FP Repair Tool Kit

[chainwhip]

So, I purchased a Loupe from Giovanni (Tryphon - thanks Gio!) and between ogling all the cool tools on his site and looking at Wim's daily carry-around kit (see: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...?showtopic=4562), I'm wondering what do you think are some tools that every fountain pen user should have?

 

What's in your tool box?

 

Thanks for helping a total n00b out - it's been fun!

[wimg]

Hi cw,

 

I guess it depends a little on the type of pen repairs you want to do. I do really only nib work these days, as I have decided not to do any vintage pen repairs anymore. I am not really a vintage pen man.

 

Now for nib work I have a bunch of loupes,5X, 6X, 10X, 22X and 30X, but I use the 22X most frequently. I have fine grit grinding stones, from about 2550 grit to about 4000 grit, a Dremel fine rubbery emery disk, soft fine emery (nail) boards, and mylar, normally 4000, 8000, 10000 and 12000 grit with me. Inks of course, polishing cloths and liquid, all kinds of converters, liquid dishwashing soap, different nibs, some thin stiff plastic for adjusting ink flow upwards (I use my fingers normally to decrease flow ). Battery operated nail polishers adapted to do nib grinding. Some tissues for wiping off nibs etc.

 

That's the important stuff to me I guess.

 

I do have some general pen repair stuff, but as I said, these days it just languishes in one of my drawers. The problem is you can have to many hobbies as well .

 

Warm regards, Wim

[chainwhip]

Thanks for the reply Wim! What do you keep around for cleaning/washing out the pens? Do you use syringes?

[wimg]

Hi cw,

 

Oh, I forgot about the syringes! But I use those only if a cartridge needs filling up.

 

I generally use converters to clean out the pens, or the piston if it is a piston filler. I tend to take a pen apart after an initial rinse and flush, as far as it will go, rinse and flush all the parts as well as possible (no more colour being sucked out on a tissue), put it together again, and use piston or converter to do some more rinsing and washing. The liquid dishwasing soap, in the usual solution of 1-2 drops in a glass of water, I only use on first rinse/wash of a new pen, or if it really needs a good internal clean, from dried up ink and the like.

 

After the pen is dry (normally next day) I do another flush/rinse cycle to check if it is really clear of ink. If it isn't, there it goes again, the whole procedure again. Until it is really clean.

 

This is something I did/do for ink reviews. If I use the same ink from the same ink bottle again, I may start filling it again after the first flush/rinse/dry cycle, provided it is not a difficult ink (red, violet, purple).

 

HTH, warm regards, Wim