with a small hammer while holding the nib and section in the alignment you want.
Use heat and a cold nail/rod/punch to press the collar down into the indentation again.
You're done.
NOTE: SOME EARLY ESTIE NIB ASSEMBLIES WERE PINNED THROUGH THE COLLAR - LOOK CAREFULLY NEAR THE THREADS FOR EVIDENCE OF A SMALL PIN GOING THROUGH THE COLLAR AND FEED.
If you find one, use a small punch or nail to press it out. You will not likely need heat to dissassemble further, but generally follow the above.
Good Luck and let us know how it went.
Gerry
I described the dissassembly method in case anyone was curious as to the process, but you may not want to go to all that trouble to clean the nibs - unless you have a very troublesome assembly.
Because the assembly can be soaked while out of the pen, you can easily leave it for an extended time in the solution - days, perhaps a week.
The assembly fits nicely into a Radio Shack desoldering bulb to allow you to pressure feed water or solution through the feed. I have been successful in using the bulb both ways to force solution backwards as well as forwards through the feed.
You can repeatedly subject the assembly to ultrasonic cleaning in your new cleaner (it has been delivered, hasn't it?)
with little fear of damage.
If all that fails, then you might want to dissassemble for the ultimate cleaning...
Gerry
Because the assembly can be soaked while out of the pen, you can easily leave it for an extended time in the solution - days, perhaps a week.
The assembly fits nicely into a Radio Shack desoldering bulb to allow you to pressure feed water or solution through the feed. I have been successful in using the bulb both ways to force solution backwards as well as forwards through the feed.
You can repeatedly subject the assembly to ultrasonic cleaning in your new cleaner (it has been delivered, hasn't it?)
with little fear of damage.If all that fails, then you might want to dissassemble for the ultimate cleaning...
Gerry
since esterbrook nibs have a crimp in the collar to retain the feed, you may want to clean the ink channels without disassembly so that you don't risk breaking things due to the amount of force required to break the crimp (even with heat)...
a short length off of a high E string for guitar (or other stringed instrument) purchased at almost any music store works nicely to break up any solidified ink in the feed channels (.008-.010 in. wire is good, and a presoak is essential).
a short length off of a high E string for guitar (or other stringed instrument) purchased at almost any music store works nicely to break up any solidified ink in the feed channels (.008-.010 in. wire is good, and a presoak is essential).
the old routine of using an ED bulb at the end of the section with nib immersed in a jar of water ought to take out all but india ink buildups.
but if the channels are clogged, then you may have to risk a knockout. the problem here is to find a synthetic washer that is pliable yet hard and firm, which is a tad too tight for the nib and feed to slip through. such a washer will not cause damage to the nib, yet will retain the sleeve.
i use allan wrenches to punch the feed out. often after a few taps, the nib works loose, so you can remove it by wiggling, and then just pull out the feed.
but if the channels are clogged, then you may have to risk a knockout. the problem here is to find a synthetic washer that is pliable yet hard and firm, which is a tad too tight for the nib and feed to slip through. such a washer will not cause damage to the nib, yet will retain the sleeve.
i use allan wrenches to punch the feed out. often after a few taps, the nib works loose, so you can remove it by wiggling, and then just pull out the feed.
Estie nibs can be taken apart, but don't do it unless you really have to. A 3 minute session in an ultrasonic cleaner, followed by a flush with a bulb should be enough. A guitar string down the ink channels will act as a roto-rooter enough to allow another soak and flush.
BTW, if you need to remove india ink, use Koh-I-Noor pen cleaner. It took about 3 weeks of patient soaking and flushing, but I was able to remove ALL of the india ink from the filling unit of a Parker VP with the stuff.
If you look at the under side, you'll see where the collar has been bumped into a notch in the underside of the feed. This keeps the feed in place. Knocking out the feed will break this off on the collar.
Now, if you want to salvage the feed and collar, and don't care about the nib (damaged or some other reason) just yank out the nib first. Then rotate the feed away from the notch and pull it out.
BTW, if you need to remove india ink, use Koh-I-Noor pen cleaner. It took about 3 weeks of patient soaking and flushing, but I was able to remove ALL of the india ink from the filling unit of a Parker VP with the stuff.
If you look at the under side, you'll see where the collar has been bumped into a notch in the underside of the feed. This keeps the feed in place. Knocking out the feed will break this off on the collar.
Now, if you want to salvage the feed and collar, and don't care about the nib (damaged or some other reason) just yank out the nib first. Then rotate the feed away from the notch and pull it out.
thanks all.
being the lazy person I am, I filled the 9128 and am test driving it. so far so good but it needs 2 or 3 pages of solid effort to make sure it isn't running off of the ink in the feed only.
i haven't tested the oblique yet. it had the least build-up.
oddly enough, I have guitar string.
being the lazy person I am, I filled the 9128 and am test driving it. so far so good but it needs 2 or 3 pages of solid effort to make sure it isn't running off of the ink in the feed only.
i haven't tested the oblique yet. it had the least build-up.
oddly enough, I have guitar string.
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