Leaky SJ, advice neeeded

[altair]

I'm an Esterbrook newbie with inky fingers who is wondering what to do about it.

 

My first vintage pen is an SJ with a 9128 nib. Initially I filled it with Noodler's Red Black. The nib wrote perfectly but the ink just creeped everywhere. The nib was completely covered, the feed almost dripping wet. Ink quickly transfered to the inner cap, then the section and finally my fingers.

 

I emptied the Noodler's and loaded Aurora Black. That was a huge improvement. The nib stayed relatively clean and I could brush paper against the bottom of the feed without producing an ink blot. I thought the problem was solved, but no. The leak just slowed down a lot, so that it takes longer to build up on the inner cap, but eventually ink gets onto my fingers.

 

By inspection and blotting I found that ink was coming through the nib threads. So I flushed the pen and took a close look. I can't see any cracks in the section or thread damage. The nib threads look good and the collar doesn't seem out of round.

 

The nib is a sloppy fit in the section thread though. It wiggles very noticeably when the threads are fully engaged but before it has bottomed against the section. Even when the nib is tightened down hard it can still be rocked back and forth just a bit.

 

I guess I have a bigger than average section thread paired with a smaller than average nib thread. I've thought about a turn, or maybe even two, of Teflon tape to snug things up a bit.

 

I'd really appreciate some advice from the experts though. I have no idea what is normal for these pens (and I'm really dying to start carrying this one).

 

Thanks in advance.

 

[Robert Hughes]

There may be a couple factors at play here. You may have a pinhole in the sac, which allows air in and ink to flow out. Your section may have a hairline crack. Or your threads may be loose, as you say - you might be able to fix that latter problem by rubbing candle wax on the section threads to affect a seal, similar to sealing up an ED pen.

 

I have a half dozen Esterbrooks, none of them exhibit this problem. But I've got a Majestic lever fill pen with a sac that has lost its ability to expand. Whenever I attempt to fill it, the sac "deflates", so the ink runs back out. My fix will be to replace the sac, next time I get a batch of 'em.

Edited September 10, 2008 by Robert Hughes

[EventHorizon]

The nib is a sloppy fit in the section thread though. It wiggles very noticeably when the threads are fully engaged but before it has bottomed against the section. Even when the nib is tightened down hard it can still be rocked back and forth just a bit.

 

Not a good thing and really shouldn't be that way. If you have another Esterbrook nib try it out. If it is the same then I would recommend a new section. Until then, the Teflon tape might work.

On the other hand, it might be your nib but either way you will find out.

 

Oh Yea, welcome to FPN ans Estebrook and the issue you are having is not common. Esterbrooks are the most dependable vintage pens I have.

 

[OcalaFlGuy]

The nib is a sloppy fit in the section thread though. It wiggles very noticeably when the threads are fully engaged but before it has bottomed against the section. Even when the nib is tightened down hard it can still be rocked back and forth just a bit.

 

Not a good thing and really shouldn't be that way. If you have another Esterbrook nib try it out. If it is the same then I would recommend a new section. Until then, the Teflon tape might work.

On the other hand, it might be your nib but either way you will find out.

 

Oh Yea, welcome to FPN ans Estebrook and the issue you are having is not common. Esterbrooks are the most dependable vintage pens I have.

 

 

+1 on the trying a different nib suggestion. Your description of the nib situaton to me sounds really wonky (and I am far from any expert).

 

Also, welcome aboard and I too suspect your fix will be a simple one.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

[altair]

The nib is a sloppy fit in the section thread though. It wiggles very noticeably when the threads are fully engaged but before it has bottomed against the section. Even when the nib is tightened down hard it can still be rocked back and forth just a bit.

 

Not a good thing and really shouldn't be that way. If you have another Esterbrook nib try it out. If it is the same then I would recommend a new section. Until then, the Teflon tape might work.

On the other hand, it might be your nib but either way you will find out.

 

Oh Yea, welcome to FPN ans Estebrook and the issue you are having is not common. Esterbrooks are the most dependable vintage pens I have.

 

 

+1 on the trying a different nib suggestion. Your description of the nib situaton to me sounds really wonky (and I am far from any expert).

 

Also, welcome aboard and I too suspect your fix will be a simple one.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

Thanks Robert, EventHorizon & Bruce.

 

Unfortunately I have no other Esterbrook pens or nibs, so I don't know whether it is the nib, the section, or just bad statistical luck with the combination of the two.

 

I did several searches to see what FPN members recommend for thread sealants. Apparently section sealant is the best (Tryphon and Ron Z's compound get the nod). I of course did not want to wait days for a potential fix.

 

As far as I can tell, somebody has something dire to say about every readily available thread sealant. Except for plumber's wax. That seems to be pretty benign. So I bought a toilet gasket for all of $1.18, put a good schmear on the nib threads and screwed it in firmly. The nib is now secure with no wiggle whatsoever.

 

I've inked it up with Aurora Black again and have been using it for the last hour; writing, capping, uncapping and generally fiddling with it. The thread junction is clean. Huzzah! This pen is going into the carry rotation and we'll see if the problem is solved.

Edited September 11, 2008 by altair

[altair]

I forgot about this thread with all the excitement of hurricane Ike, so here is the belated denoument.

 

The plumber's wax worked perfectly. The SJ is now absolutely reliable and has become one of my favorite pens, which is saying something, because I never expected to like a vintage pen. I may need a few more.

 

If my Esties do multiply, the rule will be:

Always wax when installing nibs, it can never hurt.

 

[EventHorizon]

Good to hear. Use it well.

[wvbeetlebug]

Awesome! Glad you got it fixed! Enjoy!

[dlilazteca]

The nib is a sloppy fit in the section thread though. It wiggles very noticeably when the threads are fully engaged but before it has bottomed against the section. Even when the nib is tightened down hard it can still be rocked back and forth just a bit.

 

Not a good thing and really shouldn't be that way. If you have another Esterbrook nib try it out. If it is the same then I would recommend a new section. Until then, the Teflon tape might work.

On the other hand, it might be your nib but either way you will find out.

 

Oh Yea, welcome to FPN ans Estebrook and the issue you are having is not common. Esterbrooks are the most dependable vintage pens I have.

 

 

+1 on the trying a different nib suggestion. Your description of the nib situaton to me sounds really wonky (and I am far from any expert).

 

Also, welcome aboard and I too suspect your fix will be a simple one.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

Thanks Robert, EventHorizon & Bruce.

 

Unfortunately I have no other Esterbrook pens or nibs, so I don't know whether it is the nib, the section, or just bad statistical luck with the combination of the two.

 

I did several searches to see what FPN members recommend for thread sealants. Apparently section sealant is the best (Tryphon and Ron Z's compound get the nod). I of course did not want to wait days for a potential fix.

 

As far as I can tell, somebody has something dire to say about every readily available thread sealant. Except for plumber's wax. That seems to be pretty benign. So I bought a toilet gasket for all of $1.18, put a good schmear on the nib threads and screwed it in firmly. The nib is now secure with no wiggle whatsoever.

 

I've inked it up with Aurora Black again and have been using it for the last hour; writing, capping, uncapping and generally fiddling with it. The thread junction is clean. Huzzah! This pen is going into the carry rotation and we'll see if the problem is solved.

 

Could you help me out a little, you see I live in Laredo, Texas and if I go to my local hardware store I hate to admit this but, most if not all the employes speak spanish. If I run in there and as for plumber's wax, (in english) im liable to be slapped. lol (inside joke j/k) but he or she wont understand what im getting at (us mexicans) have or invent words for plumbers wax (just guessing, hope i dont offend anynone). but could you post a picture maybe of what exactly i need to buy. having the same problem with one of my esties. (not testies)...

[altair]

... could you post a picture maybe of what exactly i need to buy.

 

What I bought is called a wax toilet gasket. It's a wax ring that is placed around the drain pipe before the toilet is set, which compresses it to form a water and odor proof seal. Here's a picture.

 

Any sort of wax would likely work. You could rub a candle on the threads as Robert Hughes suggested above. I like plumber's wax because it is a pure wax designed to seal rather than burn. Candles are made of various things (paraffin wax, bee's wax, soy wax) and often have additives like scented oils. They probably wouldn't hurt a fountain pen, but I like to keep things simple and reduce the number of uncontrolled variables.

Edited October 17, 2008 by altair

[dlilazteca]

thanks