Jump to content

Parker "51" O-Ring Hoods: Half-Recessed Or Fully Recessed?


ek-hornbeck

Recommended Posts

I need to replace the hood on a "51." I prefer to use hoods that work with o-rings: I don't have to screw them down hard (stressing the plastic) or use shellac to seal them against leaks.

 

I have the option of buying a shell with a fully-recessed indent for the o-ring, or a half-recessed indent.

 

I have no idea what the trade-offs are here. Could someone clue me in?

 

The half-recessed shells look a little more robust around the lip, for obvious reasons. But I am no expert. Do they completely hide the o-ring? How do the two kinds of shell work out?

 

E. K.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 4
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • ek-hornbeck

    3

  • Ron Z

    1

  • FarmBoy

    1

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Which connector do you have?

 

Even with an o-ring some thread sealant is advised.

San Francisco International Pen Show - The next “Funnest Pen Show” is on schedule for August 23-24-25, 2024.  Watch the show website for registration details. 
 

My PM box is usually full. Just email me: my last name at the google mail address.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Which connector do you have?

 

Even with an o-ring some thread sealant is advised.

 

Looks like a generic connector for a Mark 1 Aerometric. I was unaware those came in different types.

 

I cannot use thread sealant because I have to tear my pen down once or twice a year to clean it. Thus is life with nano-pigment ink. But I've never had a problem with leaks, so it seems to be going fine.

 

E. K.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with Todd. You might get away without sealant on an 0-ring section, but maybe not. You don't have to use shellac. Though some argue with me, I have handled NOS 51s that still had the dust from making the pen inside. I can tell you with absolute certainty that they did not use shellac, but used a rosin based thread sealant. Pen mechanics tend to use shellac because not only does it seal, but it also helps to keep the casual user from opening up the pen and screwing up the alignment of the parts.

 

If you used thread sealant, it would be much easier to open the pen when you need to. Don't make the shell tight. Just until it stops will work. The thread sealant will help to keep the hood from unscrewing on its own.

spacer.png
Visit Main Street Pens
A full service pen shop providing professional, thoughtful vintage pen repair...

Please use email, not a PM for repair and pen purchase inquiries.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with Todd. You might get away without sealant on an 0-ring section, but maybe not. You don't have to use shellac. Though some argue with me, I have handled NOS 51s that still had the dust from making the pen inside. I can tell you with absolute certainty that they did not use shellac, but used a rosin based thread sealant. Pen mechanics tend to use shellac because not only does it seal, but it also helps to keep the casual user from opening up the pen and screwing up the alignment of the parts.

 

I'm going to take a delaying, if-it-ain't-broke attitude to this issue: when my "51" starts to leak, I'll turn my attention to sealants.

 

In any event, we are wandering from the actual question I've got: what is the difference & functional tradeoffs between half-recess and full-recess hoods, in practice?

 

E. K.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33494
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26624
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...