Sealing An Eyedropper: How?

[TassoBarbasso]

Good morning! Technical - and perhaps stupid - question: how do I seal an eyedropper to prevent ink leakage from the point where the section screws into the barrel without using silicone grease?

 

I've started using paraffin wax: once warmed with the fingers, it can be spread very homogeneously and seems to work well. However:

 

- Am I doing potential damage? I.e., is paraffin wax able to corrode or damage ebonite, or is it safe?

 

- Would it be better to use natural wax? I read somewhere that it contains potentially harmful acid substances?

[hari317]

Is the pen (section and barrel) made of ebonite?

 

Ebonite is a very common material here and even though for last couple of decades I use only silicone grease for my ED pens, I have previously extensively used Vaseline (white petroleum jelly) to no detriment, however, YMMV.

 

Another popular thread sealant used for ED pens in South India is a thick paste made from mixing Rosin and Castor oil. you can find RCP formula from a guy called brahmam on the Indian pens forum.

 

I have also used candle wax gently rubbed on the section threads.

 

Hope this helps.

[Honeybadgers]

why wouldn't you use silicone grease? It's cheap, easily available, safe, vegan.....?

[TassoBarbasso]

Is the pen (section and barrel) made of ebonite?

 

Ebonite is a very common material here and even though for last couple of decades I use only silicone grease for my ED pens, I have previously extensively used Vaseline (white petroleum jelly) to no detriment, however, YMMV.

 

Another popular thread sealant used for ED pens in South India is a thick paste made from mixing Rosin and Castor oil. you can find RCP formula from a guy called brahmam on the Indian pens forum.

 

I have also used candle wax gently rubbed on the section threads.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the suggestions! yes, section and barrel are all made of ebonite (it's a Eureka FP, from South Korea, made of Nikko ebonite).

[TassoBarbasso]

why wouldn't you use silicone grease? It's cheap, easily available, safe, vegan.....?

 

I don't have a chance to go to a large dept store where I could find it, and I need to fill and seal the pen today

[hari317]

 

Thanks for the suggestions! yes, section and barrel are all made of ebonite (it's a Eureka FP, from South Korea, made of Nikko ebonite).

I seem to recall that eureka does not need any sealant on the threads. So I think you should take them up on their claim and see how good it is. I am interested in thd eureka too. But a wider nib and with clip.

[TassoBarbasso]

I seem to recall that eureka does not need any sealant on the threads. So I think you should take them up on their claim and see how good it is. I am interested in thd eureka too. But a wider nib and with clip.

 

I also hope they'll make a B nib one day, but I'm happy with the M. I'll definitely buy more from them. I'd say go for it even without the clip: the pen is AMAZING. The ebonite is wonderful. And the craftsmanship outstanding. Plus you get the home-made nib & feed which are really unique touches.

 

Besides, I think the clip wouldn't be of much use: the pen would be too large anyway

[torstar]

Never used grease to seal it off, I convert a few smaller barreled pens into EDs, the best being Sailor ProGears.

[TassoBarbasso]

Never used grease to seal it off, I convert a few smaller barreled pens into EDs, the best being Sailor ProGears.

Thats daring!

Edited December 23, 2019 by TassoBarbasso

[sansenri]

a thick hand cream should do, something like Glysolid...

do wash it off afterwards and use 100% silicon grease, like the one used for scuba diving

something like this

https://www.amazon.it/Mares-silicone-grasso-20-ml-415102/dp/B00BTAAZGY/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_it_IT=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&dchild=1&keywords=silicone+mares&qid=1577137945&s=sports&sr=1-1

20 ml will last you a lifetime...

 

(Neutrogena should also work well, contains glycerin, bees wax and paraffin, do wash off after some use and substitute with pure silicon grease when possible)

Edited December 23, 2019 by sansenri

[Honeybadgers]

 

I don't have a chance to go to a large dept store where I could find it, and I need to fill and seal the pen today

 

I honestly wouldn't risk putting anything other than silicone grease on it. Other greases are not as inert, tacky, and something like wax (which might work decently) might be a bear to remove.

 

I'd just go without my FP for a day than risk damaging it or doing something that takes me 45 minutes with a toothbrush to undo.

[torstar]

Thats daring!

 

I keep them updated and clean and when a pen is obviously NOT going to work as a makeshift ED, end the project and clean things out immediately

 

But it has paid off for a handful of models, the demonstrator Sailor Pro Gear is always in rotation.

 

Daring for me would be using a pen with a plastic section, later noticing the streaks of royal blue on the walls or the floors or rugs of the office and home...

Edited January 14, 2020 by torstar