Friends,

Anyone who has worked on Parker Vacs and P51 Vacs has experienced the hassle of a broken pellet pocket no matter how careful you are. Some time ago, Richard Binder suggested use of BP tips (the best use of a BP!) .

I took some time recently fiddling with these pens in the pics and made some pockets that work quite well. I think you can see where it has been cut from the tip of the BP shell. The hardest part is cleaning out all that BP ink without getting it all over you. I use disposable gloves and pipe cleaners. It *really* stains hands and clothing.

I cut them a little long and melt the very tip that holds the pellet and press it down on a hard surface. This creates a "ridge" in the hole to hold the pellet.

I thought I'd just report in case this is any help....

Steve

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Neat. I'm sure that going to be useful to many. How did you fasten the newly made pocket to the plunger?

Regards

Gerry

Steve,

Nice work!

I like the use of blue ball points. It tells anyone who gets into this pen in the future a story.

John

Hi Gerry,

Just a tiny bit of epoxy works just great. This is probably what's on the original as well.

John, I like that: a story! The only story I DON'T like to see on these pens is "Pliers Playhouse". Notice the price on the ballpoints: $0.10 each from the local "Big Lots" store. This sure beats using donor pens just for the filler units....

Steve

Once upon a time back in history I experimented to convert ball points to use regular ink guess I had more time than to know what to do with. Anywho - the best way to clean off ball point ink is with an alcohol swab, or with free alcohol - the type you get at walgreen not the drinking type . This really cleans the ink out - and then you can clean / dry with a cleenex.

This is a great idea. I tried to make pellet cups out of acrylic tubing without much luck (and without a lathe, either)
I'll be looking for Paper Mate ball points (there is is use for these things, after all)
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