Inset Nib On The Namiki Silvern- Removing And Re-Sealing

[hari317]

I have a small but growing collection of the Namiki/Pilot Silvern pens, I love these pens for their balance and good looks-aided by the inset nib. However, I have had bad luck with the problem of ink seepage around the nib, since my grip is such that my forefinger touches the tail of these nibs. The first leaky nib I sent out to Pilot, they replaced it under warranty but took months to return the pen.

 

I was really frustrated when I took out this second pen from storage and brought it back into rotation after a year, the previously sound nib was now slowly leaching out ink. This time I decided to take the matter in my hand. The reason for the leak is the failed sealing between the nib and the section. The Nib is glued to the section. Failed glue allows ink to trap in the capillary space between the nib and section and slowly leaches out from there, staining the fingers.

 

I slid a 1 mil brass shim sheet carefully underneath the nib, starting from the tail, to break the glue bond. making sure that the bond was broken, I also slid a narrow strip of the sheet from the front so that the area there could also be freed.

 

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn307/hari-b/NamikiSilvernNib/IMG_6339.jpg

 

Once I was sure that the nib is reasonably free, I pried one side of the nib out from one side:

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn307/hari-b/NamikiSilvernNib/IMG_6340.jpg

 

This freed the nib and i could seperate the nib and feed, you can see the patchy glue work:

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn307/hari-b/NamikiSilvernNib/IMG_6341.jpg

 

Glue remains on the nib and section:

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn307/hari-b/NamikiSilvernNib/IMG_6342.jpg

 

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn307/hari-b/NamikiSilvernNib/IMG_6343.jpg

 

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn307/hari-b/NamikiSilvernNib/IMG_6344.jpg

 

The nib underside cleaned off the debris:

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn307/hari-b/NamikiSilvernNib/IMG_6464.jpg

 

The section cleaned, it was difficult to remove the thin film of adhesive used by Pilot.

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn307/hari-b/NamikiSilvernNib/IMG_6466.jpg

 

Side grooves for the nib:

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn307/hari-b/NamikiSilvernNib/IMG_6469.jpg

 

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn307/hari-b/NamikiSilvernNib/IMG_6470.jpg

 

I asked in the repair forum about a suitable glue to re-attach the nib and I got a recommendation for GS Hypo cement by Force. It is not a product available locally, I bought it form a KHK based seller and had to wait approx 20days for it to arrive, I applied a thin layer of the glue with its "precision" applicator. waited for 15seconds and slid the nib onto the section and wiped the excess glue off with a cotton swap soaked in Isopropyl alcohol. Since this was a time critical operation, I could not take photos of the glue application and nib refitting stage. Take care not to apply excessive glue, take care not to get glue onto the feed, it will be a disaster.

 

Nib fitted and excess glue wiped off(yesterday evening after work):

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn307/hari-b/NamikiSilvernNib/IMG_6471.jpg

 

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn307/hari-b/NamikiSilvernNib/IMG_6473.jpg

 

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn307/hari-b/NamikiSilvernNib/IMG_6474.jpg

 

I left the pen alone for 24 hours, allowing the glue to cure fully, fill tested the pen today eveing and so far so good, no leaks.

 

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn307/hari-b/NamikiSilvernNib/IMG_6476.jpg

 

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn307/hari-b/NamikiSilvernNib/IMG_6477.jpg

 

I think it is an easy enough job for a careful DIY person. I thank Stan for telling me the basics of how the nib is put together and the encouragement to do this myself, however at that time I had decided to send the nib to Pilot rather than do it myself.

 

I hope these photos will give a better idea of how to go about, for the next person facing the same problem.

 

Best

Hari

[sessyargc]

Cheers to a job well done!

[stan]

One does not need a special type of adhesive. When I first inquired of a Japanese pen repairer what type of adhesive to use he sent me a tube of ordinary household repair epoxy. This was nothing special. I fretted there was some super secret glue only available from the factory. There is not. What is important is to apply an even coat of adhesive. If not even ink will work its way around and through areas where there is no adhesive.

[hari317]

One does not need a special type of adhesive. When I first inquired of a Japanese pen repairer what type of adhesive to use he sent me a tube of ordinary household repair epoxy. This was nothing special. I fretted there was some super secret glue only available from the factory. There is not. What is important is to apply an even coat of adhesive. If not even ink will work its way around and through areas where there is no adhesive.

 

and my concern was re-workability since i was going to do it for the first time. The most common two part 24H epoxy we get here is Araldite and it is very tough to remove it once it sets. Let me see how the Hypo glue holds up, it is supposed to be waterproof.

 

I think the unevenness of the original glue application was the culprit in my pen, I think i have managed a very even application this time, only time will tell. Also when you adjust the nib like opening up the slit etc, stress is put on the nib to section joint which I guess can cause the glue bond to break/weaken.

 

Thanks for your inputs Stan.

[Jezza]

Great post--thanks for sharing. Inlaid nibs always scare me for this vary reason. I had a number of Sheaffer's Imperials with the same problem. Good to know if I ever have a Silvern, there's a DIY remedy I could probably use to handle the problem myself. Is there an area for saving repair tips like this? If so, I'd vote for keeping this post and the replies handy.

[markiv]

Excellent post Hari

Good to see the pen back in service

The bond failure - was it the factory or somebody had worked on it before?

[hari317]

The bond failure - was it the factory or somebody had worked on it before?

 

Both the nibs were stock. The first nib was leaky when I received it. This nib was Ok when I received it and used it for a few fills. Started leaking after a year of storage...

[haywoody]

Thanks for the excellent guide Hari. I had the same problem with an old Pilot Custom, which has similar construction. I followed Stan's advice and used epoxy. It turned out fine but I was shaking in my boots. I wish this post had been available at the time.

 

/Woody

[hari317]

Thank you Woody, I was also shaking in my boots while putting the shim in, it was an experiment to see if the shim would be enough to break the glue or something stiffer was needed, then a corner of the shim tore off and remained stuck under the nib(it is visible in the pics), that is when I knew that I had no option of stopping or going back.

[stan]

The bond failure - was it the factory or somebody had worked on it before?

 

It is a factory issue. I believe each batch of glue has a shelf life when open to air and some nibs were applied at the end of the usable life of the batch. Or it was not applied evenly.

[hari317]

Update:

The initial repair with the Hypo glue failed in three days of use. I used the brass shim technique to seperate the nib again(came off real easy, cleaned the shell thoroughly and this time I used two part epoxy 24Hrs setting:Araldite.

 

I applied the epoxy evenly, slightly in excess since it is quite thick, carefully reinserted the nib, the excess epoxy beaded up nicely around the nib tail edges. I allowed the excess glue to slightly stiffen(wait 1/2 hour) and wiped this excess off with a wet rag. I let the nib sit for 48hours for the epoxy to cure fully and have been using the pen for the last one week which included one air travel journey. No leaks!

 

I would like to edit the OP to include the above information.

 

Thanks!

Hari

[MYU]

Hari, I thought I might revive this thread now that the last post is just over a year old. How well did the epoxy glue hold up in your application for the Pilot inlaid nib? I hope it has been leak free for you.

[hari317]

Hari, I thought I might revive this thread now that the last post is just over a year old. How well did the epoxy glue hold up in your application for the Pilot inlaid nib? I hope it has been leak free for you.

 

Thanks for asking. Yes, It appears to have held up very well. The nib is still leak free.

 

Best

Hari

[gregglee]

I agree this is a well presented, very useful thread. Thanks.

 

If you don't mind being revived again, I find I may need to remove the nib from the same model for a nib repair. I have a question.

 

I understand you slid your nib back on from the front which would be clear to do with the old glue removed. This would push any adhesive applied to section away from the feed so no risk there. But adhesive on the nib might risk wiping across the feed. So did you apply glue only to the section?

 

What about the second pass with epoxy? Same way?. Or did you apply adhesive to both surfaces, which is the usual instruction for epoxy? If so, did you still slide the nib in, or did you press it straight down onto the section.

 

Thanks

[hari317]

I agree this is a well presented, very useful thread. Thanks.

 

If you don't mind being revived again, I find I may need to remove the nib from the same model for a nib repair. I have a question.

 

I understand you slid your nib back on from the front which would be clear to do with the old glue removed. This would push any adhesive applied to section away from the feed so no risk there. But adhesive on the nib might risk wiping across the feed. So did you apply glue only to the section?

 

What about the second pass with epoxy? Same way?. Or did you apply adhesive to both surfaces, which is the usual instruction for epoxy? If so, did you still slide the nib in, or did you press it straight down onto the section.

 

Thanks

No problem about the revival, I am still around to answer questions.

 

I apply epoxy only to the section, taking care that none of it gets to the feed.

 

HTH.

[gregglee]

Thanks.

[hari317]

Thanks.

It will be nice if you can post a followup with how it went after your have attempted the repair.

[gregglee]

It will be nice if you can post a followup with how it went after your have attempted the repair.

I was thinking about posting a question in the repair forum looking for repair sources. I have been hunting for someone who can do the nib repair. I can remove it if needed, but I have never tried bending gold, nor do I have tiny tools. Many work on tips, but this problem extends further back. Pictures below.

 

In the process of searching I have discovered that few pen repairers know the nib can be removed and reset. I doubt there is any way to do the repair with nib still on section. The upward bend behind the down bent tip has to be straightened to bring the nib back down into proper contact with the feed. Also I imagine the nib also needs physical support from beneath to prevent flexing down and digging in on upstrokes.

 

Your pictures show the original smooth contour. My first is highlights from a twin flash to try to show width. The other two show the bend profile and gap between nib and section. The red line I added on the second one is straight.

 

[hari317]

You can carry out the nib repair with the nib separated from the section. If you are sending it out, consider the top man John Mottishaw (www.nibs.com).

 

I suggest you just align the tip halves for now and try how the pen performs, the pronounced up and down curve of the nib indicates some trauma. you can see some more images of my other silverns here for the correct contour:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/252201-my-pilot-silvern-stone-pavement/

[gregglee]

One more question? I now noticed a thread from a few months before you started this thread. In it member zanio says the original adhesive can be softened with a hairdrier to aid removal. Did you try that?

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/204044-questions-about-namiki-sterling-silvern-art-craft/?do=findComment&comment=2098980

Edited June 27, 2014 by gregglee