Does Blue Eel Actually Lubricate Pistons?

[welch]

Has anyone noticed that Noodler's Eel lubricates piston-fillers? I used it about three years ago: likable color, and very wet...almost too wet. I tried it in a couple of Onoto K pens, and in one of them Eel managed to find a leak I didn't know existed along the clutch ring, between the barrel and the hood. Reminded me of penetrating oil...works into everything. However, I couldn't tell if it helped the piston.

[DanielCoffey]

Here is the Goulet Pens review of that very ink... http://www.inknouveau.com/2011/03/blue-ink-review-noodlers-blue-eel-guest.html

 

Apparently it could be just the thing you are looking for.

 

EDIT : correction, it is a non-Goulet review but is hosted on the Goulet page itself.

 

EDIT 2 : Direct quote from Brian himself...

 

A note to add about the 'Eel' properties...it's not just a lubrication for your writing, but it's actually designed for piston-fill pens, to lubricate the piston mechanism inside the pen. I have noticed the Eel inks do write more lubricated, though.

Edited February 21, 2013 by DanielCoffey

[JefferyS]

That is its raison d'être. I'm not sure how one would go about demonstrating that it didn't. Difficult to answer.

[lapis]

I find that it does lubricate nicely. Even in my most stubborn pens.

 

Benz

[welch]

Good enough. I'm buying...

[dmalhi1]

So are the eel inks supposed to be used frequently in piston fillers or are they ok to use just once every now and again? the only piston fillers I currently own are two MB 149s and one 1970s era Pelikan 120. All three of which I have never noticed the piston being fidgety or anything.

[carlos.q]

So are the eel inks supposed to be used frequently in piston fillers or are they ok to use just once every now and again? the only piston fillers I currently own are two MB 149s and one 1970s era Pelikan 120. All three of which I have never noticed the piston being fidgety or anything.

I don't know the answer to your question. However, the Pelikan 120 can be easily lubricated by unscrewing the nib, placing a minute amount of silicone grease inside with a toothpick and cycling the piston. Just make sure it is a very small amount and only use pure silicone grease, which you can get at a diver's supply store.

[dmalhi1]

So are the eel inks supposed to be used frequently in piston fillers or are they ok to use just once every now and again? the only piston fillers I currently own are two MB 149s and one 1970s era Pelikan 120. All three of which I have never noticed the piston being fidgety or anything.

I don't know the answer to your question. However, the Pelikan 120 can be easily lubricated by unscrewing the nib, placing a minute amount of silicone grease inside with a toothpick and cycling the piston. Just make sure it is a very small amount and only use pure silicone grease, which you can get at a diver's supply store.

 

Thanks for that tip!

[sadiemagic]

it definitely lubricated an Omas Paragon 80th edition pen I purchased. I had noticed that the blind cap didnt turn as far as my other paragons, but i thought maybe the design was different and didnt send it back for repair. then i got a bottle of the blue eel, and decided to try it in the omas. after one fill, the piston extended as far as my other two paragons....so the piston must have been getting stuck somewhere inside, and i wasn't getting a full fill.

 

so now i load blue eel in that pen periodically, just to make sure things are moving smoothly inside. and it's a decent blue, too.

[amberleadavis]

It is a nice blue. This was one of my first inks (after a 20 year dry spell) and I'm glad I listen to Swisher.

[Sasha Royale]

I used it in my Reform 1745, with a sticky piston. There was

some relief. However, the real remedy was lubricating with

silicon grease. I use Eel Blue in all my piston fillers. There

seems to be some benefit in a properly lubricated pen.

 

Noodler's Eel Blue and Eel Black are also excellent all-purpose

inks.