Second half of a fountain pen restoration on a Parker Vacumatic, showing the replacement of the rubber diaphragm. The first video can be found here, • Vacumatic Restoration ...
Sharon, not sure about your diaphragm question. As far as 'pen honey' that is my name for my homemade rosin sealant. It is basically a mix of castor oil and ballet toeshoe rosin. It is sticky yet can be easily/safely softened with moderate heat for later removal of sealed parts.
H Bowen, thanks for the kind feedback. I am just a passionate fountain pen aficionado that has learned loads from various sources but has loads yet to learn. From the southwest Ohio area. Hope my videos help get more people into vintage restorations and fountain pens.
Thank you for these videos! I have a quick question. When I put my new sac in for the diaphragm, I look down the barrel and it looks folded. I have tried with multiple sacs, which are supposed to be the correct size for a major. Is there a way to prevent this? Much appreciated!
So you drilled out the pellet from the pellet cup and you replaced the diaphragm without replacing the pellet? If you don't need a new pellet why was it installed in the first place? What is "that little guy"? Is it a screw? Where did it come from? I thought the pellet cup only contained a rubber pellet. Why are you calling your modified chopstick a "pellet pusher"? Didn't you already destroy the pellet when you drilled it out? Was there a second pellet? Where did it come from? Where did you put it? I think you missed a whole lot of steps which should have preceded your inserting the tip of the ink sac/diaphragm into the little black cup. Could you please fill those steps in?
theinkbrain There is a small plastic BB-like pellet cemented into the end of the diaphragms from the manufacturer. When the old sacs deteriorate that old pellet usually sticks in the pellet cup on the filler upon removal because the pellet end rips away from the rest of the diaphragm. The chopstick tip fits into the tight space of the diaphragm tip against the pellet and gives purchase to push the tip into the cup where it will stick in place once the rubber is no longer stretched thin when the tension is released. Essentially if you follow these steps using the parts that are manufactured for replacement there are no steps that I have left out, the sac is ready for replacement as is except for cutting to proper length, which I detail. Thanks for the questions and I hope this clears up your confusion.
@@Parker51Guy I think I am pretty close to knowing what I need to actually change the diaphragm. I don't have any of your special equipment, but I had an old plastic Gold Grip brand pair of plastic pliers with rubber grips, and I used them and a wooden chopstick to successfully remove the diaphragm/pump mechanism. I had a pair of tweezers with very sharp right-angled tines which I used to remove the pellets. The pellet in one pen was rubber and the other one was hard plastic. I discovered that my old Vacuumatic which I have had for some decades and which I had used like an eye-dropper has a working pump, so I am not going to mess with it. I had fixed it up with a spare (not Parker) feed and a Dauer Feder nib and even though it might be what I have heard called a "Frankenpen" it looks beautiful it works beautifully. This was long before I knew anything about Vacuumatics. I had an old metal cap with a lovely grey jewel and a gold, blue diamond clip. Last night I finally got the jewel out and now its on the pen I recently bought which was missing a clip. I kept the metal cap upside down for several days in a shot glass with a few drops of WD 40 and then kept it on my bathroom sink with a long pair of tweezers inside it and turned to hair dryer on it every few days. Last night the clip loosened enough to rotate. I used a piece of brown parcel tape stuck on a piece of cardboard from a pack of sour-patch candy to work the jewel and wonder of wonders it came loose. So now I know this is a technique that will work harmlessly on metal caps. I am thinking that if the seal between the barrel and section can be made to not leak that these old Vacuumatics can be used as eye droppers regardless of whether the pump and diaphragm are not working. That's how I used my old and still beautifully serviceable pen. I polished it to a high gloss with a soft cotton rag and notepaper and shined it up with just my fingers. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge. Now I know where I can come for very good and very useful information from an experienced Vacuumatic man.
Be very specific what type of filler you want. A button filler is what would be on most old Duofolds, this actuates a pressure bar to depress a rubber sac in the barrel for an ink reservoir. Fillers like this pen are Vacumatic fillers, and I point this out because you’re using a term not related to the pen in this video. Which are you referring to? For a button filler, you might try Anderson Pens, they sell the bars, but not the actual buttons under the blind cap.
Please share the source of your 'cheap' vac lubricant. All I can find is binder's stuff and shipping to Canada is prohibitively expensive. Any help please? Thanks! Great vids!!
Wow. I just watched your video on how to replace the diaphragm. Looks like I have some work to do. I work in a shop that has a lathe, mill and we have all sorts of taps and dies. So I was able to make some of the tools. I assume the pellet comes with the new diaphragm I would be purchasing? The only stupid question is the one not asked and others might be wondering the same thing. As far as lubricant? I saw the post about glycerin. But I am most interested in the pen honey you created. I have no idea where to even start to get the stuff needed to make anything like it. Any ideas?
The new diaphragm will have a pellet in it. The "pen honey" is made of rosin and castor oil. I bought ballet toe shoe rosin powder from a dance supply place and the oil from a health food store. I cannot recall the ratios but I melted the rosin in an aluminum loaf pan in the oven on a low heat and then mixed in the castor oil. Thanks for your comment and interest!
I noticed that you never told us what you did with the Diaphram. You took it off the tapered end and then you come back and tell us to cut a piece off. I am new at this, got this pen from my grandfather. Why do you cut some of the diaphram off? Did it stretch over time? Or.....i dont know, how does that work?
+Sharon Gronlund, hopefully this is better late than never. I re-read your question and think I have an answer. It sounds like the 'tapered end' you are referring to is the pellet cup maybe on the end of the filler unit that is moved by depressing the plunger. The reason you cut the diaphragm is that it has to be a specific length to correctly fill and still fit in the pen. From the tip that goes into the pellet cup to the open end of it should be 1 and 1/16 inches long. It did not stretch because it was brand new, and the new ones come cut to differing lengths so you have to cut it to the correct size. Hope this answers your question, and hope you are enjoying your grandfather's, and now your, pen!
Thank you. Now I think even though I don't have any prior experience with Parker Vacuumatics, I might have enough information to fix my pens. The pellet was a real mystery to me. I got as far as opening up my pens and now I'm waiting for diaphragms, a feed and a section to come in the mail. In the meantime I will follow your example and get the graphite in a tube and the food -grade glycerine. Thanks again.
I've now successfully restored 6 of these pens because of this part 1 and 2 video set. So, major thanks. (standard and debutante thanks too, badoom)
I’m happy they helped, enjoy your restored pens.
Sharon, not sure about your diaphragm question. As far as 'pen honey' that is my name for my homemade rosin sealant. It is basically a mix of castor oil and ballet toeshoe rosin. It is sticky yet can be easily/safely softened with moderate heat for later removal of sealed parts.
H Bowen, thanks for the kind feedback. I am just a passionate fountain pen aficionado that has learned loads from various sources but has loads yet to learn. From the southwest Ohio area. Hope my videos help get more people into vintage restorations and fountain pens.
Thank you for these videos!
I have a quick question. When I put my new sac in for the diaphragm, I look down the barrel and it looks folded. I have tried with multiple sacs, which are supposed to be the correct size for a major. Is there a way to prevent this?
Much appreciated!
What is the diameter of the copper tube (for drilling out pellet)? Thank you for great content!
Love repair videos! Interesting, interesting, interesting!
Where can we get replacement rubber and other parts? I'm not sure how to unscrew the threaded part as I have no special block tool like you have
So you drilled out the pellet from the pellet cup and you replaced the diaphragm without replacing the pellet? If you don't need a new pellet why was it installed in the first place? What is "that little guy"? Is it a screw? Where did it come from? I thought the pellet cup only contained a rubber pellet. Why are you calling your modified chopstick a "pellet pusher"? Didn't you already destroy the pellet when you drilled it out? Was there a second pellet? Where did it come from? Where did you put it?
I think you missed a whole lot of steps which should have preceded your inserting the tip of the ink sac/diaphragm into the little black cup. Could you please fill those steps in?
theinkbrain There is a small plastic BB-like pellet cemented into the end of the diaphragms from the manufacturer. When the old sacs deteriorate that old pellet usually sticks in the pellet cup on the filler upon removal because the pellet end rips away from the rest of the diaphragm. The chopstick tip fits into the tight space of the diaphragm tip against the pellet and gives purchase to push the tip into the cup where it will stick in place once the rubber is no longer stretched thin when the tension is released. Essentially if you follow these steps using the parts that are manufactured for replacement there are no steps that I have left out, the sac is ready for replacement as is except for cutting to proper length, which I detail. Thanks for the questions and I hope this clears up your confusion.
@@Parker51Guy I think I am pretty close to knowing what I need to actually change the diaphragm. I don't have any of your special equipment, but I had an old plastic Gold Grip brand pair of plastic pliers with rubber grips, and I used them and a wooden chopstick to successfully remove the diaphragm/pump mechanism. I had a pair of tweezers with very sharp right-angled tines which I used to remove the pellets. The pellet in one pen was rubber and the other one was hard plastic. I discovered that my old Vacuumatic which I have had for some decades and which I had used like an eye-dropper has a working pump, so I am not going to mess with it. I had fixed it up with a spare (not Parker) feed and a Dauer Feder nib and even though it might be what I have heard called a "Frankenpen" it looks beautiful it works beautifully. This was long before I knew anything about Vacuumatics. I had an old metal cap with a lovely grey jewel and a gold, blue diamond clip. Last night I finally got the jewel out and now its on the pen I recently bought which was missing a clip. I kept the metal cap upside down for several days in a shot glass with a few drops of WD 40 and then kept it on my bathroom sink with a long pair of tweezers inside it and turned to hair dryer on it every few days. Last night the clip loosened enough to rotate. I used a piece of brown parcel tape stuck on a piece of cardboard from a pack of sour-patch candy to work the jewel and wonder of wonders it came loose. So now I know this is a technique that will work harmlessly on metal caps. I am thinking that if the seal between the barrel and section can be made to not leak that these old Vacuumatics can be used as eye droppers regardless of whether the pump and diaphragm are not working. That's how I used my old and still beautifully serviceable pen. I polished it to a high gloss with a soft cotton rag and notepaper and shined it up with just my fingers.
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge. Now I know where I can come for very good and very useful information from an experienced Vacuumatic man.
It’s a shame the video is so blurry. The content is great, but very difficult to see what you are doing.
I hope you are still doing this, I’m looking for parts for a button filler. Where can I get supplies?
Be very specific what type of filler you want. A button filler is what would be on most old Duofolds, this actuates a pressure bar to depress a rubber sac in the barrel for an ink reservoir. Fillers like this pen are Vacumatic fillers, and I point this out because you’re using a term not related to the pen in this video. Which are you referring to? For a button filler, you might try Anderson Pens, they sell the bars, but not the actual buttons under the blind cap.
Please share the source of your 'cheap' vac lubricant. All I can find is binder's stuff and shipping to Canada is prohibitively expensive. Any help please? Thanks! Great vids!!
Hi Parker51 Guy, I have a vacumatic to restore but not the tools to do it. Do you restore pens for others?
Hello
Nice job! Do you put this little Pellet back with the diaphragma? How you do this?
Hi I just want to know how the ink is stored in this pen.
Wow. I just watched your video on how to replace the diaphragm. Looks like I have some work to do. I work in a shop that has a lathe, mill and we have all sorts of taps and dies. So I was able to make some of the tools. I assume the pellet comes with the new diaphragm I would be purchasing? The only stupid question is the one not asked and others might be wondering the same thing. As far as lubricant? I saw the post about glycerin. But I am most interested in the pen honey you created. I have no idea where to even start to get the stuff needed to make anything like it. Any ideas?
The new diaphragm will have a pellet in it. The "pen honey" is made of rosin and castor oil. I bought ballet toe shoe rosin powder from a dance supply place and the oil from a health food store. I cannot recall the ratios but I melted the rosin in an aluminum loaf pan in the oven on a low heat and then mixed in the castor oil. Thanks for your comment and interest!
Great video(s) - the best I've seen for this. Question: can you use the vac lube instead of the graphite for folding back the sac? Thanks for posting!
I would not use the vac lube, actually talc powder (pure, non-perfumed) is what most use, but I don’t have that so I use powdered graphite.
What is your "cheap Vacuumatic lubricant"?
It is food-grade vegetable glycerin, available from health/natural supplement stores.
I noticed that you never told us what you did with the Diaphram. You took it off the tapered end and then you come back and tell us to cut a piece off. I am new at this, got this pen from my grandfather. Why do you cut some of the diaphram off? Did it stretch over time? Or.....i dont know, how does that work?
Sharon Gronlundand also, for "Pen Honey" is that a lubricant, an adhesive, or something else?
+Sharon Gronlund, hopefully this is better late than never. I re-read your question and think I have an answer. It sounds like the 'tapered end' you are referring to is the pellet cup maybe on the end of the filler unit that is moved by depressing the plunger. The reason you cut the diaphragm is that it has to be a specific length to correctly fill and still fit in the pen. From the tip that goes into the pellet cup to the open end of it should be 1 and 1/16 inches long. It did not stretch because it was brand new, and the new ones come cut to differing lengths so you have to cut it to the correct size. Hope this answers your question, and hope you are enjoying your grandfather's, and now your, pen!
after watching these 2 videos, the vacumatic pen is one I'm gonna avoid. just too many specialized tools and procedures to rehab one...
Is it possible to replace the clip and broken cap stud? Great video BTW!
Dave, I am uploading a video in reply, it is titled "Parker Vacumatic Cap Jewel/Clip Removal. Hope it answers your question. Thanks for your interest.
+Parker51Guy Thanks looking forward to it, just a recently retired guy looking to develop a new hobby!
I use 100% vegetable glycerin. Should be readily available at your local druggists.
Thank you. Now I think even though I don't have any prior experience with Parker Vacuumatics, I might have enough information to fix my pens. The pellet was a real mystery to me. I got as far as opening up my pens and now I'm waiting for diaphragms, a feed and a section to come in the mail. In the meantime I will follow your example and get the graphite in a tube and the food -grade glycerine.
Thanks again.
Brilliant!