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Cap Stuck On Safety Pen


Marcwithac

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I just purchased online an old Astoria safety pen with a gold overlay. Unfortunately, the cap will not unscrew. I used a fair amount of pressure but don't want to twist too hard for fear of breaking the pen. My thought was to apply heat (I have a heat gun I use to loosen sections). Assuming I am careful not to let it get too hot, is there any danger in doing so? Can anyone recommend any other safe techniques for opening this pen?

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Stand it cap down and try trickling water into the cap so it may soften dried ink in the threads?

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I would worry about water oxidising the hard rubber. I would use either:

1. WD 40 or some penetrating oil - I would just spray some at the joint and leave upside down. Once at night and maybe once again in the morning. Leave for 12 hours. Wiping off excess that flows out of the joint

2. Then I would wipe off throughly at night and use dry heat focused on the bottom of the cap where its inner threads would be. Rubber grippers might be necessary

 

All the best with such a lovely pen!

Edited by siamackz

My Vintage Montblanc Website--> link

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Agree with WD40 (eg) rather than water, if it's BHR.

 

As well as heat, you could try lightly tapping the siezed area. This can often break the 'seal' which old ink, or age, or oxidisation has made, and get things moving again. It's an old mechanics trick to free siezed bolts.

Obviously, go gently so as not to damage the cosmetics of the pen. You could use a small metal rod - or simply hold the barrel and tap the cap on a hard surface. Lots of small taps, rather than anything too heavy!

 

Good luck.

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Heat, applied carefully, and elbow grease rather than water or WD 40, did the trick.

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