I have experienced some frustration with some P51's... as it turns out, the nipple was sort of loose fitting, and my usual combination of shellac didn't do it (well, did it at first, buddy returned with fingers stainedwhere the clutch ring meets the hood) I don't like hard, unconservative glueing but I must ask... what do you recommend when hood/nipple are loose enough to require a stronger adehesive than liquid shellac?

Hmmm. Too bad pipe-wipe isn't an option.

As I know nothing of pen repairs, especially concerning a nice pen, but I have recent plumbing experience...I could send you some of the chicken wire and spit stuff I used until the home repair shop opened. If you're desparate.

In the rare case where the section still leaks after using shellac (which I would rather use) I use Giovanni's section sealant. That of course allows the curious to take the hood off, but it does seal quite effectively. The closest thing you'll find to pipe dope. (Which BTW, you do NOT want to use!)

I like shellac too, but some nipples are sore. (no pun intended)

In my experience, if shellac doesn't seal a "51" the problem is that not enough shellac was used. You have to use enough that you guarantee a thread-bottoming fill all the way around and across more than a single thread. I use enough that it sometimes squeezes out a little, and I clean the excess off with Simichrome after I've got the shell aligned properly with the nib.

Hey Richard! so long! I tend to think, as you, that thicker shellac and or more shellac will cure this, and I always proceed like you say, I make sure everything's sealed and then I wipe off the excess... And I never ink the pen before at least 12 hours. in this particular case, the shellac has softened with use, maybe because it had to fill too large a gap... that's why I'm asking for alternate non permanent glue/sealing methods. I don't mind if the section sealant by giovanni abrate permits a curious individual look at my job... I just don't like ink stained fingers returning customers...

Normally I would agree - except that I had a 51 from Argentina on which I used plenty of shellac. Replaced the 0 ring too. The only thing that finally sealed the section was section sealant. There have been one or two after that that were just stubborn.

Umm, yah. I've dealt with a couple of Argentine "51"s that were among the worst-made pens I've ever seen. The workmanship was worthy of your basic bottom-feeder third-tier pen. But they did both finally seal.

I have to agree in shame about what's being said about argentinian 51's. I can say that early production where among the finest and indeed could compete side by side with any pre 60'ish american 51, but the quality got worse and worse over the years. The top of the crap being the argentinian 61 wich is nothing but a 51 streamlined, wioth cheaper materials and less refined combinations, and two ugly and stupid dots over the hood wich you can kiss goodbye the minute you lay your finger over them.

another thing that concerns me a lot is the fake 51's that I'm aware are being made here in Argentina. This is a country where people is crafty, but they use their ability to do wrong!

in this particular case, the pen is us made, a 51 special. Quality ain't that of first years of janesville production...