Why The Pelikan Script Does Not Make A Good Eyedropper

[seffrican]

In a somewhat belated response to blackpen's review of the Pelikan Script

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/53314-pelikan-script-review/page__view__findpost__p__2522220

 

I asked whether this could be converted to an eyedropper (I also quoted where this had been asked before).

 

It's an obvious question, the Script is widely available and cheap, and those wide wet nibs simply pour out the ink, so the capacity of an eyedropper would come in hand, and the barrel has deep broad threads that are nylon on nylon, so it should seal well, n'est pas?

 

So I tried it. And I discovered the flaw in my plan.

 

Opened Script, dabbed a little silicon on the threads, filled the barrel with my own mix of violet black (which shades delightfully from a 1.5mm stub nib) and spent a happy and meditative hour calligraphating (or whatever the verb is).

 

Put the pen in the pen jar, nib uppermost.

 

Came back the next day, did the same. After putting the pen away, discovered that my hands were covered in violet black. Since there was only one pen with that colour there was only one culprit. But there was no ink leaked on the paper.

 

It took me a moment to realise that while the pen was nib up, the tiny little barrel plug at the tapered end of the barrel had wept a small amount of ink onto the tail of the pen. A little violet black goes a long way when it comes to staining the fingers.

 

Since the barrel threads remained perfectly sealed, the Script is an excellent eyedropper in every way, except that the pen has to live nib down in the pen jar when it is not in use.

 

Unless someone has a suggestion on how to seal the barrel plug, which would be welcome.

[Uncle Red]

I found the same thing but with Noodler's Red Black.

[seffrican]

I found the same thing but with Noodler's Red Black.

 

Presumably that explains your username?

[Uncle Red]

No, I have a great big bushy red beard.

[Flounder]

I've read of people plugging up vent holes with silicon sealant, to good effect.

[Freddy]

Fascinating... .

 

Fred

you'll never take Pasqualino's Seven Beauties... .

~ Frafuso ~

[seffrican]

I've read of people plugging up vent holes with silicon sealant, to good effect.

 

It's not a vent hole. (I'm not that dumb, not quite.) The barrel has a tiny plug at the very bottom of the barrel where it's fully tapered, and the ink weeps around the joint of that plug.

 

I considered the silicon sealant but it would have to go inside the barrel, and I'm not sure there's enough for it to adhere to. I also considered a drop or two of cyanacrylate cement on the inside.

 

This is a spare beater pen, so I'll try again once I empty it. Right now it's 90% full and living nib down, but getting regular use.

[Flounder]

I'm not suggesting you're dumb :roflmho: Just that if silicon sealant can seal up large holes, it ought to cope well with a weep around the plug. A blob on the end of a pencil, shoved up the inside of the barrel, ought to keep things watertight once set.

Edited December 19, 2012 by Flounder

[seffrican]

I'm not suggesting you're dumb :roflmho: Just that if silicon sealant can seal up large holes, it ought to cope well with a weep around the plug. A blob on the end of a pencil, shoved up the inside of the barrel, ought to keep things watertight once set.

 

That sounds like the right approach, thank you - until now I have been thinking of needing to remove the plug to seal it. I'll need something slimmer, because that barrel tapers down to very tiny from a long way away, but maybe something in my watchmaking kit like a fine burnishing rod may be just the thing.

[psychdude]

No, I have a great big bushy red beard.

 

 

I always wondered. What a wonderful image I have in my head now!!

[Ravenlunatic]

I'm not suggesting you're dumb :roflmho: Just that if silicon sealant can seal up large holes, it ought to cope well with a weep around the plug. A blob on the end of a pencil, shoved up the inside of the barrel, ought to keep things watertight once set.

 

That sounds like the right approach, thank you - until now I have been thinking of needing to remove the plug to seal it. I'll need something slimmer, because that barrel tapers down to very tiny from a long way away, but maybe something in my watchmaking kit like a fine burnishing rod may be just the thing.

 

Perhaps something like a chopstick from a Chinese restaurant. If it is too big at first, you could whittle it down to work for you.

[seffrican]

I'm not suggesting you're dumb :roflmho: Just that if silicon sealant can seal up large holes, it ought to cope well with a weep around the plug. A blob on the end of a pencil, shoved up the inside of the barrel, ought to keep things watertight once set.

 

That sounds like the right approach, thank you - until now I have been thinking of needing to remove the plug to seal it. I'll need something slimmer, because that barrel tapers down to very tiny from a long way away, but maybe something in my watchmaking kit like a fine burnishing rod may be just the thing.

 

Perhaps something like a chopstick from a Chinese restaurant. If it is too big at first, you could whittle it down to work for you.

 

Actually, I was beginning to wonder whether I could heat seal the plug with a glue gun. Chinese restaurants aren't my favourite

[hari317]

If there is indeed a leak(parasitic air passage) from the rear of the pen, the pen should still slowly drip ink through the nib (or at least flood and saturate the feeder) even when stored nib down.

[Uncle Red]

I tried this too Hari and it's a slow leak from the back, it shouldn't drip or flood too much if it's used every day.

 

Psychdude, I'm pretty fat and going grey so this time of year I overhear little kids asking their parents if I'm Santa. :ltcapd:

[seffrican]

If there is indeed a leak(parasitic air passage) from the rear of the pen, the pen should still slowly drip ink through the nib (or at least flood and saturate the feeder) even when stored nib down.

 

You're quite right. But I've had it stored nib down for several days and there is no sign of ink in the cap. When it is stored nib up, the weeping is very slight. Ink doesn't get onto the outside surface of the barrel, it just sits in the seam and smears off on any passing fingers.

 

I'm still considering the various options while I empty the pen - it had a barrelful of my own custom blend and so I'm going to write it out to the very last drop before doing a clean and seal.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

I think this is one of those things that is mostly airtight but still allows ink to wick itself through. Ink has a number of surfactants and other chemicals that make it climb through cracks more easily.

 

Dillon

[seffrican]

I think this is one of those things that is mostly airtight but still allows ink to wick itself through. Ink has a number of surfactants and other chemicals that make it climb through cracks more easily.

 

That's exactly what it looks like. And "surfactants" is too cool a word to pass up using

 

The ink has capillary action to draw it into the gap, and the resdual surface tension seems to hold it there. It then forms an effective air seal.

 

It's the kind of narrow crevice where the ink sits in there holding at any angle, until you touch the crevice, when the ink creeps out onto your fingers. Well, specifically my fingers.

[Edwaroth]

five minute epoxy with a drop of ink the color of the pen.

[seffrican]

After all the helpful suggestions I've received here, I may have to go and buy a handful of Script 1.5's so I can try out all of the ideas to see what works best. I think this may come under the heading of suffering for the sake of science.

 

[brahmam]

Check this out!

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/235999-making-the-eye-dropper-pen-a-little-less-messy/page__p__2543413__fromsearch__1#entry2543413

 

Cheers!

Brahmam