Cleaning An Ancient Rotring Technical Pen

[ejlflop]

I have in my possession a (possibly extremely) old Rotring pen, called a "Rotring Variant". It says on the pen body that it has a nib size of 0.3mm. Unfortunately it seems like it's all clogged up inside (unsurprisingly, as it probably hasn't been used for >10 years), but my researches on the internet so far haven't really turned up any successful methods of cleaning it. It seems superficially similar to the more modern "Isograph" and "Rapidograph" Rotring pens, but different enough that I can't work out how to e.g. take apart the nib unit in order to clean it thoroughly. Does anyone have any ideas as to the best way of cleaning this thing out? Would dumping it in a saucer of household ammonia for an hour do anything? (I've tried hot water etc.).

 

Also, would using standard black fountain pen ink in this sort of pen be at all possible? I realise there's a risk of it leaking through the mechanism rather quickly, but fountain pen ink is all I have at the moment to do a bit of testing with it.

 

Thanks for any help.

[Uncle Red]

A picture would be a big help.

[jor412]

I have in my possession a (possibly extremely) old Rotring pen, called a "Rotring Variant". It says on the pen body that it has a nib size of 0.3mm. Unfortunately it seems like it's all clogged up inside (unsurprisingly, as it probably hasn't been used for >10 years), but my researches on the internet so far haven't really turned up any successful methods of cleaning it. It seems superficially similar to the more modern "Isograph" and "Rapidograph" Rotring pens, but different enough that I can't work out how to e.g. take apart the nib unit in order to clean it thoroughly. Does anyone have any ideas as to the best way of cleaning this thing out? Would dumping it in a saucer of household ammonia for an hour do anything? (I've tried hot water etc.).

 

Also, would using standard black fountain pen ink in this sort of pen be at all possible? I realise there's a risk of it leaking through the mechanism rather quickly, but fountain pen ink is all I have at the moment to do a bit of testing with it.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

 

The usual way of cleaning will work on tech pens. Just unscrew the section, pull off the cartridge and flush with water until you get the clog out. 0.3 is a relatively fine point so that'll take a bit of doing. I've never used fountain pen ink in tech pens. There's ink specially made for technical pens. They're cheap actually and come in several colors that you can use for drafting and pen and ink rendering.

 

The tips of technical pens from 0.1 - 0.3 are fragile, maybe more so than fountain pen nibs, so whatever you do, don't drop it. I speak from having dropped one or two of them. Other than that, they're reliable writers that draw even lines. Even the 0.1 -- maybe an XXF -- never draws dry.

 

EDIT: I forgot to mention. I have a Rotring Variant II with me right now. There's a open-ended "cap" of sorts right between the section and point area. This should be a friction fit that you can twist off. If it doesn't come off, there may be too much dried ink in there. Soaking and flushing with soapy water will help you remove it and clean the section innards better. Also, save the "cartridge". It's part of the pen and not meant to be disposable. You'll want to flush that out, too. There was a Variant B and a Variant and then my Variant II. If you post a pic, I can tell you for certain the pen is circa late 70s to early 80s.

Edited August 31, 2011 by jor412

[Azuniga]

I have in my possession a (possibly extremely) old Rotring pen, called a "Rotring Variant". It says on the pen body that it has a nib size of 0.3mm. Unfortunately it seems like it's all clogged up inside (unsurprisingly, as it probably hasn't been used for >10 years), but my researches on the internet so far haven't really turned up any successful methods of cleaning it. It seems superficially similar to the more modern "Isograph" and "Rapidograph" Rotring pens, but different enough that I can't work out how to e.g. take apart the nib unit in order to clean it thoroughly. Does anyone have any ideas as to the best way of cleaning this thing out? Would dumping it in a saucer of household ammonia for an hour do anything? (I've tried hot water etc.).

 

Also, would using standard black fountain pen ink in this sort of pen be at all possible? I realise there's a risk of it leaking through the mechanism rather quickly, but fountain pen ink is all I have at the moment to do a bit of testing with it.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

I have used one Variant for long time, from the seventies at least. I am adding an image of the pieces separated. There is a little tool used to unscrew the pin (this one is 0,6 mm) very hard to unscrew when dried ink in it. You can try with rubber pliers (maybe it is not the name).. You can put it in war water for ten minutes or so. The image is to show how it looks inside. Once you open it it is easy to figure out how it is done.

Hope it helps !

[Azuniga]

Oopps ¡ :headsmack:Sorry, I meant warm water...

[TMLee]

> 10 years?

 

I suggest you use an ultrasonic cleaner.

 

Assuming the original inks are used, they are oil based.

Use some ammonia solution to soak first or use it in the ultrasonic cleaner.

 

I would be very very careful when disassembling since the nib feed is encrusted?

Bcos any force is going to break the thin filament away from it's foundation. When it's broken, your pen becomes useless.

 

If you can find those original inks then it's fine.

FP ink is too 'watery' it will just leak like crazy.

 

The throwaway cartridges can be reused but only if they are super clean - no dried ink sediments inside - it will clog your nib.

If you want to reuse with drafting ink, refill it carefully.

Then add one or two drops of singer oil into the cartridge.

The oil helps the flow.

 

I haven't tried but wonder if Noodlers Black can be used.

 

Good luck.

[ejlflop]

Ok thanks a lot for all of your suggestions. I shall try tomorrow, starting with a brief(?) ammonia soak. I'll also see if I can get a decent picture.

[Azuniga]

> 10 years?

 

I suggest you use an ultrasonic cleaner.

 

Assuming the original inks are used, they are oil based.

Use some ammonia solution to soak first or use it in the ultrasonic cleaner.

 

I would be very very careful when disassembling since the nib feed is encrusted?

Bcos any force is going to break the thin filament away from it's foundation. When it's broken, your pen becomes useless.

 

If you can find those original inks then it's fine.

FP ink is too 'watery' it will just leak like crazy.

 

The throwaway cartridges can be reused but only if they are super clean - no dried ink sediments inside - it will clog your nib.

If you want to reuse with drafting ink, refill it carefully.

Then add one or two drops of singer oil into the cartridge.

The oil helps the flow.

 

I haven't tried but wonder if Noodlers Black can be used.

 

Good luck.

 

I have used Noodlers Heart of Darkness and it works well but it should not be left there when finished using it, for some reason it dries faster than in normal pens...

[jor412]

 

I have used one Variant for long time, from the seventies at least. I am adding an image of the pieces separated. There is a little tool used to unscrew the pin (this one is 0,6 mm) very hard to unscrew when dried ink in it. You can try with rubber pliers (maybe it is not the name).. You can put it in war water for ten minutes or so. The image is to show how it looks inside. Once you open it it is easy to figure out how it is done.

Hope it helps !

 

That's the one. The one I have is the next version which seems easier to disassemble. I was wondering if they had a different "hood" -- I don't know what to call it. 70s sounds about right to me. Does that mean Variant B came after the Variant? I might be getting my versions wrong.