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I'm sure there have been several discussions of my question, but my searching hasn't turned up a definitive thread yet, so I'd like to ask here: What are the safest and most dangerous inks for pens with rubber ink sacs? And also for Parker Vacumatic diaphragms? I have a bunch of samples of Pilot Iroshizuku inks I've been using, and I assumed these would be safe inks due to their generally excellent reputation, but in a thread here, post #45, https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/351582-a-review-of-the-wahl-eversharp-decoband-in-rosewood/page-3 there is reference to a claim that PI and other Japanese inks are relatively alkaline and that this is bad for latex rubber. I'd like to know if I should remove these inks from any sac pens or Vacs I own and use other inks in those pens henceforward. All experience-based observations on these or other inks will be welcome. TIA, J

Hi, I'm re-discovering my love for FP's after more than 30 years. I have purchased some really nice pre-owned Sheaffer FP's from eBay and two of them need to be re-furbished. I would need an ink-sac for one pen and O-rings for the piston filler. I'm sure this question has been asked before. Would someone be kind enough to direct me to the relevant string. Thank you,

Hi all, I've decided to learn to restore vintage pens, and i've got some lower end ones (so i can learn without breaking something priceless) coming in from ebay soon. i'm getting ready to order an assortment of sacs, what sizes would you suggest i get? i was thinking something like: 2x#12, 3x#14, 3x#16, 3x#18, 2x#20. does that sound about right?

I told family I would like a fountain pen for my birthday and was given this lovely item, my father's Conway Stewart Executive 60 with the Cracked Ice design. What a beauty. But it needs servicing and parts, missing some of the original innards - the pressure bar, the feed, the ink sac. Is it possible to obtain compatible parts and get the pen working again?

Okay, fellow fountain pen enthusiasts. I spent a little money today, and I want to see how poorly (or how good :-) I managed to do. Is this pen worth a restoration, or did I spend $20 on a frankenpen? This is pen #1. The clip is marked Inkograph, and the lever is marked "Made in USA", pen is stamped/engraved "Inkograph" over "Registered in USA & Foreign Countries". The plating appears pretty darn good. Question #1 - The ink sac is pink rubber, and does not appear to have any cracks. Is that the original ink sac? Question #2 - The lower section of the pen (with the ink sac) does not fit tightly into the pen. There are bits of old shellac on it. Does that appear to be original, or is this a frankenpiece someone tried to fit to the pen? Question #3 -- The nib and feed I have NOT been able to remove. The nib appears to be gold and not plated (carats unknown). What I can read is "ME" over "Ma" over "U." I'm assuming that the second two lines would read "Made in the" over "U.S.A." Would that be the original nib to the pen? It's in superb shape, unbent. So...did I buy a frankenpen ? Is it worth fitting the ink sack/nib section back into the pen? Is it worth restoring? Yes, that is a lot of questions from a newbie who had a moment of weakness and couldn't say "no" to buying an old pen

Hi. I got this nice Webster pen of an auction for $15 at the swedish ebay (Tradera). It have a dried up ink sac that need to be replaced, how do i remove the section in the best way. I found a similar pen on the internet and on that pen it seems like the section is removed just beneath the threads, is that correct? It has a nice 14k warranted #2 nib with som nice flex, but the tines are a little misaligned where the left tine is a little higher than the right. I think it works fine to write with but it would be nice to fix that too. And does anyone knows where i can find a new ring to the top of the cap? Best regard Pether

Hello for the THIRD time, o mighty experts on fountain pens Today, in my newbie buying frenzy, I spent $8.00 on this Epenco lever filler. It's DEFINITELY a gold plated nib The ink sac came out in 1 piece (well, two if you include the "collar" attached to the nib/feed section). The clip has "EPENCO" on it (along with some corrosion), and the band on the cap is faceted (kind of cool! Also a little corrosion). Lever is gold plated, also with a little corrosion. I really like the color and condition of the celluloid body, which is why I purchased it. The nib is losing some of it's gold plating and is stamped "EPENCO" over "NEW YORK" over "US PATS" over "2054306" and "25054307" over "MADE IN USA" I have only two questions for this one. Question #1: Any idea how to remove the "collar" of the old in sac shellaced into place on the nib/feed section? Question #2: What's the best way to determine the sac size for this one? The old sack is as hard as a rock, and I'd like to keep this pen as a writer.