My first Vacumatic repair

[Wade]

My first Vac repair. Took me a few weeks to build up the nerve to start the job once I had all the parts/tools gathered, but it all came apart & went back together with no drama, and the pen writes really well, lovely broad nib.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170415/3a896d0dfae6e89bed044d89e9f24b4e.jpg

[penwash]

Good job on your first Vacumatic restoration. Tell us more about it.

[rickap]

Great work! I am emboldened now! I have one in need of a diaphragm. Any chance of getting a list of special tools please.

I'm near the other end of Puget Sound.

Thanks for posting,
Rick

[Wade]

I bought all my Vac stuff at woodbin.ca, but Google is your friend, lots of good vendors selling Vacumatic repair supplies.

1. Diaphragms (duh), be sure to order the right size for your pen.
2. Vacumatic tool to remove filler from barrel... several styles are out there, I bought the aluminium block type that handles both sizes.
3. Pellet Pusher, helps to set diaphragm in place.
4. Vacumatic Breather tube in case your breather tube is hosed... pun intended.
5. Talc or graphite.
6. Glycerin (alternative to Vacumatic Lubricant).

Not strictly needed but I'd recommend...
- nib knockout block w/punches.
- good set of picks & scrapers.

Buying the tools aren't crazy expensive, but it's enough of an outlay that you had best bet sure you'll be wanting to fix up more Vacs in the future, if this is your one & only, more cost-effective to send to a pro.

Hope that helps, here are some links below to very useful instructions on Vac Repair.

http://www.richardspens.com/ref/repair/vac_diaphragm.htm

https://www.vintagepens.com/FAQrepair/sins_Vacumatic_filler_repair.shtml

http://dirck.delint.ca/beta/?page_id=720


Have fun, be patient, go slow, you'll be fine.

[ac12]

A piece of rubber gripper, I use a piece of bicycle inner tube. To hold the section to unscrew it.
A hair dryer or similar source of dry heat to loosen the section.
Go to Richard Binder's site to read up on restoring the Vac, he lists a few more tools. The one to push out the filler is needed if your is stuck.

Be careful on the Vac tools that use a screw. It is very easy to crank down too much and crush the plastic filler.

And learn how to remove the pellet without destroying the pellet cup.