Free Restoration Service

[siamackz]

Here's an alternate way to restore safety fillers - with the use of an O ring seal instead of cork seal. I believe this makes a more durable restoration.

 

[siamackz]

Just restored a Montblanc Boheme. Detailed process with pics here - https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/355146-montblanc-boheme-disassembled-for-cleaning/

 

Edited August 9, 2020 by siamackz

[siamackz]

Another tricky repair - the Heritage 1912. Here is how it opened up - https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/355255-heritage-1912-disassembled/

 

And then...

[como]

"Do you prefer o-rings or cork seals?"

"Both!!"

 

siamackz: I too have used both cork seals and o-rings. I find them both very effective when done properly, and miserable when not. For the above, why not just put double o-rings, as the aesthetics is already less elegant than cork seal only? O-rings also work well when I can get the right balance of ease of gliding vs. leak-proof by sanding/filing down both inner and outer diameters of the o-ring. In some cases it's not possible to use cork, when the space between the rod and seal housing is too impossibly tiny to fit a reliable cork into it. I can sand a rubber ring to very thin but not a cork seal. Do you find your cork sealed pens dry out a bit when you don't use them for a long period? I have quite a few. It happens sometimes, when I have to ink the pen with water for 10 minutes or so. Then it works perfectly again with full barrel of ink.

Here's an alternate way to restore safety fillers - with the use of an O ring seal instead of cork seal. I believe this makes a more durable restoration.

 

[como]

siamackz: Thank you very much for sharing. This is a good solution to know, when spare parts cannot be had or disassembled. Do you have a heat gun to do it, or hair dryer, if I may ask please?

Another tricky repair - the Heritage 1912. Here is how it opened up - https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/355255-heritage-1912-disassembled/

 

And then...

 

[siamackz]

"Do you prefer o-rings or cork seals?"

"Both!!"

 

siamackz: I too have used both cork seals and o-rings. I find them both very effective when done properly, and miserable when not. For the above, why not just put double o-rings, as the aesthetics is already less elegant than cork seal only? O-rings also work well when I can get the right balance of ease of gliding vs. leak-proof by sanding/filing down both inner and outer diameters of the o-ring. In some cases it's not possible to use cork, when the space between the rod and seal housing is too impossibly tiny to fit a reliable cork into it. I can sand a rubber ring to very thin but not a cork seal. Do you find your cork sealed pens dry out a bit when you don't use them for a long period? I have quite a few. It happens sometimes, when I have to ink the pen with water for 10 minutes or so. Then it works perfectly again with full barrel of ink.

I agree about the O rings, they are my preferred option when the seal is hidden from sight anyway. I too have found cork seals can be revived sometimes with water like you said. And if they have shrunk then sometimes I just bathe them in beeswax and paraffin and they are good to go. Of course, if the pen is very old and not restored then a new cork seal is needed.

I used to have a hair dryer till very recently and it was quite sufficient to be honest. But I now use a heat gun.

[como]

Thank you for sharing your experience, siamackz. Very helpful as always. I have used hair dryer so far, one with a focused opening. Eventually I will buy a heat gun with controlled temperature, a nice little tool to have . I bought a couple of metal files for sanding down o-rings too, quite handy and more convenient than just sand paper.

I agree about the O rings, they are my preferred option when the seal is hidden from sight anyway. I too have found cork seals can be revived sometimes with water like you said. And if they have shrunk then sometimes I just bathe them in beeswax and paraffin and they are good to go. Of course, if the pen is very old and not restored then a new cork seal is needed.
I used to have a hair dryer till very recently and it was quite sufficient to be honest. But I now use a heat gun.

[Janeiac]

Two old Koh-i-noor technical drawing/drafting fountain pens are on the way to you from me. These are different from later versions with a dropper-fill ink reservoir that’s really just a refillable cartridge— they suck the ink up directly by twisting a knob.

Thank you very much for helping me with these.

[siamackz]

Two old Koh-i-noor technical drawing/drafting fountain pens are on the way to you from me. These are different from later versions with a dropper-fill ink reservoir thats really just a refillable cartridge they suck the ink up directly by twisting a knob.

Thank you very much for helping me with these.

I look forward to it 👍

[siamackz]

Busy workbench? Fun weekends ahead

 

 

 

Edited September 20, 2020 by siamackz

[siamackz]

[siamackz]

[siamackz]

[siamackz]

Heres a video showing the disassembly and reassembly of the 42 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kuegzELOs18&t=37s

[siamackz]

Vintage Pelikans recently restored... Full process pics here https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/356242-vintage-pelikans-restored/

[siamackz]

Sheaffer Balance restored...

[siamackz]

About 40 beautiful vintage pens restored! 

[es9]

On 12/9/2019 at 9:28 AM, Barry Gabay said:

What an important service you are providing. You are a very kind and generous gentleman. The photos of your restorations are an education in themselves. You teach us with your remarkable website and continue to do so with your descriptions of the restoration service. You truly exemplify the rewards of sharing and caring about others. Thank you, sir, for all you do.

 

I just want to reiterate this.  Your detailed photos and explanations provide a service to all of us! 

[siamackz]

7 minutes ago, es9 said:

 

I just want to reiterate this.  Your detailed photos and explanations provide a service to all of us! 

Thank you sir

[siamackz]

Here’s a recent repair I did on an ink-vue. Interesting little mechanism. The sac I used was a size too small because I didn’t have the larger one, but otherwise it’s a pretty straight forward repair and Richard Binders notes were very helpful!