funny leaky fountain pen story

"MatthewK" wrote in message
...
* Bluesea wrote:

"MatthewK" wrote in message
...

BTW, I've never had any trouble with the converted preppy eye-droppers.

Did you convert the Preppy yourself? If so, how?

No, I did not convert the preppy myself. I bought it from pendemonium
already converted. They just slipped an o-ring between the section and
the body. If you screw the cap too tight then the o-ring will slip out
of place. If I did it myself I would cut a groove into the plastic with
a knife before adding the o-ring.

Not to long ago Swisher said that Tardiff said you could just slip an
o-ring on the preppies for an instant eyedropper.

Thanks, I found the thread. I was offline back then, so missed it.

Pendemonium was out of the converted Preppies when I was shopping the week
before last, so I bought a regular one from jetpens.com (jstationery.com has
them also at $3 each) and like it so much that I ordered the rest of the
colors - should arrive this week.

From the description and the photos at Pendemonium on the Noodler's page,
I'm thinking the O-ring is the black line on the threads down toward the
nib. I'll need to get O-rings and silicone grease.

FWIW, another great, inexpensive pen is the Pilot Petit1 that costs $4.50 at
JetPens and $4.35 at J Stationery. It's a mini fountain pen, but when I post
the cap (I don't post caps on my other fps), I don't notice the size. I'm
looking to convert them to ED, also, because the cartridges are smaller than
the normal Pilot carts. A reviewer on JetPens said he simply wrapped
plumber's tape around the threads to convert his into an ED, but I like the
idea of using O-rings better because I have this idea that the adhesive from
the tape might come into contact with and contaminate the ink.


--
~~Bluesea~~
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Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

In ,
Bluesea wrote:

A reviewer on JetPens said he simply wrapped
plumber's tape around the threads to convert his into an ED, but I like
the
idea of using O-rings better because I have this idea that the adhesive
from
the tape might come into contact with and contaminate the ink.

The "plumber's tape" he refers to must be Teflon pipe thread tape. It
doesn't have (or need) any adhesive, but you'd be better off with an O-ring
in any case. The tape isn't meant for reuse (screwing and unscrewing), and
you'd end up having to rewrap the pen periodically, and dealing with the
little shreds that the tape intentionally becomes.

Brian
--

"Brian Ketterling" wrote in
message m...
In ,
Bluesea wrote:

A reviewer on JetPens said he simply wrapped
plumber's tape around the threads to convert his into an ED, but I like
the
idea of using O-rings better because I have this idea that the adhesive
from
the tape might come into contact with and contaminate the ink.

The "plumber's tape" he refers to must be Teflon pipe thread tape. It
doesn't have (or need) any adhesive, but you'd be better off with an
O-ring
in any case. The tape isn't meant for reuse (screwing and unscrewing),
and
you'd end up having to rewrap the pen periodically, and dealing with the
little shreds that the tape intentionally becomes.

Okay, thanks. He didn't specify the tape other than "plumber's tape" but
your reasoning sounds good to me.

Little shreds - bleah!

--
~~Bluesea~~who isn't knowledge about plumbing tape
Spam is great in musubi, but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

In ,
Bluesea wrote:

Little shreds - bleah!

Teflon tape is very thin and somewhat stretchy (without elastic rebound).
It conforms to and clings to male threads when you wrap them, then as you
screw the parts together it tears away from the peaks of the threads and
packs into the valleys. By filling in all those little spaces, it prevents
leaks.

The advantage over traditional pipe "dope" is that it doesn't cement the
parts together, so you can easily unscrew them again. When you do, you find
compressed strings and shreds of Teflon wound around the thread. Some get
loose, some have to be picked out. So, good for pipes, but probably
annoying for pens. Ron Zorn, in the repair forum of the horrible (*yawn*)
FPN, warned someone who wanted to use Teflon tape on the point collar
threads of a Parker "45" that those shreds can get loose and into the
point's feed channels.

Brian
--

"Brian Ketterling" wrote in
message m...
In ,
Bluesea wrote:

Little shreds - bleah!

Teflon tape is very thin and somewhat stretchy (without elastic rebound).
It conforms to and clings to male threads when you wrap them, then as you
screw the parts together it tears away from the peaks of the threads and
packs into the valleys. By filling in all those little spaces, it
prevents
leaks.

The advantage over traditional pipe "dope" is that it doesn't cement the
parts together, so you can easily unscrew them again. When you do, you
find
compressed strings and shreds of Teflon wound around the thread. Some get
loose, some have to be picked out. So, good for pipes, but probably
annoying for pens.

My thoughts, precisely. I wouldn't want to pick out little shreds each time
I refilled and then retape the threads.

Ron Zorn, in the repair forum of the horrible (*yawn*)



FPN, warned someone who wanted to use Teflon tape on the point collar
threads of a Parker "45" that those shreds can get loose and into the
point's feed channels.

Thanks, Brian.

--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi, but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

* Bluesea wrote:

From the description and the photos at Pendemonium on the Noodler's page,
I'm thinking the O-ring is the black line on the threads down toward the
nib. I'll need to get O-rings and silicone grease.

Thats probably right. The o-ring is about 1/4 inch away from the feeder
fins towards the pen body.

I have two of them and the first one had a lot of silcone grease. That
is what made the o-ring slip a little bit if the pen was screwed
together to tightly.

I've heard of people using the platinum converters in the preppys and
Russel Stutler shows how to convert a pilot converter for use with a
preppy. You cut off a piece of the platinum cartdrige and glue it to the
pilot converter.


FWIW, another great, inexpensive pen is the Pilot Petit1 that costs $4.50 at
JetPens and $4.35 at J Stationery. It's a mini fountain pen, but when I post
the cap (I don't post caps on my other fps), I don't notice the size. I'm
looking to convert them to ED, also, because the cartridges are smaller than
the normal Pilot carts. A reviewer on JetPens said he simply wrapped
plumber's tape around the threads to convert his into an ED, but I like the
idea of using O-rings better because I have this idea that the adhesive from
the tape might come into contact with and contaminate the ink.



I've been thinking about getting some of the petits. They look cute and
fun. Please post your results.

Where have you gotten your o-rings? I've not looked to hard but the only
pen sources I've found have been "mixed parts" type bags.

matthew
ohio

"MatthewK" wrote in message
...
* Bluesea wrote:

From the description and the photos at Pendemonium on the Noodler's page,
I'm thinking the O-ring is the black line on the threads down toward the
nib. I'll need to get O-rings and silicone grease.

Thats probably right. The o-ring is about 1/4 inch away from the feeder
fins towards the pen body.

I have two of them and the first one had a lot of silcone grease. That
is what made the o-ring slip a little bit if the pen was screwed
together to tightly.

I've heard of people using the platinum converters in the preppys and
Russel Stutler shows how to convert a pilot converter for use with a
preppy. You cut off a piece of the platinum cartdrige and glue it to the
pilot converter.

It makes sense to use a Platinum converter in a Preppy. I don't like to use
converters, however, preferring to refill carts because I get more ink per
filling that way. That's why I'm interested in converting them to EDs. I'll
get even more ink per filling plus the visual enjoyment of being able to see
the ink and watch the amount decrease. (I'm a compulsive ink-level checker,
so demonstrators, etc., are ideal for me.)

FWIW, another great, inexpensive pen is the Pilot Petit1 that costs $4.50
at
JetPens and $4.35 at J Stationery. It's a mini fountain pen, but when I
post
the cap (I don't post caps on my other fps), I don't notice the size. I'm
looking to convert them to ED, also, because the cartridges are smaller
than
the normal Pilot carts. A reviewer on JetPens said he simply wrapped
plumber's tape around the threads to convert his into an ED, but I like
the
idea of using O-rings better because I have this idea that the adhesive
from
the tape might come into contact with and contaminate the ink.

I've been thinking about getting some of the petits. They look cute and
fun. Please post your results.

Okay, will do.

Where have you gotten your o-rings? I've not looked to hard but the only
pen sources I've found have been "mixed parts" type bags.

The last time I needed o-rings, I got them from a scuba shop. I don't think
they stock any that will be small enough for the pens and I was thinking to
try the closest large home fix-it place then over to Lowe's. After
that...shrug.


--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi, but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

Bluesea wrote:
Where have you gotten your o-rings? I've not looked to hard but the only
pen sources I've found have been "mixed parts" type bags.

The last time I needed o-rings, I got them from a scuba shop. I don't think
they stock any that will be small enough for the pens and I was thinking to
try the closest large home fix-it place then over to Lowe's. After
that...shrug.

Pendemonium sells o-rings for the Platinum Preppy pens.

--
_Deirdre web: http://deirdre.net blog: http://dsmoen.livejournal.com/
"Memes are a hoax! Pass it on!"

"Deirdre Saoirse Moen" wrote in message
...
Bluesea wrote:
Where have you gotten your o-rings? I've not looked to hard but the only
pen sources I've found have been "mixed parts" type bags.

The last time I needed o-rings, I got them from a scuba shop. I don't
think
they stock any that will be small enough for the pens and I was thinking
to
try the closest large home fix-it place then over to Lowe's. After
that...shrug.

Pendemonium sells o-rings for the Platinum Preppy pens.

Thanks, that's good to know.

Now, all I need are o-rings for the Petit1 pens and silicone.

--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi, but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

"Deirdre Saoirse Moen" wrote in message
...
Bluesea wrote:
Where have you gotten your o-rings? I've not looked to hard but the only
pen sources I've found have been "mixed parts" type bags.

The last time I needed o-rings, I got them from a scuba shop. I don't
think
they stock any that will be small enough for the pens and I was thinking
to
try the closest large home fix-it place then over to Lowe's. After
that...shrug.

Pendemonium sells o-rings for the Platinum Preppy pens.

I didn't see them listed on the Repair Supplies page, but the silicone
grease is there. I'll email and ask if they have them for the Petit1, too.


--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi, but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.