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Esterbrook Nib Threads


wdyasq

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After a search of the forum I id not find anything about the diameter and pitch of Esterbrook nib threads. It would be nice to know to build nib holders or other devices I may want to build. Can someone tell me the size and pitch? Or, am I going to have the thrill of figuring out these things on my own with minimal tools and information?

 

Threaded diameter is ~.280" as I measure.and pitch may be in the 35 range. This will require either single point threading on a lathe or a $pecial tap.

 

Thanks,

Ron

"Adventure is just bad planning." -- Roald Amundsen

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Threads measure 36tpi and major diameter is .278"; I didn't bother checking pitch diameter, since at that size and pitch it's definitely non-standard.

 

If you have access to a lathe and mill, making a tap in that size to cut plastic would be a piece of cake. If you want to cut metal, you'd need a way to heat treat the tap. Of course, if you have the lathe you won't need to bother making a die.

-=[ Grant ]=-

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Thanks Grant,

 

I'll check and see if there is a standard semi-custom die before I make much.

 

Ron

"Adventure is just bad planning." -- Roald Amundsen

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  • 6 years later...

Thanks Grant,

 

I'll check and see if there is a standard semi-custom die before I make much.

 

Ron

 

At the risk of getting lynched for practicing forum necromancy (I'm currently working on a project using an esterbrook 9461 nib)...

 

That sounds very close to a 7mmx.5 thread. Not one likely to come in a craftsman kit, but not a custom thread either. Once again, I have an Esterbrook nib on order and will probably have to thread a custom barrel for it. Can anyone confirm wether Esterbrook generally used metric or not?

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36tpi is closer to .75mm. not exact of course, but an m7x.75 tap works well enough.

True, and those are available as well. From the tone of your reply, may I assume you've tried this?

Looks like the nibs have only 3-4 threads on them, so that tolerance shouldn't stack up too fast.

 

Edit: cleaned up spelling.

Edited by Sallowpad
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Thanks Grant,

 

I'll check and see if there is a standard semi-custom die before I make much.

 

Ron

 

At the risk of getting lynched for practicing forum necromancy (I'm currently working on a project using an esterbrook 9461 nib)...

 

That sounds very close to a 7mmx.5 thread. Not one likely to come in a craftsman kit, but not a custom thread either. Once again, I have an Esterbrook nib on order and will probably have to thread a custom barrel for it. Can anyone confirm wether Esterbrook generally used metric or not?

Do you think an American company back then would use metric?

"Don't hurry, don't worry. It's better to be late at the Golden Gate than to arrive in Hell on time."
--Sign in a bar and grill, Ormond Beach, Florida, 1960.

 

 

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Do you think an American company back then would use metric?

I almost don't dare speculate why companies chose the threads they did back then. It might be interesting to read on though. The piano tuning industry, for example. Somehow it settled on something very similar to (but not exactly) a 3/8-30 thread for the 'socket' tips to attach tuning pins to the tuning lever. I dare you to ask your local hardware store for anything in that thread. :gaah:

 

However, I understand Esterbrook focused on reducing cost quite a bit. I can only assume their thread choice centered on that at some point.

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Thats an interesting report, watch_art because I finally have the nib physically in my hands (sloooow ebay seller) and my micrometer says the threads are pretty much as close to 7.0mm as that period plastic molding could consistently be. A tad over, a tad under, depending on where the jaws are on the rotation. Measuring across four thread crests gives 2mm. That definitively clocks in at a M7x.5 profile.

 

It will be interesting to give it a chance in both holes, however. I have the .75 tap on order, so that will be first.

 

 

Or maybe I'll get crazy with it and strip the plastic off entirely so I can machine a bushing in a modern FP thread. Any recommendations on that?

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  • 2 years later...

The exact Esterbrook nib unit size & pitch is 9/32" - 36 tpi. (.2812")... M 7.1 X .7 is the closest metric size. Both size taps are almost impossible to find. Good luck!

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