Sheaffer Touchdown - where to buy Ink Sac with cheap shipping

[AceNinja]

I've gotten myself a Sheaffer Touchdown filler pen, a first for me.  Based on my research, its the Sheaffer Imperial IV Touchdown Filler (do anybody know what year it is made?)

And alas, the TD filler doesn't fills.  So I researched into how to DIY change the ink sac, reading websites and YT videos etc.

 

And I've successfully removed the ink sac.  It is not really a 'sac' any more.  It is a stiff tube, zero flexibility, and with certain degree of brittleness.

 

So i'm looking to buy a replacement ink sac.  Based on my research this pen takes the no.15 ink sac size.  While i'm able to find a few seller online selling these, they're all with very expensive shipping send it to my location (Malaysia).

Was wondering if anyone has any idea about getting a ink sac without too high cost.

 

here are the pics.  

The ink sac in the photo 'appears' to be shorter than the sac protector, because part of the sac was broke off and left adhered on the section's nipple.  I've to slowly and carefully scrap it of with some force.

I measured the section's nipple to be 6mm, so yeah that matches my research in which it takes the no.15 ink sac.

 

[oliverob]

Have you tried googling Istanbul and India. They're much closer to you. Also China and Japan.

Good luck!

[John T]

You should also change out the o-ring inside the barrel, these often dry out over time and if you can't get a good seal it won't matter if you replace the sac because it won't refill.

[FarmBoy]

Untracked shipping in a first class letter should be a few dollars. With out tracking one never knows if it will make it but it is worth the gamble. Sacs are only 2.5 each. 

[PithyProlix]

I am in Thailand. The most inexpensive way I've found to get sacs - and other pen repair items, parts, and tools - is from The Pendragons https://vintagepensacsandparts.com/ in the UK. (There is a cheaper alternative in the UK that I tried once but their latex sacs were terrible.) Royal Mail, even at the untracked level, is fairly quick to Thailand - about 1 week if I remember correctly. Looking at some old orders, shipping prices ranged from £10.95 to £14.97. All the orders had sacs and parts - all small items - so the shipping weights were low. I've had uniformly good experiences with them, they seem knowledgeable (e.g. they knew the correct sac for a Mabie Todd Swan Eternal 48, gave me tips for installing it, and explained why necked sacs are best for some Swan models), and are responsive to email. 

[PithyProlix]

Oh, and the Pendragons should have the correct o-ring that goes in the barrel (it's hard to get in the slot - gotta be really patient or make a tool to assist). I suggest replacing the end cap washer while you are at it - they should have that as well. I believe there are repair instructions for Touchdown fillers on Richard Binder's website.

[AceNinja]

  On 11/17/2024 at 1:35 PM, John T said:

You should also change out the o-ring inside the barrel, these often dry out over time and if you can't get a good seal it won't matter if you replace the sac because it won't refill.

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Yes i'm aware of the oring inside barrel, near the turning knob.  I've successfully removed it, it also feel fairly stiff.  

i'm actually trying to look for the replacement oring for it.

 

  On 11/19/2024 at 9:19 AM, PithyProlix said:

I am in Thailand. The most inexpensive way I've found to get sacs - and other pen repair items, parts, and tools - is from The Pendragons https://vintagepensacsandparts.com/ in the UK. (There is a cheaper alternative in the UK that I tried once but their latex sacs were terrible.) Royal Mail, even at the untracked level, is fairly quick to Thailand - about 1 week if I remember correctly. Looking at some old orders, shipping prices ranged from £10.95 to £14.97. All the orders had sacs and parts - all small items - so the shipping weights were low. I've had uniformly good experiences with them, they seem knowledgeable (e.g. they knew the correct sac for a Mabie Todd Swan Eternal 48, gave me tips for installing it, and explained why necked sacs are best for some Swan models), and are responsive to email. 

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thanks..  will have a check on that.

But this is the kind of shipping price range that i feel is expensive for me haha.  because the actual spare item itself is very low cost.

 

but if i can't find anything else, i maybe have to go with that.

[PithyProlix]

Maybe try asking at the pen stores in KL if they know someone who repairs old pens - reasonable chance a repairperson has the parts you need (or you might have the repairperson fix it).

 

  On 11/19/2024 at 10:31 AM, AceNinja said:

But this is the kind of shipping price range that i feel is expensive for me haha.  because the actual spare item itself is very low cost.

 

but if i can't find anything else, i maybe have to go with that.

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Yeah, I agree it does seem like a lot. I think of the total - about $20 USD to spend to get your pen working - and it doesn't seem as bad.

 

Please let us know if you find a better source for the parts!

 

[AceNinja]

In the end I bought from ebay from a seller based in UK.  He was selling it as 2 x ink sac + 1 small 5ml bottle of shellac.  For roughly around GBP 17 shipped.  Currently waiting for it to arrive.

 

While at the same time, the Orings that i ordered has arrived.  I managed to find some Orings on a local online shopping platform here.  I ordered a few sizes: 7x1mm, 8x1mm, 8x1.5mm, 9x1mm, it comes in 10pcs each.  After comparing to the original O-ring i removed from barrel, it seems that 9x1mm is the closest.

 

So I went ahead to install the O Ring.  It fits.  And when I test the plunger, it seems to hold pressure.  Hooray~!   here are some pics

Left: old O-ring.  Right: New O-ring 9x1mm size.

 

 

And here's how i test if the pressure holds.  I think it does.

 

Edited November 28, 2024 by AceNinja
i got my left and right wrong..

[Lithium466]

What o-ring material did you order? 

[PithyProlix]

  On 11/27/2024 at 2:53 PM, AceNinja said:

In the end I bought from ebay from a seller based in UK. 

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Green ink sacs? 

[AceNinja]

  On 11/27/2024 at 8:14 PM, Lithium466 said:

What o-ring material did you order? 

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from the seller's post, it say its silicone.  "red silicone o-ring"

 

  On 11/28/2024 at 12:08 AM, PithyProlix said:

 

Green ink sacs? 

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hmm not green ink think.  It say it's latex ink sac, traditional latex ink sac.

dark/black colour.  And it says it's dusted with the chalk powder.

[PithyProlix]

  On 11/28/2024 at 12:28 AM, AceNinja said:

hmm not green ink think.  It say it's latex ink sac, traditional latex ink sac.

dark/black colour.  And it says it's dusted with the chalk powder.

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Good. I got bought some from a UK seller whose sacs are latex but exclusively green. They were unusable.

[AceNinja]

Just to update, the ink sac has arrived.  And I've proceed to install it.

It's been a day after I shellac the sac in place.  Reinstalled the sac protector, and tested vacuum draw with plain water.

It's able to eject out 0.5-0.6 ml of water each time i draw and expel the water.  

 

i think I would call it a success!  considering this is my first time doing ink sac install.

 

*not shown in the video.  Afterwards i removed the sac protector again and added/apply powder on the ink sac.

 

 

[AceNinja]

after using Touch Down filling system for a few days, for me the biggest issue is, there's no way to check ink level.

It's a clever system, but it's inability to check ink level might be an issue for me.

 

I suppose back in the days, people only have one pen and one bottle of ink.  No problem to topup the ink everyday i suppose.

[Estycollector]

Just re-sac'd a Sheaffer Crest with a lever fill mechanism. I've been using it more because the repairs greatly improved the ink flow. I just make a few quick sac presses every three days or so. 

[bsenn]

  On 12/18/2024 at 2:57 PM, Estycollector said:

 I just make a few quick sac presses every three days or so. 

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Yes. Pens I use regularly generally get a top-up well before they run out. You get used to how long or how much writing you can do with a particular pen so have an idea how often to top-up. I may refill ahead of normal schedule before a trip or day of meetings.

 

Brian

[Chris1]

Glad your first ever repair was successful - well done. A nice pen - enjoy it.

 

I too found the relatively small ink volume and lack of visual clue a nuisance with many sac filler pens so I tend to use converter filling pens. But, as suggested, simply give the pen a top up before it runs out and indeed you will get a feel as to how often you need to do that.

 

 

[AceNinja]

An update to this.  After I've re-sac the Sheaffer imperial IV touch down filler,  I inked it up with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.  It holds ok amount of ink and writes smoothly.

 

It is inked for about 1 month I think.  The ink finished, I cleaned up the pen.  Used the TD to pump and release water, sock section in water, repeated for a few days.  After I feel that it is clean enough, I squirt out the water with TD, let it air dry for 1-2 days, capped it and stored it.

 

Fast forward 2-3 months, I take the pen out and run the TD action.  I felt the pressure is not holding, there's no more hissing sound when I fully extend and fully retract the pump.

 

I unscrew the section to inspect.  To my surprise and horror, the ink sac appears to be melting inside!  

 

So my question to all is.. what happened? What did I did wrong? Is it wrong powder used?

 

Here are the photos.

[Ron Z]

Two questions. 

 

* Not all sacs are created equal.  Where did the vendor get is sacs?   There's a reason why I buy my sacs from the Pen Sac Company, and only PSC, and have for about 30 years.  I can't have sacs failing like that.

* Did you coat the sac with talc before you put the sac guard on?  I always put a good layer of pure talc on a sac when I restore a pen, especially on a pen that has a sac guard.  It helps to minimize contact with the metal.