Repair Part Packrat: Is There Any Reason To Keep Split Vac Fill Feeds?

January 22, 2020

Like everyone else, I'm accumulating a spare part box for future repairs. I've got this one Vac Fill I'm working on now that I swear the outer body, nib, section, and blind cap were the only salvageable parts to. Everything else seems to be getting replaced.

I tend to not throw completely broken parts away unless I'm completely sure they cannot be reused and are fully stripped down of usable components. I've seen a number of feeds from Sheaffer Balance Vac Fill pens in two parts before and it makes me wonder about this. Is there anything salvageable about this broken feed? I'd say no, but I want to check before I pitch. Any reason this should go into the part box? I'm trying to be responsible and not throw away anything that has even a thread of use later on, but this one seems totally useless.

FYI: the pic of me putting it together on a ruler was me trying to figure out which one from Pentooling to get to replace it (I'm still not 100% sure I got the right one).

January 22, 2020

Sheaffer had feeds that can be frustratingly close to each other, and changed things over time - like eliminating the step for the nib in the feed (so a different ID of the section) the length of the feed, the length of the step etc. Keep the feed until you get the replacement nib and are certain that it is the right feed. Then save the insert. Save the feed - you might be able to use the hard rubber for something else. I have bins with scrap hard rubber and plastics that get used for the weirdest things. Hey, you never know!