Sac With Talc Inside

[PR Wright]

I ordered some #16 ink sacs. They came packed in white powder, which I assume is talc. The talc is actually inside, as well as outside the sac. Is this ok? I'm nervous about the talc clogging things up. This is my first re-sac, so I'm a little nervous.

[pathobby]

I ordered some #16 ink sacs. They came packed in white powder, which I assume is talc. The talc is actually inside, as well as outside the sac. Is this ok? I'm nervous about the talc clogging things up. This is my first re-sac, so I'm a little nervous.

 

 

Wash it out with clean, cooled, boiled water! Then let the sac dry... then it will be clean and dry and you can start from there.

 

Life is just soooo full of risk for us fountain pen repairers!

 

PH

Edited June 26, 2012 by pathobby

[inkstainedruth]

I watched a video on re-sacking a pen. After letting the shellac dry overnight, the person who made the video put some sort of powder -- just a dusting, IIRC -- on the outside of the sac. It was supposed to help keep the sac from drying out too fast, I think. Was this talc?

I wrote to the person who made the video to ask what the powder was, but never got a response. (Sorry, I don't remember the URL, but I think it was made by an FPN member in the UK -- the pen being repaired was a Mabie Todd, if that's any help or rings any bells). I'm not sure how readily "real" talc is to get anymore, or if something like baby powder would be a substitute.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[demeter]

I watched a video on re-sacking a pen. After letting the shellac dry overnight, the person who made the video put some sort of powder -- just a dusting, IIRC -- on the outside of the sac. It was supposed to help keep the sac from drying out too fast, I think. Was this talc?

I wrote to the person who made the video to ask what the powder was, but never got a response. (Sorry, I don't remember the URL, but I think it was made by an FPN member in the UK -- the pen being repaired was a Mabie Todd, if that's any help or rings any bells). I'm not sure how readily "real" talc is to get anymore, or if something like baby powder would be a substitute.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I am sure it would be real talc, and I would caution you about using baby powder as a substitute. It is not the same, though baby powder may contain mostly talc.

 

I bought my talc at a drug store. I think the smallest size was enough for thousands of resacs....

I'd send you some gratis, but an unlabeled white powder wouldn't go over too well at your border.

 

Andrew

Edited June 26, 2012 by demeter

[Procyon]

I watched a video on re-sacking a pen. After letting the shellac dry overnight, the person who made the video put some sort of powder -- just a dusting, IIRC -- on the outside of the sac. It was supposed to help keep the sac from drying out too fast, I think. Was this talc?

I wrote to the person who made the video to ask what the powder was, but never got a response. (Sorry, I don't remember the URL, but I think it was made by an FPN member in the UK -- the pen being repaired was a Mabie Todd, if that's any help or rings any bells). I'm not sure how readily "real" talc is to get anymore, or if something like baby powder would be a substitute.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

 

It was talc in the video. You should use pure talc, not baby powder. You can get it from pen websites like Wood Bin, etc. in small containers. The main purpose is to lubricate the sac when inserting it in the barrel and in smoothing the action of the pressure bar on the sac, so it doesn't bind or tear. On a button filler, the talc makes inserting the pressure bar easier and helps to avoid puncturing the sac during this operation.

[PR Wright]

It wasn't that there was talc on the sac, but that there is talc on the inside of all the sacs. They are in a plastic bag that is filled with talc. I worry about the talk plugging the feed.

[demeter]

It wasn't that there was talc on the sac, but that there is talc on the inside of all the sacs. They are in a plastic bag that is filled with talc. I worry about the talk plugging the feed.

 

A very good worry. Wash out as per pathobby above.

 

Andrew

[Procyon]

It wasn't that there was talc on the sac, but that there is talc on the inside of all the sacs. They are in a plastic bag that is filled with talc. I worry about the talk plugging the feed.

 

 

Understood. That is not good, and you should do what Pathobby suggested and wash it out. Talc only belongs on the outside of the sac. It probably would plug up the feed if you don't remove it.

[PR Wright]

Thanks, will do.

[Tom Heath]

I'd have some reserve about the boiled water.

 

 

Rubber / latex does not do well with hot water.. Pure cold wter by all means.

 

Talac , per Webster's Dictionary = Talcum powder made for the face and body, a soft mineral..

 

Other uses: for covering rubber sacs to be used in fountain pens to help absorb excessive moisture after restoration.

 

The photo attached is of a vintage Imported Talcum Powder, no other wording can be found on this container.

 

Baby Powder ( Johnsons') contain other properties, Namely Corn Starch, Aloe, Vitamin E,

Tricalcium,Phosphte, Acetate ( vitamin E ), Fragrnce.....

 

Happy repairing and do pamper your pen.

 

Tom Heath

[Ron Z]

The small amount of talc inside a sac is not a problem, and it will not clog your pen. I would not wash the sacs, especially in boiling water (if that is what was suggested), nor is there a need to boil the water to sterilize it.

 

What kind of talc to use is a discussion that comes up quite frequently. Talc is a mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate. Pure talc is safe to use on pen sacs, and is used to protect the sac in storage and in the pen. It helps to minimize contact with the metal of the J bar or pressure bar, and acts as a lubricant to allow the sac to slide easily into the pen.

 

Pure talc is available from a number of sources, including eBay, some pharmacies, and (so I understand) auto parts stores like NAPA. Don't use baby powder or other related kinds of cosmetic powder. They contain other things that could harm your pen sacs.

[Ernst Bitterman]

My inner pedant is jumping up and down, so he's getting an airing: The original washing suggestion was this--

Wash it out with clean, cooled, boiled water

 

"Boiled" in the past tense, not the present, and with "cooled" to underline the notion that it's now well below 100C/212F. The pedant, having spoken, withdraws.

 

 

...and the rest of me will say, I'd probably want to give them a little rinse (probably in unboiled water), but I'd probably also forget to before I applied them to the section. A water test for leaks is also a rinse, right?

[pathobby]

My inner pedant is jumping up and down, so he's getting an airing: The original washing suggestion was this--

Wash it out with clean, cooled, boiled water

 

"Boiled" in the past tense, not the present, and with "cooled" to underline the notion that it's now well below 100C/212F. The pedant, having spoken, withdraws.

 

 

...and the rest of me will say, I'd probably want to give them a little rinse (probably in unboiled water), but I'd probably also forget to before I applied them to the section. A water test for leaks is also a rinse, right?

 

Ah Ernst, I think your inner pedant would get along just fine with mine. He/she sounds so sensible! Just to clear stuff up...

 

1) Boil some clean water

2) Let water cool

3) Wash talcy sacs with this water

4) Allow sacs to dry

5) Re-sac pen following the very excellent instructions to be found on Fountain Pen Network

6) Dust sac with some pure talc... NOT that nasty baby's bottom scented stuff

7) Reassemble pen

8) Remember it is only a fountain pen

 

PH

[PR Wright]

I like the last instruction best!

 

Perhaps a question I should have asked and did not is this - do sacs routinely come packed in talc? I'm a total greenhorn at this.

[TrinityTam]

I got my talc from a billiards supply store. I guess pool players use talc to dry their hands when playing. You can get it by container or in a hand "sachet." I bought one of those sachets for about $2 and it has plenty of talc for pen repair.

[gaufde]

Would food-grade diatomaceous earth work for dusting sacs?

[qpens]

One can also purchase the talc from a skin-diver's supply store. As Ron Zorn said, the talc really keeps the sac for "sticking" to the pressure bar inside of the pen. It also helps the sac "spin" inside of button fillers when they close with a thread...keeping the sac from twisting up on itself. Not sure why anyone would think that one needed to use boiled water to clear any "excess" talc. Remember, that most pens are usually flushed with water, right out of the faucet. I've a hunch that ink would be prone to damage a sac more than "plain water". On the other hand, there are many ways to skin a cat and not all of them are necessarily "right" or "wrong", i.e., the use of modern material as opposed to what was originally used. Just my opinion, based on some years of experience.

Edited June 28, 2012 by qpens