I've almost got a Sheaffer Half-Balance going again when I noticed a crack in the nib extending from the breather hole down to the F of Sheaffer. Does anyone know where I might be able to get a replacement nib?

The markings on the nib are:

Sheaffers
Lifetime
Reg. US Pat. Off
Made in USA
2453551

I've got a Sheaffers Flat top parts pen with a Lifetime nib that I might be able to canabalize off of, but it is a smaller size nib and I don't think that would work out.

Please help? Thanks in advance.

Steph

Knowing the model, or a picture of the pen would help. There are so many lifetime nibs....

Will post a picture as soon as I find the confounded SD card...

Thanks,
Steph

Check in your camera. I always leave mine laying about, found a couple buried in my daughters story books once. Good thing I have about 8 of them.

The nib can be soldered, but there is risk associated with this. John M is a master at this and is probably the guy to help you out if you cannot source another.

That said, I echo Ron's statement. If an image can be had it should not be hard to find another nib.

Cheers,
Sean

If you really like that nib, seriously think of getting it welded or brazed (not soldered! soldering is bonding with a much softer metal, while welded is melting the material to the point it fuses all together at the edges leaving a little depression where the crack was, and brazing would be using any "outside" metal -can be scrap of the exact same material, a special rod, etc- to fill the gap).

Since you don't need retipping or engraving recut, you might get away with a good jewel maker. Just make sure you tell him to heat away from the tip and downside up as crack permits. Since jewel makers are used to braze or weld with the tiniest amount of "foreign" metal possible (both to save on gold or silver wire and in time used to dress up the brazed-welded part) you can get away with that.

As Sean mentions, John Mottishaw is THE choice for this work but I hear he has LONG turn around times (and I doubt that his prime service would be cheaper or same price as getting a whole junker for cannibalizing the nib)

Finally found that SD Card...and not in my camera either!

Here are some photos of the pen and nib...





I have thought about sending it to John Mottishaw, but am reluctant to because of the long wait time. If I could find a nib replacement that would be ideal. What do you guys think?

Also, can someone point me to a site that has more information about Sheaffers nibs?

Thanks, enjoy the long weekend.

Steph

Replacement nibs are common enough that you shouldn't be worrying about repair of the original -- at least at present nibmeister repair prices (if you have a jeweler who will do the work cheaply and competently, that's another story). If you don't manage to find a replacement, let me know -- I have plenty around.