Loose Screw-on Cap

[pathobby]

I have just bought a pen to practice my refurbishment skills on. It is an old Osmiroid 75.

 

My problem is that the threads on the screw cap don't 'tie in' with the threads on the pen. It seems that the cap is very slightly bigger than the pen although it seems to be the original cap.. same colour.. same age 'patina'..I am sure it is the original cap.

 

I have inspected both threads and they sem to be undamaged. Is there any way I can 'build up' the threads on the pen to get a good tight fitting for the cap. I have another 75 and the cap fits just fine.

 

I'd appreciate any help on this as I won't be able to keep the pen in my pocket with a loose cap.

 

PH

 

[AndyH]

It's a cheesy fix, but I have used a thin plastic tape purchased at an electrical suppy shop - I think it's used for tagging wires - on the inside of the pen cap to provide grip. The hardest part is wrapping it around something conical and tapered enough (sticky side out of course) to get it evenly into the cap. I've used a cap from a disposable Bic ballpoint with success on all but the smallest caps.

 

You need to get precisely one circumference's worth of tape into the cap, usually best accomplished by trimming any overlap with a very sharp X-Acto knife. I also trim the extra extending outside the cap the same way, very carefully and with the knife inclined inside the barrel to make sure none of the tape is visible.

 

Finding the tape may take a bit of looking, but it's available in many colors to be the least obtrusive in a particular pen - I think even clear.

 

And to the purists - no I would never do this on an expensive vintage pen, but it seems to do no permanent damage, is easily removed or replaced, and makes pens that would merely be desk pieces into usable objects for me. Since I'm far more user than collector, that's important to me.

 

Andy

Edited February 16, 2009 by AndyH

[pathobby]

It's a cheesy fix, but I have used a thin plastic tape purchased at an electrical suppy shop - I think it's used for tagging wires - on the inside of the pen cap to provide grip. The hardest part is wrapping it around something conical and tapered enough (sticky side out of course) to get it evenly into the cap. I've used a cap from a disposable Bic ballpoint with success on all but the smallest caps.

 

You need to get precisely one circumference's worth of tape into the cap, usually best accomplished by trimming any overlap with a very sharp X-Acto knife. I also trim the extra extending outside the cap the same way, very carefully and with the knife inclined inside the barrel to make sure none of the tape is visible.

 

Finding the tape may take a bit of looking, but it's available in many colors to be the least obtrusive in a particular pen - I think even clear.

 

And to the purists - no I would never do this on an expensive vintage pen, but it seems to do no permanent damage, is easily removed or replaced, and makes pens that would merely be desk pieces into usable objects for me. Since I'm far more user than collector, that's important to me.

 

Andy

 

 

Thanks Andy!

 

A cheesy fix is better than no fix at all! (Ancient Scottish wisdom!)

 

I shall see what other help may come my way but I'll keep your fix in mind. I woul never have thought of the tape trick!

 

PH

 

[pathobby]

Andy!

 

Your tape fix worked a treat. I got some clear 'cable I/D' tape from the computer whiz-kids in my workplace... put two tiny strips in the cap on the threads opposite each other using the blunt end of the pen .... viola! The cap screws on and stays on tight [so far!]

 

 

PH