J-bar: replace or fix?

[AzJon]

So this J-bar broke during repair:

https://i.imgur.com/kdc6fna.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/o2cZ7Ie.jpg

I'm assuming its made of brass. Should I solder it back together or will a different J-bar replacement work? its 63.25mm long and came out of an old Eclipse pen.

[AzJon]

Or, I assume, I can just get some brass sheet metal and bend it over to make a new one?

[Lexaf]

Most old j bars are made of a sort of bronze alloy, afaik. This is much stronger than brass and has a better spring power. It also easily breaks when its bend in or out too far. A problem then is that this material is quite difficult to solder and -worse- the spring power will not be restored, the j-bar will break again at the solder joint as soon as pressure is applied. Later lever filler pens sometimes worked with stainless steel j bars, that are much springier and have a much longer if not infinite life time. E.g Esterbrook lever fillers have/had steel j bars.

Solution to your problem with a broken bronze (?) j-bar: order a new steel one! They are for sale on-line at several sites.
Google on ' fountain pen j bar ' and find -among others:
https://www.vintagepensacsandparts.com/product.php/367/2/j_bar_pressure_bar_fountain_pens
https://andersonpens.com/54-mm-j-bar/
http://www.indy-pen-dance.com/J-Pressure-Bars.html
There are more than just these 3 sellers
Average price is 'round us$5,- a piece.

Another interesting site is this one:
https://www.thepenmarket.com/vintage-pens-blog/2013/11/make-your-own-j-pressure-bars/
Indeed, make your own!

Hope this info helps.

[AzJon]

Anderson and Indy-pen-dance are sold out.

I think I'll just make it! That is basically what is in there now. I can also make sure it is to the correct size and don't feel like spending the money to get it shipped from UK.

Thanks!

[AzJon]

I do have some silver bezel wire lying around that is the right dimensions, but I don't imagine I'll get it to work-harden enough to be springy.

[Farmboy]

Buy a lot of crappy low end pens for 20 bucks on eBay and harvest the parts.

[azkid]

Post pics when you're done?

I have a couple of Esterbrooks needing J bars so I would be curious to see what you come up with.

My only concern with brass-- doesn't it work harden?

[FredRydr]

http://pentooling.com

[azkid]

I see the pendragons has them too, website or Etsy. They're in UK though.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/240604217/replacement-j-pressure-and-a-bars-for

Another thought, one can get spring steel strip and fabricate. I think I will skip on that though.

[Lexaf]

Buy a lot of crappy low end pens for 20 bucks on eBay and harvest the parts.

That is what I do regularly. I love cheap job lots, the more pens in a lot the better. If you're lucky they will provide the re-usable parts - such as j bars and p bars - that one needs. Junk pens are also good for clips, cap rings, end caps and jewels, sections and feeders. When you are really lucky, you'll find usable gold nibs.
For top and end caps one often needs a (small) lathe to reshape and make them fit. Barrels and caps are seldom reusable, unless they are in an undamaged condition and come from known brands and or models. With popular pens such as P45's or Esterbrooks I successfully rebuilt and completed several pens with the use of spare parts from junk job lots.
The disadvantage is that you end up with boxes of assorted parts that you do not need and never will use again. But as long as these junk pens are lever fillers or button fillers they are indeed very good for j bars and pressure bars, as long as these metal parts are not broken or completely rusted. Oh, and pressure buttons from demolition button fillers are also always welcome of course as these are very difficult to get as new (old stock) separate spare parts. Demolition piston filler - and vacuum filler parts are more difficult for recycling, as they are often very model - or design specific.

[AzJon]

Buy a lot of crappy low end pens for 20 bucks on eBay and harvest the parts.

Oh for the love of...

I actually have a bag of a few pens under my desk from exactly that situation.

Y'all, I can be real damn dumb sometimes.


Post pics when you're done?

I have a couple of Esterbrooks needing J bars so I would be curious to see what you come up with.

My only concern with brass-- doesn't it work harden?

The brass would just need to be cut and formed. Some work hardening would be a good thing for springiness.

[Lexaf]

... I actually have a bag of a few pens under my desk from exactly that situation....

If you do not know what to with it... you can always send it to me! :crazy_pilot:

[azkid]

The disadvantage is that you end up with boxes of assorted parts that you do not need and never will use again.

Spare parts? Heck, I could practically build another Jeep with what's in the garage. At least pen parts are small.

For now I ordered new J-Bars.

[AzJon]

The disadvantage is that you end up with boxes of assorted parts that you do not need and never will use again.

Spare parts? Heck, I could practically build another Jeep with what's in the garage. At least pen parts are small.

For now I ordered new J-Bars.

I mean, it really should be a pretty easy job. The J-bar that was in mine was .5mm thick. Granted, getting a little groove down the middle would require a bit of an extra step, but I don't think it would be that hard (or necessary, depending your perspective) and brass flashing at a hardware store is cheap. For $10 you could probably get enough brass to make 10 J-bars. Though, there is something to be said for convenience.

[azkid]

I mean, it really should be a pretty easy job. The J-bar that was in mine was .5mm thick. Granted, getting a little groove down the middle would require a bit of an extra step, but I don't think it would be that hard (or necessary, depending your perspective) and brass flashing at a hardware store is cheap. For $10 you could probably get enough brass to make 10 J-bars. Though, there is something to be said for convenience.

Agreed. Kind of a time vs. money aspect for me as well. I'm sure at some point I will have to try making my own. But... Later. :)

[Spideysgirl]

I don't think the old j bars are worth fixing when they are broken. Replacing it is definitely the way to go.

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