Slight Cracking On Pelikan 400Nn Cap. How To Stabilize?

[crosshatch]

I recently acquired a nice Pelikan 400NN from the mid-50s that's nice enough to enjoy for its aesthetics but not so pristine that I'm afraid to use it as a daily writer. This is great for me, because I personally acquire pens to use them, not to collect them. However, I noticed these very fine cracks in the cap which I think the seller mistook for scratches, as they're very very fine. From what I understand, these caps are prone to this kind of cracking, and it risks deteriorating further over time.

I don't mind something this minor aesthetically, but I don't want them to get worse and threaten the integrity of the cap. Is there something I can and should do to stabilize these cracks so that they don't spread? Click on the photo below for a full-size high-resolution photo if needed.

[crosshatch]

No advice? Are the cracks too fine to do anything with? Should I just leave them alone and hope nothing further develops?

[ralfstc]

That crack looks like it is the result of an impact on the plastic at that point, I'd guess? Essentially three wee cracks spreading from a single point. I do not think that part of the crack is under much tension, so I don't think they will spread quickly, and the inner cap will keep the nib sealed (essentially, the cap just is a mechanism to hold the inner cap to the section and protect the nib).Therefore I don't think that they should cause much harm.

 

Plastic solvent (the cancer-inducing type) works well on this plastic, and will flow nicely into tiny cracks like this. My technique would be to brush it on, give it a second to seep into the crack, and then wipe it off, leaving only the solvent that's in the crack. I've had luck with this approach, with cracks essentially disappearing, but it takes courage and fortune! Worst come to worst, replacement caps are available for these pens, but they are not easy to find.

 

I'd start with a healthy application of patience, giving it a few weeks and seeing if it affects the pen or bother you very much . . .

 

Best,

 

Ralf

[crosshatch]

[,,,]

I'd start with a healthy application of patience, giving it a few weeks and seeing if it affects the pen or bother you very much . . .

 

Solid advice, though difficult for us impatient types. But it seems like this is the way to go. Thanks for the input.

[RoSpectre]

I recently got a Pelikan with the same problem, and the seller also "mistook" a crack for a scratch. I don't buy this... they know the difference and just don't want to devalue their sale. I am still debating whether to call the seller on this, but anyway...

 

I am glad that Pelikan caps have metal inside (or at least the one I have does... I think it's a 400N tortoise, with dark brown cap). If you get a cracked Montblanc it's pretty much game over as the resin is so solvent resistant. For Pelikan I'm not sure if the crack is in danger of spreading... if there wasn't the metal inner cap I'd be worried. So for me it's mostly cosmetic.

 

If you want to address the cosmetic issue but not risk trying heavy solvents, you can blob a tiny bit of nail polish on there, then wipe it off. Nail polish will fill in the crack and hide it. Be careful though! While nail polish has a fairly gentle solvent in it (acetone or something), it may mark or melt older types of plastic. If yours is from the 50s I'd definitely be wary, and test if possible in a hidden place. For reference, nail polish does nothing on Montblanc resin, but it did melt/weld a cracked plastic section on an old Waterman.

 

Just another option: solvent won't fill cracks but may melt them together; nail polish will fill in cracks and may also melt to a lesser degree.

[crosshatch]

[...]

I am glad that Pelikan caps have metal inside (or at least the one I have does... I think it's a 400N tortoise, with dark brown cap). If you get a cracked Montblanc it's pretty much game over as the resin is so solvent resistant. For Pelikan I'm not sure if the crack is in danger of spreading... if there wasn't the metal inner cap I'd be worried. So for me it's mostly cosmetic.

[...]

 

 

 

 

Just a note: the metal cap inside is most often the cause of the cracking in Pelikan caps from that era. The plastic shrinks with time, but the metal doesn't. Thus: hairline cracking in the plastic.

[Ron Z]

I often see cracks where the cap has been over tightened. Dropping the pen is more often the case, but over tightening can do it too.

 

If you can expand the cracks from the inside, you can drop a solvent containing methlyene chloride on them, let them close again, and then let it sit for a couple of days before you try to blend or polish the repair.

 

Nail polish is the wrong stuff to use BTW, as is superglue. Neither will give optimal results, but can be a fast track to uglifying.

[crosshatch]

I often see cracks where the cap has been over tightened. Dropping the pen is more often the case, but over tightening can do it too.

 

If you can expand the cracks from the inside, you can drop a solvent containing methlyene chloride on them, let them close again, and then let it sit for a couple of days before you try to blend or polish the repair.

 

Nail polish is the wrong stuff to use BTW, as is superglue. Neither will give optimal results, but can be a fast track to uglifying.

Hi Ron,

 

Thanks for your response. Sorry about the delay answering--sometimes these notifications go to spam.

 

The pen is a Pelikan 400NN, so there's a metal liner. The plastic is just a thin layer on top of it. Therefore, I can't get behind it. It could just be cracking from the well-documented shrinkage problem with these models. I think I'll just monitor for the time being. If I see it getting worse, I'll try to wick in the appropriate solvent just to stabilize it and keep it from getting worse. I'm not too concerned with making the cap look flawless. I just don't want it to deteriorate to the point of gross ugliness. Does that sound like a reasonable course of action?