I took apart my Estie model J to replace the sac, and now the grip won't stay seated in the barrel. Is there something wrong with my pen? I thought the grip was supposed to be friction-fit into the barrel, but it seems too loose for that. What should I do? Use shellac?
Thanks!
Mika

Mika,

Did the barrel crack? This has happened to me before.

If not, use some section sealant to fix it in place.

Todd

Did you not cut the sac short enough? If you just cut the sac so it was flush with the end of the barrel without cutting extra off to allow for the portion of the section that resides in the barrel, the sac will force the section out and wil probably cause the pen to leak.

I would avoid shellac, if you have to use it, something is definitely wrong.

Best-
Brian

I don't think the barrel is cracked, and sac length is not the issue. I will give section sealant a try. I just read that Richard Binder recommends using a paper shim... anyone tried this?
Thanks!
Mika

Mika,

I've seen a few Esterbrooks with a paper shim. I just repaired a red icicle that came to me with a bit of paper shimming in the barrel. I switched sections to resolve the problem since I have a few parts sitting around.

I'm still stuck on how it was tight before and now it is loose. It must have had a dab of sealant on it before. Another option would be to put a few thin coats of clear nail-polish on the section to build it up. Keep the nail-polish away from the barrel since it is mostly acetone and will mess up the barrel.

Sack length should be 1 15/16" from end to end.

Keep us posted.

Todd

Section sealant did the trick!
I just smeared a small amound onto the grip with a toothpick, then installed in in the barrel. Problem solved.
Having never used section sealant before, I was surprised by how thick it is!
How do most people apply sealant to threaded sections? Does it need to be heated first? Should I use section sealant when I install a new nib on my model J?
Thanks!
Mika

And, to piggyback on Mika's question re: section sealant, how does one remove it when the time comes to replace the sac?

Section sealant doesn't need to be heated for application, though many folks do to make the sealant more pliable.
I would definitely use heat on a sealed section. You don't want to have to use any more force than absolutely necessary.

Best regards, greg

NO!

Absolutely not necessary, and quite likely to clog things up. Just snug it up tight.

Hope my late reply here isn't too late.

As for sections, another trick is to coat the section with shellac, but let it dry before inserting it in the barrel. I supose there's not much difference, but that's how I've always done it when necessary on other pens.

Best-
Brian