Broken Threads On A Gladiator - What Do I Do?

April 18, 2016

I got this beautiful little Gladiator ringtop - French make, embossed silver band, 18k nib, but I noticed that some of the threads are separated where the barrel and section meet. I'm proposing to introduce a small amount of Gorilla Glue into the cracks via an insulin syringe, and hold it in place with dental floss. We have a fly-tying magnifier, too...where did I get all this stuff?

Any other suggestions or alternatives? I could send it out but it's just come back.

She's a harsh mistress, this pen.

August 16, 2017

I got this beautiful little Gladiator ringtop - French make, embossed silver band, 18k nib, but I noticed that some of the threads are separated where the barrel and section meet. I'm proposing to introduce a small amount of Gorilla Glue into the cracks via an insulin syringe, and hold it in place with dental floss. We have a fly-tying magnifier, too...where did I get all this stuff?

Any other suggestions or alternatives? I could send it out but it's just come back.

She's a harsh mistress, this pen.

in the event you do as you say you are gonna do, please post pictures so we all can see your artestry

August 16, 2017

What is the material you are dealing with. Glue sounds like a last resort.

August 19, 2017

What is the material you are dealing with. Glue sounds like a last resort.

I agree. Sac shellac is a better material to start with.

August 19, 2017

I agree. Sac shellac is a better material to start with.

Nope. Worse than glue. Shellac is great for holding sacs to sections, sections in barrels, securing an inner cap etc. But not good at all for things like this. It really isn't strong at all, and certainly not in cases like this where the surface area to be glued or secured is very small. Solvent welding will produce the strongest repair.

Go back to Farm Boy's question, always the first to ask when repairing cracks. What is the material? Hard rubber? Celluloid? Acrylic? Polystyrene? Answer that question and you know what solvent to use to weld the parts together.

Glue will not have nearly the strength you're looking for. Gorilla glue/super glue will contaminate the surfaces and prevent the use of solvents to solvent weld, which is the best thing to use on celluloid, acrylic or other materials.