I wondered if using shellac to seal the barrels of pens was maybe too strong of an adhesive. I had heard that pen barrels on your typical lever filler were sealed with rosin. I know rosin will soften will with moderate heat (hair dryer) and maybe shellac will also. My meager experience with shellac was as a wood finish and it gave a pretty hard finish. I'd worry that you'll never get that pen open again.
Thank you so much for this video. I am also in the process of restoring a father in law's desk pen, this model, apparently. In the kit that I got for this, there is also a spring, but it does not appear to fit inside the barrel. I didn't see a spring in your restoration. Do the desk pens not use a spring as the regular snorkles do?
I have a pen that I am going to try and restore with the help of your video!! One question...do I go to A.T. Cross, the current owners of Sheaffer pens for the parts, or is there another supplier for the walled sacs and O-ring???
Parker51Guy is there anyone in particular you use, as so far I have only found a company called "Dragonpens" in England and with the exchange it is coming on $30 for sac, o-ring, point seal and shipping!!!
Can I ask if the silicon you refer to and used to coat the round rubber plug is different from the shellac. What is the silicon called that you used if so..
Ended up watching both the parts, very satisfying 👍. Thanks for putting this out
Glad to hear it!
I wondered if using shellac to seal the barrels of pens was maybe too strong of an adhesive. I had heard that pen barrels on your typical lever filler were sealed with rosin. I know rosin will soften will with moderate heat (hair dryer) and maybe shellac will also. My meager experience with shellac was as a wood finish and it gave a pretty hard finish. I'd worry that you'll never get that pen open again.
Jonathan, shellac will soften at around 150degrees F, rosin is lower. Ideally if the section fits snugly enough I would use neither.
Also the way a typical lever filler goes together is much simpler than a Sheaffer snorkel.
Can you take mine for repair? You did a nice job on this. Mine was passed down by my mom and its very stuck. Im afraid i'll break it.
Thank you so much for this video. I am also in the process of restoring a father in law's desk pen, this model, apparently. In the kit that I got for this, there is also a spring, but it does not appear to fit inside the barrel. I didn't see a spring in your restoration. Do the desk pens not use a spring as the regular snorkles do?
That is for the PFM model snorkel, I have not seen any other snorkels that use a spring
Are you available to refurbish another snorkel pen? It's a 1953 Shaeffer's Saratoga Black snorkel pen.
I have a pen that I am going to try and restore with the help of your video!! One question...do I go to A.T. Cross, the current owners of Sheaffer pens for the parts, or is there another supplier for the walled sacs and O-ring???
Caroline, Cross will not have parts for older pens, Google vintage fountain pen parts, you will find numerous suppliers for all manner of pens.
Parker51Guy is there anyone in particular you use, as so far I have only found a company called "Dragonpens" in England and with the exchange it is coming on $30 for sac, o-ring, point seal and shipping!!!
There are US located sources but the price will probably only be marginally less, discounting the exchange rate for the dollar to pound.
Can I ask if the silicon you refer to and used to coat the round rubber plug is different from the shellac. What is the silicon called that you used if so..
Its silicon grease or some call dielectric grease.