Parker 51 Stained Ink Collector

[Jay Bar]

If all you had on hand was some basic cleaners and such at home what would you recommend to remove the stain from a clear plastic ink collector of a Parker 51? I got everything spotless but the ink collector and I would prefer that it be clear again before I reassemble it.

 

Suggestions?

[viclip]

After soaking overnight in sudsy water, try alternating between a 1% aqueous household ammonia solution followed by table vinegar. Be sure to rinse thoroughly between the various solutions.

 

Although each of the solutions will remove ink in its own right, I wouldn't expect the collector to return to pristine condition.

[Jay Bar]

I decided after hearing feedback from many sources to just let it be. There is no residue or dried ink, only stain. It's back together now about to be inked up.

[mark e]

I decided after hearing feedback from many sources to just let it be. There is no residue or dried ink, only stain. It's back together now about to be inked up.

 

 

for future reference...drop the collector in a rocks glass with water and a tab o denture cleaner...brand new collector

[GClef]

for future reference...drop the collector in a rocks glass with water and a tab o denture cleaner...brand new collector

 

Is the denture cleaner safe for the plunger and diaphragm, if it isn't completely disassembled?

[mark e]

 

Is the denture cleaner safe for the plunger and diaphragm, if it isn't completely disassembled?

youknow, G, i dont think i've put a plunger in denture cleaner, i usually just sonic and brush it with a bottle-type brush..and i dont know any reason to clean a diaphragm, just replace it, they're cheap and easy

 

anyway, denture cleaner is basically (but not exactly) oxyclean,---sodium bicarb, sodium perborate, citric acid, sodium polysulfate, potassium monopersulfate---and i believe it is not good for the aluminum parts of the filler with prolonged contact, could pit the aluminum

 

in which case, you could try the denture cleaner that's made for bridgework with metal on it...but, personally, i just use the tabs for plastic parts, no metals and of course not hard rubber

[GClef]

youknow, G, i dont think i've put a plunger in denture cleaner, i usually just sonic and brush it with a bottle-type brush..and i dont know any reason to clean a diaphragm, just replace it, they're cheap and easy

 

anyway, denture cleaner is basically (but not exactly) oxyclean,---sodium bicarb, sodium perborate, citric acid, sodium polysulfate, potassium monopersulfate---and i believe it is not good for the aluminum parts of the filler with prolonged contact, could pit the aluminum

 

in which case, you could try the denture cleaner that's made for bridgework with metal on it...but, personally, i just use the tabs for plastic parts, no metals and of course not hard rubber

Thanks! I'm glad I asked because I was ready to step out and get some denture cleaner. I'm not good enough to take a Vac apart, apart from unscrewing the section.

I have this beautiful emerald green Vac Major that has a cloudy - from the inside - barrel.

I assume the "bottle-type brush" should have nylon bristles, right?

Edited February 12, 2015 by GClef

[mark e]

Thanks! I'm glad I asked because I was ready to step out and get some denture cleaner. I'm not good enough to take a Vac apart, apart from unscrewing the section.

I have this beautiful emerald green Vac Major that has a cloudy - from the inside - barrel.

I assume the "bottle-type brush" should have nylon bristles, right?

apart from unscrewing the section?....youmean, the part of disassembling a parker vac that requires the most time and care?...c'mon, GClef, you're an FPN gold with over 2300 posts since 2010....you can stop uhh...messin...with me now---i was just trying to give jay bar (or anyone) an effective short cut for cleaning p-51 collectors that i'd stumbled upon

 

anyway, the next time you unscrew a vac major section (green or otherwise) and a collector pops out, let us know, that should make for an interesting thread

 

oh, and while you have it unscrewed.....you could denture-tab sonic-soak it a time or two, lather-rinse-repeat, and thennnnn....nylon-bristle-mini-brush it (say that real fast 3 or 4 times after a cocktail or three) until ya gaht blistahs on ya fingahs....

 

it should be fairly 'unclouded' by then...or, you could speed up the process with a home depot paint dept #3 wire brush, but i think that would be a bit of overkill, dont you?

 

have fun! and ever-helpfully yours......spark e

Edited February 12, 2015 by mark e

[Ron Z]

for future reference...drop the collector in a rocks glass with water and a tab o denture cleaner...brand new collector

I don't recommend using denatured alcohol to clean pens. You got away with this only because the collector is Lucite. But the pellet cup and rod on a Vac 51 are celluloid, and the inner cap frequently is too, which can be damaged if not melted by denatured alcohol. A stain is not a big deal. As long as the ink is cleaned off, you're OK.

 

I've had to replace feeds that were cleaned with a solvent. I've had to throw away Targa and Imperial nibs because the owner used solvents to clean them, or tried to, and managed to melt the parts inside and fuse everything together.

[mark e]

I don't recommend using denatured alcohol to clean pens. You got away with this only because the collector is Lucite. But the pellet cup and rod on a Vac 51 are celluloid, and the inner cap frequently is too, which can be damaged if not melted by denatured alcohol. A stain is not a big deal. As long as the ink is cleaned off, you're OK.

 

I've had to replace feeds that were cleaned with a solvent. I've had to throw away Targa and Imperial nibs because the owner used solvents to clean them, or tried to, and managed to melt the parts inside and fuse everything together.

 

wait, wha?...not sure how denatured alcohol came into play on this one, maybe i miscommunicated, or, errr.....something

 

the only alcohol i let anywhere near any of my pens and pen workings is most definitely not denatured, and is contained in a separate rocks glass from the one containing the denture tab and p-51 collector..and lemme tell ya, it sucks to momentarily confuse one with the other...blecchhh!!

 

anyway, i agree with mr Z, alcohol or any other strong solvent is absolutely not needed to clean any pen part....i only stumbled onto the polident fix after it dawned on me that duhhh, my bridge plate is acrylic, p-51 parts are acrylic---heh-lllooooo

 

and as always, pen-sports fans--after soaking, rinse, rinse, rinse!

Edited February 12, 2015 by mark e

[GClef]

....you can stop uhh...messin...with me now

 

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/gclef1114/Gibberish/0216151814a-1.jpg

 

I wasn't messin' witcha, but thanks for having confidence in me...easier than I thought.

 

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/gclef1114/Gibberish/0216151817-1.jpg

 

I was at Target, and only saw a big box of denture cleaner tablets. Decided to just hit it with a brush and soapy water.

And as you can see, NOW I need a diaphragm.

Edited February 16, 2015 by GClef

[mark e]

I wasn't messin' witcha, but thanks for having confidence in me...easier than I thought.

 

I was at Target, and only saw a big box of denture cleaner tablets. Decided to just hit it with a brush and soapy water.

And as you can see, NOW I need a diaphragm.

looks good, nice transparency on the barrel...you're half-way home...the hardest part for me is always getting the little ball out of the pump filler (hands are a little arthritis-y some days)---after that it's easy and fun putting it back together....have fun, and show us the finished pen

[GClef]

...the hardest part for me is always getting the little ball out of the pump filler

 

Wait...what little ball?

 

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/gclef1114/Gibberish/0217150744a-1.jpg

 

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/gclef1114/Gibberish/0217150747-1.jpg

[mark e]

Wait...what little ball?http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/gclef1114/Gibberish/0217150747-1.jpg

yeah, that one.....yeah, iknow...

 

i'll let the pros tell you about that one...i gotta get some more sleep (preferably without nitemaring about that little ball) before i go in to work the evening shift

[mhosea]

That one looks metallic. Is it really? Busting up the original celluloid balls hasn't posed any special difficulty for me. The only one I've had trouble with so far (using a Dremel and a wire drill bit) was not the first restoration for that pen (a "51" vac). It had a very tough red plastic ball. I did not succeed with it, not really. I was working free-hand, without a jig or anything to hold the drill or pen steady. Oh, I got it out, but I spent a lot of time restoring the lip of the cup with heat afterwards, wondering whether it had been a Pyrrhic victory after all (requiring me to break out a Delrin replacement, anyway). So far it's holding.

[Ron Z]

If that is a metal ball used as a pellet, don't try to get it out from the front with a Dremel. David Nishimura has suggested drilling a small hole in the side near the bottom of the cup at an upward angle, then pushing the pellet, or in this case ball out, from behind

[Glenn Atkins]

If that is a metal ball used as a pellet, don't try to get it out from the front with a Dremel. David Nishimura has suggested drilling a small hole in the side near the bottom of the cup at an upward angle, then pushing the pellet, or in this case ball out, from behind

 

Interesting. Have you done it before?

 

Glenn

[Ron Z]

No, but I've seen plenty on which it was done.

[GClef]

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/gclef1114/Gibberish/0313150109-1.jpg