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Esterbrook cracked barrel

FredM

By FredM
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FredM Mint

FredM

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I was removing the section from an Blue Esterbrook Dollar pen this morning, going slowly to prevent damage, and the barrel cracked. I have read a few threads here on this problem and from what I have read it sounds like a difficult problem. I sanded the section some to get it to fit not quite so tightly but now it is loose. Can I just put some shellac on the section or do I just need to get a new barrel? This happened a few months ago with a Blue transitional barrel while putting the section back in. I must be missing something on these sections as far as how they fit.

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FarmBoy Museum Piece

FarmBoy

Posted
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Heat. You are missing heat. You need to warm the barrel to remove or insert the section to prevent the dreaded Estie Split.

 

Barrel repairs are possible but unless the Estie is of particular value it is more cost effective to replace the damaged part.

 

Todd

San Francisco International Pen Show - The next “Funnest Pen Show” is on schedule for August 23-24-25, 2024.  Watch the show website for registration details. 
 

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The Pensmith Mint

The Pensmith

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Esterbrook 'Dollar Pen' barrels are notoriously fragile and the slightest twist will split them. Heat is one answer. The best solution is heat and supporting the circumference of the barrel (at the threads) when removing the section, preferable with a circular clamp. I have turned a number of circular clamps out of aluminium to different diameters. The art is to heat the clamp gently, not the pen. Hope this helps.

The Pensmith's Web Site

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FredM Mint

FredM

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Thanks for the advice. I knew there had to be something I wasn't doing right. I guess I'll start looking for a replacement barrel.

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OldGriz Donor Pen

OldGriz

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Thanks for the advice. I knew there had to be something I wasn't doing right. I guess I'll start looking for a replacement barrel.

 

Better to start looking for a complete new pen since you also sanded down the diameter of the section.... something that did not need to be done...

Even with a replacement barrel the section will be loose....

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FredM Mint

FredM

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Thanks for the advice. I knew there had to be something I wasn't doing right. I guess I'll start looking for a replacement barrel.

 

Better to start looking for a complete new pen since you also sanded down the diameter of the section.... something that did not need to be done...

Even with a replacement barrel the section will be loose....

 

This is true. Another lesson learned (I have always been a little hard headed). However the section has some deep marks from pliers and wasn't exactly perfect. I do have a nice cap and 9550 nib so maybe a barrel and section will turn up somewhere.

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FredM Mint

FredM

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I got a green Estie transitional today that needs a sac. I soaked it in water for a little while and then used gentle heat before removing the section. It came out very nicely. I just wish I had done this with the last pen. It makes me sick when I think about it. I would like to learn how to fix a crack. I now have 2 cracked barrels to practice on, should I give it a try?

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zenhikester Rare

zenhikester

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I got a green Estie transitional today that needs a sac. I soaked it in water for a little while and then used gentle heat before removing the section. It came out very nicely. I just wish I had done this with the last pen. It makes me sick when I think about it. I would like to learn how to fix a crack. I now have 2 cracked barrels to practice on, should I give it a try?

Can't break what's broke.

Regards

Edited by zenhikester

Piracy: n. Commerce without its folly-swaddle. Just as God made it. Ambrose Bierce.

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ZeissIkon Antique

ZeissIkon

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I got a green Estie transitional today that needs a sac. I soaked it in water for a little while and then used gentle heat before removing the section. It came out very nicely. I just wish I had done this with the last pen. It makes me sick when I think about it. I would like to learn how to fix a crack. I now have 2 cracked barrels to practice on, should I give it a try?

Can't break what's broke.

Regards

 

Agreed -- nothing to lose, and Esterbrook pens are common enough experimenting on a couple cracked barrels isn't sacrilege. It should be possible to solvent weld the celluloid, if you can find the right solvent (xylene would be a good start, some paint stores carry it). Making the weld invisible, well, that's a taller order...

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islamoradasteve New

islamoradasteve

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Hey folks. I just bought a nice little blue dollar pen that needs a sac replacement. However, I can't seem to remove the section from the barrel. I see you all talk about heat, but I'm not quite sure how you're applying it. Any suggestions? Also, I bought a nice little SJ at the same time -flea market finds - that has a short crack in the barrel where the section fits. Any suggestions on fixing that too? I'm sure both topics have been addressed in this forum but as I'm sort of new to it I'm having trouble locating them. These are my 3rd and 4th Esties - my first was another flea market find, the second I bought from someone here on the network. I love 'em! Thanks, Steve

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FarmBoy Museum Piece

FarmBoy

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Hey folks. I just bought a nice little blue dollar pen that needs a sac replacement. However, I can't seem to remove the section from the barrel. I see you all talk about heat, but I'm not quite sure how you're applying it. Any suggestions? Also, I bought a nice little SJ at the same time -flea market finds - that has a short crack in the barrel where the section fits. Any suggestions on fixing that too? I'm sure both topics have been addressed in this forum but as I'm sort of new to it I'm having trouble locating them. These are my 3rd and 4th Esties - my first was another flea market find, the second I bought from someone here on the network. I love 'em! Thanks, Steve

Use a heat gun to warm up the barrel just at the threads. (An old hair dryer will work fine.) Leave the Renew Point in the section or you risk crushing it when giving it the heave-twist.

 

Barrel cracks in an Esterbrook can be solvent welded. Start by getting the barrel and the crack area extremely clean. If the crack is big you will need to fill it with donor material. If just a split wick an appropriate solvent into the crack and hold it in place. Various methods but electrical tape works pretty well.

 

For a resac you need a #16 cut 1-15/16" long. The sac is held to the section with shellac. You will also need talc to dust the sac (on the outside).

 

Try a post in the Esterbrook forum for all sorts of info.

 

Todd

San Francisco International Pen Show - The next “Funnest Pen Show” is on schedule for August 23-24-25, 2024.  Watch the show website for registration details. 
 

My PM box is usually full. Just email me: my last name at the google mail address.

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