Should I Use Glue At The Section With A Broke Barrel?

[agraveman]

I got a Waterman W3 from THE auction site claiming it in good condition. I got it back and the barrel is seriously cracked when the someone is trying to take the section out. I should've return the pen but I like the colour so much. I just didn't return it. I bent the nib back into shape, re sac the pen, it turns out the nib is one of the best I have used. Now the section is very loose in the barrel, should I even use glue, if at all, to keep the section stay in its place?

[sirksael]

It will make the pen usable perhaps, but you will never be able to open it again, effectively turning it into a throw-away (with long-term use, granted)

 

ideas/Options more in the spirit of our hobby would be:

* Try to find a replacement barrel

* Take the barrel off, protect the cracked area and put a compression ring around it. Apply acetone to the cracks, and tighten the compression ring until the barrel is in its original shape. Not an orthodox method, will probably not hold long term.

* Use shellac instead of glue to put section and barrel together. You should have some, as you re sacced the pen

[agraveman]

I am more of a user than a collector of pen, I don't mind cracks if it doesn't affect my daily usage. Perhaps glue is a bit too strong for this. I now wrapped the section with a thin tape to make the barrel stay in place. But I am worried that the crack will grow larger if I keep on using it. The repair of the crack of the second method sounds reasonable to me. Would acetone fuse this particular kind of plastic? The pen I have is sports a striped barrel.

[Clyde Suckerpunch]

I am more of a user than a collector of pen, I don't mind cracks if it doesn't affect my daily u. Perhaps glue is a bit too strong for this. I now wrapped the section with a thin tape to make the barrel stay in place. But I am worried that the crack will grow larger if I keep on using it. The repair of the crack of the second method sounds reasonable to me. Would acetone fuse this particular kind of plastic? The pen I have is sports a striped barrel.

 

I think MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) is preferred for solvent welding plastics, rather than acetone. Either one should (keeping in mind that I am not a chemist, but rather some totally random internet person) work for celluloid or modern fountain pen plastic- excepting hard rubber (not a plastic) and casein (which probably if yr pen were casein you would have noticed by now)

 

You can get MEK in the paint section of yr favorite hardware store- but please do note that acetone and MEK are SERIOUS, FLAMMABLE, DANGEROUS/DEADLY-to-INHALE solvents (and probably "known to the State of California to cause birth defects and cancer"). Use these substances with respect, lest ye die and/or burn yr house down.

 

Now, as far as cementing the section into the barrel (though I think you have correctly identified the problem with a crack in your pen- i.e., it will keep on crackin) : shellac can be useful as a secure-but-reversible cement, as a generous session with the hair dryer will free it when you need it free. Another cool substance is the rosin-based "thread sealant" that Ron Zorn sells (not affiliated, just a fan). This is quite sticky at room temp and warmer, but liquifies and releases at lower temps than shellac. In other words, it will keep it sealed until you apply heat, and you need not apply as much heat as you would with shellac.

 

Good luck, HTH