Little help here...

[mkoenig]

Hello All,

 

Once againn, I stand before the merciful FP gods, and ask you a beginners question...

 

Filling with all these different systems!

 

Okay, I get the cartridge thing, no problem...tip upside down, push, screw pen back together. I'm no genius, but I get that...

 

How to fill a Vac? How to fill an Estie? How to fill my Pelikan? How to fill my 21?

 

As you can see, I've been working HARD on my collection, and will be faced with putting ink in these bad boys, and realized, I haven't the foggiest idea how to work all these different systems? Does one just dip the tip of the nib in the ink and pump, plunge until the sac is full? It must be more difficult than that!

 

Are there things one needs to consider with vintage pens bought off of ebay, prior to setting them up to write with?

 

Zoinks, never really considered these things, just let my bidding fingers do the talking!

 

Thanks in advance for your direction...

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

 

P.S. To Sheldon T's. point on another thread...Yup, this is an expensive hobby!

[KendallJ]

Oh this is going to be fun...

 

Vac: Depress sac buttong multiple time while holding pen in the ink. It will usually take several strokes to fill.

 

Lever Filler (Esterbrook): pull out the lever until perpendicular with the pen, submerge tip in ink, release lever, hold in ink for a few seconds.

 

Piston Filler: just like a converter except that the end of the pen is the "twist" knob.

 

As for vintage considerations. The most common problem is a sac that is hardened and hence unusable. If you work the lever and it appears to be sticky or you can hear the sack go "crunch" then needs to be repaired. Most pen-meisters can refit a vintage sac. Before you fill that "bad boy" up with ink, I'd suggest some water first, just to be sure the mechanism works.

 

Wait there are more! Richard has a whole compendium...

Richard Binder - filling systems

[Guest Denis Richard]

Hi Mark,

 

A great ressource for filling mechanisms operation is Richard Binder's website, particularly this page :

 

Fountain Pen Filling Systems

 

Denis.

[Gerry]

Just a tiny adjustment to the Estie process (and probably other lever fillers).

 

I have the practice of just submerging the nib (ink just over the beginning of the section), and operating the lever 2 or 3 times (until there are no more bubbles expelled when you move the lever to the full open position). Then close the lever, holding the nib in the ink for a few seconds (it takes a moment or two for the sac to suck up a full load).

 

This will ensure you have the full capacity of the pen available.

 

Cheers

 

Gerry

[mkoenig]

Thanks all,

 

Is it fair to say that one only has to submerge the nib up to the tiny hole where the two sides of the nib meet? Or don't you even have to go that far?

 

Thanks,

 

Mark

[KendallJ]

Nope, further. Most pens (not all) suck ink in at the base of the nib. some ink does come in through the feed channels, but usually not much. You'll probably have better results if you dip the whole nib.

 

Some pens have a separate suction built into the feed that doesn't require a full dip, but its usually on the underside of the feed. I have a Sheaffer Balance, and a Namiki IMpressions that do this (both are moderns)

Edited December 23, 2004 by KendallJ

[Maja]

Welcome to the addiction, Mark

When testing to see if there is an old hardened sac inside the barrel, make sure you don't "force" the lever too much. Be gentle, as you don't want to break it off, or damage the lever box (if there is one).....As Kendall recommended, try water first to see if it works.