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 9:35 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.

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.

 

1 hour ago, 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. 

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).

 

1 hour ago, 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.

 

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 19 hours ago by AceNinja
i got my left and right wrong..

[Lithium466]

What o-ring material did you order? 

[PithyProlix]

9 hours ago, AceNinja said:

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

 

Green ink sacs? 

[AceNinja]

4 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

What o-ring material did you order? 

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

 

15 minutes ago, PithyProlix said:

 

Green ink sacs? 

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]

12 hours ago, 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.

 

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