Twsbi's Silicone Grease

[Lloyd]

I just changed ink colors (MB violet to Noodlers Habanero) and, in the process, took apart and cleaned out the pen. I was fairly thorough. After refilling, the piston leak was even worse than before cleaning. So, I decided to empty, reclean, and apply silicone grease. Instead of using the thick waxy grease I've been using on eyedroppers, I used the stuff that came with the pen.

1- After relubricating and refilling, the piston leak isn't happening.

2- This lube is very liquidy...not waxy. When I first used the pen after it was delivered, some silicone had flowed into my feed making the pen not write. Speedy recommended cleaning this out with kerosene (I used naphtha) and it's been fine since. I think the lube flowed off the pen's inner walls and into the feed due to the non-waxiness of this lube.

So, I'd recommend those with leaky pistons to empty and clean your TWSBIs and then relube with the waxy silicone grease. What have you got to lose?

[sotto2]

I just changed ink colors (MB violet to Noodlers Habanero) and, in the process, took apart and cleaned out the pen. I was fairly thorough. After refilling, the piston leak was even worse than before cleaning. So, I decided to empty, reclean, and apply silicone grease. Instead of using the thick waxy grease I've been using on eyedroppers, I used the stuff that came with the pen.

1- After relubricating and refilling, the piston leak isn't happening.

2- This lube is very liquidy...not waxy. When I first used the pen after it was delivered, some silicone had flowed into my feed making the pen not write. Speedy recommended cleaning this out with kerosene (I used naphtha) and it's been fine since. I think the lube flowed off the pen's inner walls and into the feed due to the non-waxiness of this lube.

So, I'd recommend those with leaky pistons to empty and clean your TWSBIs and then relube with the waxy silicone grease. What have you got to lose?

 

Lloyd: Where did u get your waxy silicone grease? Does it have a brand name? I haven't checked the grease that came with the pen. The silicone grease I have always used previously is the stuff that you get from scuba shops. It is thick and gooey, not liquidy or waxy. If that makes any sense.

Edited July 30, 2010 by sotto2

[Tumbleweedtoo]

I am confused too. Was the "waxy silicone grease" that you used the grease that came with the pen? Or was it some other grease? I, too, use scuba shop silicone grease. I certainly will take your tip on the possibility of grease on the nib, because when I put away my pens after cleaning them (waiting for an e-mail reply from Rebecca about new seals), I may have gotten some grease on the nib. So, I will clean the pen well again before putting on new seals (if I get them) and I want to use the grease you found most effective.

 

All the best,

T

[xuan87]

2- This lube is very liquidy...not waxy. When I first used the pen after it was delivered, some silicone had flowed into my feed making the pen not write. Speedy recommended cleaning this out with kerosene (I used naphtha) and it's been fine since. I think the lube flowed off the pen's inner walls and into the feed due to the non-waxiness of this lube.

So, I'd recommend those with leaky pistons to empty and clean your TWSBIs and then relube with the waxy silicone grease. What have you got to lose?

 

oh.... this might be the reason why my Fine nib pen did not write as well as my EF nib pen initially. After i clean the pen, the writing became much better.

Edited July 30, 2010 by xuan87

[speedy]

I read already,

right amount of silicone grease can help creating sealing so isolate the ink from getting into the seal. But be careful not to apply too much of it, otherwise the writing will skip... then you need to clean the nib/feeder... The silicone grease that came with the pen is a very expensive one, so .... hahaha!

 

when I change the color or ink, I normally just empty the ink, flush nib/feeder with running water, in the mean time sucking in and out running water into the pen.... then put the new ink in. in two minutes ink exchage is done

[hari317]

Every Grease out there has got a NLGI grade spec which basically determines how thick it will be. I guess speedy is using a grade 00, I use Dow corning Hi vac sil grease which has a NLGI grade 1 IIRC.

 

Best,

Hari

[Lloyd]

Speedy: I disassembled it because of the ink passing both piston seals. I wanted to clean the pen completely. Afterward, the ink went past the first piston seal instantly after filling. So, I emtied the pen again, gave it a quick cleaning, applied silicone, reassembled, and refilled it. 7 hours later and still no ink has passed the first piston seal. Hopefully, no silicone migrates to the nib.

 

Thanks for the clarification, Hari and Speedy. Sorry if I seemed to claim the TWSBI's silicone was inferior; I just wondered if it's thinness could make it more likely to flow with the ink into the feed.

[Wolverine1]

Why is the piston leaking in a brand new pen?

[hari317]

Why is the piston leaking in a brand new pen?

 

I think it is just a minor design issue/hiccup which Speedy is resolving admirably.

[Ernest]

Use a syringe and needle to fill the pen.

Neat . No Mess . No leak

[sotto2]

Use a syringe and needle to fill the pen.

Neat . No Mess . No leak

 

Which end do you fill it from??

[jmw19]

Use a syringe and needle to fill the pen.

Neat . No Mess . No leak

 

Which end do you fill it from??

 

The nib end, after unscrewing the nib unit. I do this with my Pelikan M205 demonstrator, since ink can lodge in the section (it's two pieces glued together) and it looks messy. It's easy to remove ink there with an ultrasonic cleaner, but easier to keep it out in the first place.

[Lloyd]

After 24 hours including pocket carrying it knob down during a 2+ mile walk in 85 degree weather and still no ink into the piston. Maybe all TWSBIs just need a thin coating of silicone to stop/reduce the piston leak.

[millerb7]

After 24 hours including pocket carrying it knob down during a 2+ mile walk in 85 degree weather and still no ink into the piston. Maybe all TWSBIs just need a thin coating of silicone to stop/reduce the piston leak.

So you did use the TWSBI silicone grease? Or other grease?

[dizzypen]

Lloyd, I actually did that the fill before this last one. Speedy's liquid wax works better than the thick stuff. This time I used Speedy's wax and I'm not getting much of a leak so far.

[speedy]

Lloyd, I actually did that the fill before this last one. Speedy's liquid wax works better than the thick stuff. This time I used Speedy's wax and I'm not getting much of a leak so far.

 

I am happy for you guys, just hold on till I send you new piston 1.5

[51ISH]

Lloyd, I actually did that the fill before this last one. Speedy's liquid wax works better than the thick stuff. This time I used Speedy's wax and I'm not getting much of a leak so far.

 

I am happy for you guys, just hold on till I send you new piston 1.5

 

I'll just hold on......don't want that silicon stuff getting in the way of what is a very nice medium line...

[egretsrus]

Does the nib unscrew?

[51ISH]

Does the nib unscrew?

 

 

Yes

[Lloyd]

I used Speedy's lube.