How to clean an Osmiroid 65?

[samuel07]

I just acquired an Osmiroid 65 and I'd like to clean it and give it try. How does one flush the sack? Just fill with water like you do with ink? Sorry I'm a newbie

[Oxonian]

Hi Sam,

 

Welcome to FPN.

 

The Osmiroid 65 is an easy pen to deal with, a nib soak and a flush is as good a place to start as any. Soak the nib and section end of the pen in a glass of cold water overnight, the nib unit in these pens unscrew and it should come out in the morning. You can add a small amount of household ammonia and try again if plain water doesn't do the job first time round. You can flush the pen through with water when the nib is out, nibs for these are easily available in many styles

 

If the sac is not intact, you can tell this if you gently lift the filling lever and it will only move a small amount then stops the sac is probably hardened. if you can lift the lever without putting too much load on it, open it to 90 degrees and turn the pen so that the lever slot is pointing down ward, if any black crud drops out then the sac has crumbled.

 

If the lever lifts easily and smoothly, dip the end of the pen in water and see if there are bubbles produced when you lift the lever then you have a sac that is intact although it might well need replacing in a short while.

 

The section that holds the nib unit is a tight friction fit on the very early pens and a screw fit on the later pens and if you can remove this easily you can see the state of the sac without having to resort to the above methods and the sacs are available from several suppliers the choice is yours. you will need some shellac to attach the sac, this too is easily available, probably from the same people as supply the sac.

 

I hope that this is of some help to you

 

Cheers, John

[mazg]

I have just been given two of these pens, one with a cracked cap Both need sacs. What size sac should I use?

 

Also do the nibs come out? The italic fine straight nib bent completely upwards under normal pressure, the feeder didn't move. Can this be overcome or is the metal nib now compromised? The rolatip nib on the other pen is fine.

[red52ripple]

Probably an 18, if I recall correctly. The nibs unscrew. They might need a little soaking to loosen them up.

[Sholom]

I have just been given two of these pens, one with a cracked cap Both need sacs. What size sac should I use?

 

Also do the nibs come out? The italic fine straight nib bent completely upwards under normal pressure, the feeder didn't move. Can this be overcome or is the metal nib now compromised? The rolatip nib on the other pen is fine.

The italic fine nib should be pretty rugged (I've got several in regular use for years). Perhaps there was a crack in the metal? It's probably easier just to go find another nib than to fix the one you have. The nibs unscrew but getting the nib and feed separated looks to be near impossible, at least on the older version (there were at least two different versions of the feed). The italic fine is one of my favorite Osmiroid nibs.

 

I've seen both 16 and 18 sacs recommended but don't know which might be better.

[PDW]

A size 18 sac works perfectly on an Osmiroid 65.