Will A Snorkel Work If The Feed Doesn't Stick Out The Back Of The Tube?

September 17, 2012

Working on my second snorkel and discovered the feed in the snorkel was broken off flush with the sac bushing. I don't want to continue the repair if the lack of that 1/4" will prevent the pen from working. Is the pen dead or just less than optimal?

Second question (if I may)

The first snorkel I worked on came apart and went back together (with a kit) reasonably well but the water test showed air leaking around the threads on the section. Research here, at Richardspens, and Vintagepens told me to avoid shellac and silicone grease and that the rosin sealer from Mainstreet Pens is best.

I would like to seal the threads just enough to determine if the pen will draw up ink. Would candle wax pose any threat to the pen? My thought is that it would give me a temporary seal so I can test the pen whether I have any other leaks and I can clean it off afterwards when I come up with a permanent fix.

Thanks for your help.

September 17, 2012

Working on my second snorkel and discovered the feed in the snorkel was broken off flush with the sac bushing. I don't want to continue the repair if the lack of that 1/4" will prevent the pen from working. Is the pen dead or just less than optimal?

Second question (if I may)
The first snorkel I worked on came apart and went back together (with a kit) reasonably well but the water test showed air leaking around the threads on the section. Research here, at Richardspens, and Vintagepens told me to avoid shellac and silicone grease and that the rosin sealer from Mainstreet Pens is best.

I would like to seal the threads just enough to determine if the pen will draw up ink. Would candle wax pose any threat to the pen? My thought is that it would give me a temporary seal so I can test the pen whether I have any other leaks and I can clean it off afterwards when I come up with a permanent fix.

Thanks for your help.

Hi..Try useing a modeling wax or even dental wax.They can also be used as a permanent seal if you do not have any other sealant available.Good luck with your repair......

September 17, 2012

When I was in the Sheaffer service center chatting with the repair tech. they were using a rosin based thread sealant on snorkel section threads, so that is what I use. A wax like bees wax could work in a pinch, or wax from a sealing ring for a toilet bowl would work too - both are thicker, soft, and tacky. Candle wax is hard and won't spread or fill through the threads as easily, so won't seal as well.

Check the section end of the barrel, and the section itself carefully with a loupe or magnifying glass. What looks like a scratch could be a crack, which would leak. It doesn't have to be big to keep the pen from filling.

re. the snorkel tube insert. In an ideal world it would stick out beyond the end of the tube. But they are hard to find, and the pen will work, so go with it.

September 17, 2012

If you're talking about the threads between the barrel and section, you could just wrap a blob of blutack around the barrel. That way you get a seal for testing, but don't have to clean anything off the threads later on. I did the same thing testing a vacumatic mod before sealing permanently (fast forward to about 15 seconds in).

September 17, 2012

That's a great mod and very cool. I'm going to try that on one of my pens.

September 18, 2012

Thanks to all. The sticky tac idea is ingenious and it gave me positive enough results to reassure me that the repair is worth completing.

I checked both ends of the barrel with magnification for the possibility of cracks--the barrel looks solid.

The pen was submerged in the water about a third of the way up the barrel which tests where the pen screws together very well. What about testing the seal at the top of the barrel? I can't imagine that it's safe to immerse the entire pen.

Again--thanks.

September 18, 2012

That's a relief in re: cracks. You can test the touchdown o ring and blind cap seal by covering the bottom of the barrel cavity with a wet finger, then moving the blind cap up and down. If the seal is good, you'll feel the suction.

edited for obfuscation

Edited September 18, 2012 by Flounder