Desperate Measures, And Some Success

[plumecrazy]

If anyone is curious to see what happened when a total amateur got hacking at a broken pen...

 

I - or someone else - had dropped this pen, in about 1995, and I haven't managed to get so much as a single stroke out of it since. The nib was bent, and one tine had sheered off entirely at the tip. (Additionally, there is some corrosion to the nib where it meets the feed.) Sadly, I have no 'before' picture, but it was shocking, trust me.

 

I looked into repairing it, but was warned off several times, as being uneconomical.

 

Anyway, inspired by reading a few threads here, and in a do-or-die moment of madness, I had at it with what was to hand, and I think I got pretty lucky! What say ye?

 

The feed is still very dry, which `I think it always was. If anyone knows what the mad hacker should try next, gratitude would be yours.

Edited February 28, 2017 by plumecrazy

[Randal6393]

Not so much luck as good background information. Glad to see your success. Since your Waterman had sat around for twenty years or more, would suggest a good cleaning, soaking overnight in pen cleaner (90 % water, 10 % ammonia, a drop of detergent -- Dawn works best for me), and scrubbing and disassembling as much as possible. Then write with it for a while and try several inks until you find out what the pen likes.

 

Best of luck,

[plumecrazy]

Thanks Randal6393 - I had cleaned it, several times, as well as I knew how, but I've never tried the ammonia solution, so that shall be next!

 

I have just thrown the wettest ink I own in its direction, for now. If it doesn't like my precious Iroshizuku, then it's too fussy for its own good, and not half as grateful as it should be, One would like to think Lazarus was less fussy after being raised, but he probably wasn't... At the moment I am beside myself with joy at having anything remotely usable. Better yet - I've always had a fondness for stub/italic nibs, so this is probably already pleasanter than the very hard EF it used to be. Of course, it's now also a very wide nib, so I think it may be more for decorative than practical/everyday writing. It's not going to be writing any more exams, any way you look at it (but hopefully, neither am I).

[Lugworm]

Wire cutters and sandpaper... Sounds like one of my recent efforts except I used nail clippers and sand paper from a puncture repair kit. Must be a Welsh thing.

Glad it works. Mine works but needs encouragement to start. I'm not sure if I can call my repair a success.