Manufacturing Sheaffer Vac-Fil plunger rods

[rtrinkner]

After repairing a few Sheaffer Vac-Fil, I'm struck by how lovely it would be to have a source of new stainless steel plunger rods to use as replacement parts.

 

Seems to me that it might be possible to make them from wire/rod material of the proper thickness, and then using a die to cut the threading on each end.

 

Has anybody done this? Anybody know the thread specifications? I believe the rod thickness is .087 inches, but perhaps the threaded portions are a touch narrower?

 

[OldGriz]

After repairing a few Sheaffer Vac-Fil, I'm struck by how lovely it would be to have a source of new stainless steel plunger rods to use as replacement parts.

 

Seems to me that it might be possible to make them from wire/rod material of the proper thickness, and then using a die to cut the threading on each end.

 

Has anybody done this? Anybody know the thread specifications? I believe the rod thickness is .087 inches, but perhaps the threaded portions are a touch narrower?

 

Fontainbel, I believe is selling them

[fountainbel]

As mentioned by Oldgriz, I make replacement rods for pens I have to repair

Approximately 10-20% of the stainless rod are locally seriously corroded/pitted.

The war time steel rods, covered with a black plastic sleeve,need to be replaced in nearly 30-40% because rust formation between the rod & sleeve - leading to expansion of the sleeve- finally cracked the sleeve lengthwise.

The original Sheaffer rods were 2.10 mm in diameter, or 0.0827 ".

Threads are #0-80TPI, having an external diameter of 0.060".

I make the in stainless steel of 2.00mm which is- at least in the EU- readily available from the shelf.

I also make replacement piston seal enclosure nuts in Ketron Peek.

Frequently nuts on the war time "steel" rods are very difficult to remove,although long soaking in penetration oil helps sometimes

My "fountainbel" plunger rod cartridge- which I use for repairing all vac-fill's- can easily cope with 2.00 and 2.10 mm rods.

Equally installation of the O ring seal - promoted & sold by Vintage pens- will give no problem with 2.00 mm diameter rods.

Given the small rod diameter & the material ,making"the rods on the lathe (with the threads fully concentrical to the shaft !) is rather time consuming.

As I experienced,one can only remove approx. 0.05mm per pass, avoiding the shafts bends off when the knife starts to cut.

Note there are at least 5 different lenghts covering the full Sheaffer vac-fills range.

Threaded parts are always identical on both sides and also identical on all 5 different rods.

For practical reasons one should preferably specify the " over the shoulders " length, since all other dimensions remain identical

Although I don't aim selling these rods, I am willing to make a few for other collectors when requested.

Cost- priority shipment to the US included - is $16.00/ rod.

Francis

 

 

 

After repairing a few Sheaffer Vac-Fil, I'm struck by how lovely it would be to have a source of new stainless steel plunger rods to use as replacement

 

Seems to me that it might be possible to make them from wire/rod material of the proper thickness, and then using a die to cut the threading on each end.

 

Has anybody done this? Anybody know the thread specifications? I believe the rod thickness is .087 inches, but perhaps the threaded portions are a touch narrower?

[david i]

As mentioned by Oldgriz, I make replacement rods for pens I have to repair

Approximately 10-20% of the stainless rod are locally seriously corroded/pitted.

The war time steel rods, covered with a black plastic sleeve,need to be replaced in nearly 30-40% because rust formation between the rod & sleeve - leading to expansion of the sleeve- finally cracked the sleeve lengthwise.

The original Sheaffer rods were 2.10 mm in diameter, or 0.0827 ".

Threads are #0-80TPI, having an external diameter of 0.060".

I make the in stainless steel of 2.00mm which is- at least in the EU- readily available from the shelf.

I also make replacement piston seal enclosure nuts in Ketron Peek.

Frequently nuts on the war time "steel" rods are very difficult to remove,although long soaking in penetration oil helps sometimes

My "fountainbel" plunger rod cartridge- which I use for repairing all vac-fill's- can easily cope with 2.00 and 2.10 mm rods.

Equally installation of the O ring seal - promoted & sold by Vintage pens- will give no problem with 2.00 mm diameter rods.

Given the small rod diameter & the material ,making"the rods on the lathe (with the threads fully concentrical to the shaft !) is rather time consuming.

As I experienced,one can only remove approx. 0.05mm per pass, avoiding the shafts bends off when the knife starts to cut.

Note there are at least 5 different lenghts covering the full Sheaffer vac-fills range.

Threaded parts are always identical on both sides and also identical on all 5 different rods.

For practical reasons one should preferably specify the " over the shoulders " length, since all other dimensions remain identical

Although I don't aim selling these rods, I am willing to make a few for other collectors when requested.

Cost- priority shipment to the US included - is $16.00/ rod.

Francis

 

 

 

After repairing a few Sheaffer Vac-Fil, I'm struck by how lovely it would be to have a source of new stainless steel plunger rods to use as replacement

 

Seems to me that it might be possible to make them from wire/rod material of the proper thickness, and then using a die to cut the threading on each end.

 

Has anybody done this? Anybody know the thread specifications? I believe the rod thickness is .087 inches, but perhaps the threaded portions are a touch narrower?

 

 

Oversized (diameter) rods for the early coated Vacuum-Fil pens with fat plunger rod?

 

regards

david

 

[fountainbel]

Never seen any vacuum-fill Sheaffer with a rod thicker then 2.1mm

Both the steel version -covered with the black plasic sleeve - and the stainless version were originally 2.1mm

What is the "oversized "rod diameter you are refering to, and are the threads identical in diameter & length as the later ones?

regards, Francis

 

 

Oversized (diameter) rods for the early coated Vacuum-Fil pens with fat plunger rod?

 

regards

david

 

[Vintagepens]

Might be easier using a tool post grinder to reduce the diameter at the ends for threading, at least if you are making the rods in quantity.

[david i]

Never seen any vacuum-fill Sheaffer with a rod thicker then 2.1mm

Both the steel version -covered with the black plasic sleeve - and the stainless version were originally 2.1mm

What is the "oversized "rod diameter you are refering to, and are the threads identical in diameter & length as the later ones?

regards, Francis

 

Cannot comment (yet) on measurements. Just noting some of the early plungers seem markedly plumper than the typical and seem not to fit some of the usual materials out there with which to rehab most plunger fillers. Will try to shoot some images next couple weeks.

 

-d

 

[SMG]

Can they not be threaded with a die instead of lathe cutting the threads???? David N had a great idea there with a toolpost grinder though, that would be alot easier than multiple passes with a cutting tool.

 

Cheers,

Sean

[fountainbel]

The threads are cut with a die.

Reducing the diameter for the threaded parts could be done using a toolpost grinder but I'm actually not set for doing so.

Given the relatively small diameter difference between rod and threaded parts is also important to have a sharp & square back-up shoulder to support the piston seal back-up washer.

I expect using a sharp knife one can obtain this more easily as when using a grinder.

Regards, Francis

 

 

 

 

Can they not be threaded with a die instead of lathe cutting the threads???? David N had a great idea there with a toolpost grinder though, that would be alot easier than multiple passes with a cutting tool.

 

Cheers,

Sean