Getting Celluoid (As Raw Material)

[Nestorvass]

Greetings everyone,

I am looking, to get more into solvent welding. Specifically I am interested In welding cracks on celluoid pens, such as parker vacumatics. I know that the proper method to do this, is to dissolve celluoid in MEK, to get a pretty thick liquid then apply to the crack, wait to dry for a long time, repeat etc. The problem is were can one find celluoid. I know old, broken pens is one source. However its very difficult, at least were I am from, to even find broken/damaged pens and escpecially ones made out of celluoid.

Is there any source were I can buy celluoid, as raw material? Meaning a celluoid, cube, cylinder even shavings. It does not matter since I am going to dissolve them anyway.

 

Thanks in advance,

Nestor

[siamackz]

Great question - I had asked for the same reason some time ago. But old pens was the only source that I received as a reply. Lets hope you receive a better answer. Maybe you could look for guitar plectrums - I ordered several varieties only but none turned out to be celluloid. Going to a store and smelling them yourself might help, but might also get you labelled as a weirdo, haha!

 

Im following this post with interest!

[FarmBoy]

You will likely never find the proper celluloid you seek as a raw material. Keep in mind that there are many different formulations of celluloid and not all are compatible.

 

Your best source (and really the only source) is from another pen of the same model and vintage or the pen you are trying to solvent weld. You need sparingly small amounts of material and will not want to make up a solution and then let it sit, you need to make it then use it.

[siamackz]

Celluloid plungers from vacs might be a good option? Im sure there are repair people or sellers that have such spares?

[CS388]

As FarmBoy states; many different types of celluloid were manufactured, so compatability may be an issue, but I recall that some old/antique combs were made of celluloid?