Can This Be Fixed?

[ladyinthemists]

I have a very pretty red marbled Estie SJ. The only problem/s that I can find with it is that the barrel has a very slight curve in it so the cap doesn't screw on smoothly and there is also a very slight buldge just below the threaded section. It doesn't affect the writing at all. I can only guess that whoever owned it previously got it too hot while trying to open it up to replace an ink sac or a j-bar. Is it fixable....or not?

[NORTON]

Lady,

 

I think your assessment of the problem is correct. You may be able to reshape the bulge with heat. However, this will be a tricky operation. Remove the section, heat the barrel until it's "formable" and then screw the cap on. The thinking here is that the cap will swage the barrel back into shape. It's a risky procedure but worth a try?

[zenhikester]

Lady, I have a black SJ with the same bit of character and, for my money, it's just character. Risky? You bet, I can live with the bulge, don't know how I'd feel about living without the pen.

Regards

[Will Thorpe]

Be careful. You see that tapered part that goes to the jewel at the end of the barrel. That taper was formed under pressure. You get that taper very hot and it will "untaper," straighten out, expand and the jewel will pop off and then the barrel is worthless.

[NORTON]

Ok, here's another thought. Take some 1,000 grit sand paper and lightly sand the bulge until the cap screws on with ease. Then polish the modified area with XXXX steel wool followed by some liquid polish.

[ladyinthemists]

The little buldge below the threads I can live with. The whole barrel has a bend in it so that it is not perfectly straight any more. Can this bend be corrected? I'll not worry about, and can even forgive, the little buldge at the end if I can just straighten the barrel out properly.

[ZeissIkon]

The little buldge below the threads I can live with. The whole barrel has a bend in it so that it is not perfectly straight any more. Can this bend be corrected? I'll not worry about, and can even forgive, the little buldge at the end if I can just straighten the barrel out properly.

 

Let's put it this way: Ron Zorn and Richard Binder are both on record saying it's tricky to straighten a curved celluloid pen.

[gross]

Lady, I have an extremely stupid question for you. Can you reposition the section and nib so that the curve fits your hand when you write? With section pliers and slight pressure, you might be able to turn it just enough so that when you hold the pen to write, the curve will not be a problem. Remembering that there is damage, this may not be without risk. Even then, it may not be pleasing to you. However, if I'm not remembering a dream, I seem to recall an expensive pen that is intentionally curved to fit the user's hand.

 

Just a thought. However, if you try it and it works, tell everyone you did it that way on purpose.

[OcalaFlGuy]

However, if I'm not remembering a dream, I seem to recall an expensive pen that is intentionally curved to fit the user's hand.

 

 

The Waterman Serinite?

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.stylophilesonline.com/images/09-06/09ser2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.stylophilesonline.com/09-06/09ser.htm&h=500&w=750&sz=90&tbnid=Urr7vIYISM9mwM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=141&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwaterman%2Bserenite&hl=en&usg=__EoB58JkRpmYbbynEs-2iwI_rBA4=&ei=5mveSsWkBo2aMJu21eoN&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=6&ct=image&ved=0CCgQ9QEwBQ

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

[gross]

However, if I'm not remembering a dream, I seem to recall an expensive pen that is intentionally curved to fit the user's hand.

 

 

The Waterman Serinite?

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.stylophilesonline.com/images/09-06/09ser2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.stylophilesonline.com/09-06/09ser.htm&h=500&w=750&sz=90&tbnid=Urr7vIYISM9mwM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=141&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwaterman%2Bserenite&hl=en&usg=__EoB58JkRpmYbbynEs-2iwI_rBA4=&ei=5mveSsWkBo2aMJu21eoN&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=6&ct=image&ved=0CCgQ9QEwBQ

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

 

That's it! Thank you, Bruce. I may be crazy, but at least I didn't dream that one up. Of course, if I had, I might have made a nickel or two.

[Artie]

Rather than being heated on purpose, it was probably left out in the hot sun in a car or some such place. It bent because of the uneven heat and the tension of the mechanisms inside the pen. As far as I know, this is not something a non pro should attempt to fix. I doubt it is worth trying to pay someone to fix either.

[FarmBoy]

Barrel warps and bulges can be fixed. It isn't always doable but Pre-David (my son) I decided to take the unwarp a pen barrel challenge the hard way. (I'll get to the easy way later.) I started with complete removal of all the internals and a through cleaning. Then came the mandrel. I turned a mandrel that matches the interior profile of the pen to use as a way to reform the barrel. I then heated the barrel and really heated the problem area and worked the mandrel into the barrel while rolling the bulge away against a flat plate. I also had a concave mating surface for rolling and shaping. It worked and I was surprised at the results. It took an afternoon a hand full of messed up pens and some trial and error but I wanted to give it a try.

 

Now remember I said I wanted to do it the hard way and this was certainly a lot of effort but with acceptable results after a good polish. I mentioned an easy way...get a replacement barrel. An Esterbrook J series a replacement barrel is going to cost less than the effort described above. Heck, a whole pen may cost less than the effort.

 

So what do I do. I buy lots of distressed pens (not just Esterbrooks) and salvage the good parts. I'm guessing here but a good barrel may run you about $5 if you need a jewel figure about $10 for a common J series barrel. An Icicle perhaps twice that. A 1.00 or 1.50 pen who knows.

 

T

[ladyinthemists]

UGH!!! Sounds like I'd do best by leaving well enough alone.

 

Isn't that Waterman Sérénité pen collection beautiful? I particularly like the water and fire versions!