1 Place With Both: Silicone, Blunt-Needle Hypo?

[NewPenMan]

I would like to get a supply of silicone grease and a blunt-needle hypo, for filling pens..I would *love* to find this stuff at one of the hyper-giga-mega stores in town, but if they don't have it, can anyone suggest a one-stop shopping solution on line that carries this, and maybe other pen salves, tools, gizmos and doo-hickeys needed to keep ones fountain pens in order?

 

thank you!

 

penman

[puffmtd]

http://www.gouletpens.com

[Ravenlunatic]

Goulet pen store.

 

My link

[NewPenMan]

Goulet pen store.

 

My link

 

 

Sweet, and thank you. Man, that site really does have it all there!

 

 

pm

[Leftytoo]

Two stops, but one is free. The silicone grease is sold in dive shops or any place with scuba gear. Cost, about 2 bucks. The hypo should be free from your doctor. Ask for the fattest needle. As my photo shows, I cut off the sharp tip with a Dremel tool. Filling a cartridge with a hypo needle is actually cleaner and just as quick as filling a pen from a bottle. To complete your travel kit, buy a genuine Nalgene 1 oz (30 ml) bottle. These do not leak. Ever.

 

For pen care materials, I have used Richard Binder - a great place to shop.

Bob

[NewPenMan]

What's the nalgene bottle for?

 

and how's that work asking your Dr. for a hypo and syringe? I spoze I can give 'er a try next time....maybe just come right out and say it's for filling my fountain pens..

 

 

pm

[Garageboy]

The luer lock dispensing syringes and the dispensing needle cost a few dimes at most. You can get them all day long on Amazon.com

[12345Michael54321]

and how's that work asking your Dr. for a hypo and syringe?

Well, a while back I was at the local supermarket, and stopped by the pharmacy counter. I explained to the pharmacist that I was a fountain pen user, who wanted a syringe with which to clean/refill plastic ink cartridges. We chatted for a couple of minutes about fountain pens, then he explained to me about the different gauges of needles and so forth. I decided which one would work best for me, and he handed it to me in its factory sealed packaging. I asked how much it'd cost, and he told me "no charge."

 

I can't imagine that it'd work all that much differently with a doctor.

 

Of course, results likely vary from doctor to doctor, and from pharmacist to pharmacist. And I believe state laws on the sale of syringes vary, as well. But I didn't have to sign anything, or show a doctor's prescription.

 

Basically, I found the process to be about as awkward as, say, buying a package of Claritin-D allergy medicine (and rather less expensive). In fact, since I DO have to show ID and sign a register when I buy my Claritin-D (a law dating back a few years now, having to do with certain cold/allergy medicines being used to brew up meth, or somesuch), obtaining the syringe was decided less awkward and intrusive a process.

--

Michael

[NewPenMan]

and how's that work asking your Dr. for a hypo and syringe?

Well, a while back I was at the local supermarket, and stopped by the pharmacy counter. I explained to the pharmacist that I was a fountain pen user, who wanted a syringe with which to clean/refill plastic ink cartridges. We chatted for a couple of minutes about fountain pens, then he explained to me about the different gauges of needles and so forth. I decided which one would work best for me, and he handed it to me in its factory sealed packaging. I asked how much it'd cost, and he told me "no charge."

 

I can't imagine that it'd work all that much differently with a doctor.

 

Of course, results likely vary from doctor to doctor, and from pharmacist to pharmacist. And I believe state laws on the sale of syringes vary, as well. But I didn't have to sign anything, or show a doctor's prescription.

 

Basically, I found the process to be about as awkward as, say, buying a package of Claritin-D allergy medicine (and rather less expensive). In fact, since I DO have to show ID and sign a register when I buy my Claritin-D (a law dating back a few years now, having to do with certain cold/allergy medicines being used to brew up meth, or somesuch), obtaining the syringe was decided less awkward and intrusive a process.

--

Michael

 

OK, then...I'll have to give that a try!

 

thank you!

 

pm

[Sailor Kenshin]

Why mess with that when you can either get the real thing from Goulet pens or buy an already-blunt craft/industrial syringe? Never did understand this hypo stuff, especially when you then have to blunt it yourself.

[NewPenMan]

Is that amount of silicone grease goulet sells a "lifetime" supply? I get the feeling that a little of this goo lasts quite awhile, but no way to gauge how much goo lasts how long for how many pens.

 

for example, is an eyedropper pen needing more silicone grease with every refilling of that pen?

 

also, how much of it does one know to appy? a goodly gob? a thin film? a medium-thick amount more than a film but less than a gob?

 

thank you for any parameters on these questions!

 

pm

[jacksterp]

Many hardware stores also carry silicone grease. You might also try a jeweler who services watches.

[TofuKat]

I have an itty bitty tube of silicon grease that's at least two to three years old--the amount that Goulet's carries should last you a very long time. When I refill my eyedropper pens, I rarely have to reapply grease.

 

Why do you all go to the trouble of blunting the needles? Is there something I'm missing?...

[Sasha Royale]

What's the nalgene bottle for?

 

and how's that work asking your Dr. for a hypo and syringe? I spoze I can give 'er a try next time....maybe just come right out and say it's for filling my fountain pens..

 

 

pm

Doctors are busy. Better choice is to ask your local pharmacist.

However, only my doctor uses a "blunted" needle, then only on me. (&%@@$?*!)

 

A large volume / large guage needle is better. Do you know a veterarian ?

 

A small vial of silicon lub from TWSBI is only $55, but they send you a really

nice pen for free, with each lube order. :ltcapd:

[tomgartin]

I have an itty bitty tube of silicon grease that's at least two to three years old--the amount that Goulet's carries should last you a very long time. When I refill my eyedropper pens, I rarely have to reapply grease.

 

Why do you all go to the trouble of blunting the needles? Is there something I'm missing?...

 

I filed down my syringe needles because the last thing I wanted was to accidentally tattoo myself!

 

I think there's also a general perception of syringes as being for druggies, so being able to say my syringes are blunt and "designed for ink" tones down the creepy factor when discussing pens around the conventional ballpoint-using public.

[Tdot]

Years ago before all this internet information, I actually came up with the bright idea of using a syringe to refill my cartridges, I just had to figure out where to get one. I happened to be visiting a hospital and told a nurse what I needed and asked how I could get one. Before I left, she gave me a small brown paper bag with ballpoint writing on the side. Printed in large letters it said "DON'T DO DRUGS".

 

The last time I needed to source a replacement, I asked the vet, and received a couple of syringes and set of assorted sized needles. Those big ones they use to jab horses are great.

 

If you do plan to ask for one, just be thoughtful and don't interrupt during a busy time. Probably doesn't hurt to be dressed nice and have a example pen in your pocket, instead of showing up with hayfever eyes and crazy hair because you just mowed the lawn and whacked all the weeds out of the garden.

 

 

Why mess with that when you can either get the real thing from Goulet pens or buy an already-blunt craft/industrial syringe? Never did understand this hypo stuff, especially when you then have to blunt it yourself.

I'm pretty sure that doctors, pharmacists and vets are using the 'real thing'. And the needles aren't made of hardened stainless steel. It only takes a split second on the Dremel, or a few strokes with a metal file, even a sandpaper block would probably do the job quick enough. A lot less hassle than ordering something that's cheap or next to free, paying shipping and waiting for it. I'm all for adding it to an order if you're already buying a pen or ink, but just to get one needle? I think it's really cool that Goulets offers them, but I doubt they make money or get too excited about an order for just a pair of syringes.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I hear what you,re saying but still don't get the needle appeal. Guess I never will.

 

Craft syringes are cheap....Or why not use a tiny platic pipette, which has the advantage of one-hand operation?

[Sasha Royale]

I use a 3cc medical syringe with a long 20 ga. needle. They are free from a friend.

They work exceedingly well. However, the "needle-sharp" point (Who knew ?) can be

troublesome. I can live with stabbing my hand from time to time, but stabbing a

sac is catastrophic.

 

Please suggest ways to "blunt" the needle, without collapsing the flow channel.

Safe disposal of the dangerous, severed tips ?

[JemC]

for example, is an eyedropper pen needing more silicone grease with every refilling of that pen?

 

also, how much of it does one know to appy? a goodly gob? a thin film? a medium-thick amount more than a film but less than a gob?

You'll want to apply enough silicone to cover/fill the threads, but that's actually a tiny tiny amount. I apply enough that some silicone is always squished out, just to guarantee that I've got a solid seal. We're still talking small amounts, but if I wanted to be very miserly I could just scrape that excess silicone back into the container for next time

 

And you don't necessarily need to reapply each refill, a lot of the silicone will remain in place. But if you don't like to live life dangerously, you could always toss a little bit more silicone on

[Sailor Kenshin]

I use a 3cc medical syringe with a long 20 ga. needle. They are free from a friend.

They work exceedingly well. However, the "needle-sharp" point (Who knew ?) can be

troublesome. I can live with stabbing my hand from time to time, but stabbing a

sac is catastrophic.

 

Please suggest ways to "blunt" the needle, without collapsing the flow channel.

Safe disposal of the dangerous, severed tips ?

 

 

Platic pipette. Platic pipette. Plastic pipette.

 

This should become my new siggy line. :ltcapd: