Repair Cracked MB 221 barrel

[azkid]

I broke my Edelharz! My newly arrived MB 221 has stress cracks in the barrel around the nib at the vees designed into the barrel opening due, likely, to pressure on the nib transferred to the barrel.



Any thoughts on what I could do to stabilize the cracks and reinforce the area?

I am tossing over some options in my head...

If indeed Edelharz is simply acrylic (cf various FPN posts) and if MEK or similar could weld the cracks without causing crazing, I may give that a go.

I am also contemplating options to reinforce the nib end of the barrel. I might be able to affix an external metal sleeve which would be ugly but since the pen is basically a fantastic nib surrounded by unusable junk at this point, I don't care.

Or depending on the barrel design maybe I could try to fabricate a replacement out of stronger material. I have a feeling that will be beyond my skills.

Or I could just sell it for parts. However, I have a feeling that the most likely breakages are the ones on my pen -- cap and barrel -- if posts and ebay listings are to be believed. :/

I could try to find a parts pen but see above. And I don't really want to throw good money after bad.

Any thoughts? Thanks much.

[FredRydr]

This is an extremely difficult repair for a pen that will see any use again. The design wasn't the greatest, and failures aren't all that uncommon. Parts are impossible from my experience. If it was my pen, I'd offer it for parts, and be prepared to accept not much more than pennyweight for the nib. The alternative is to put it aside and be very very patient.

[azkid]

Thanks FredRydr. That's kind of what I thought. I won't make any rash moves at the moment.

[penwash]

I am looking for an MB 221 piston assembly. If yours is working, I'll be a buyer for your pen should you decided to sell it as parts.

[azkid]

Mine is the c/c version. Guessing you're looking for the Piston filler version?

And, on that topic, the converter piston leaks too... So it is kind of a lemon all around. Lesson learned.

[penwash]

Mine is the c/c version. Guessing you're looking for the Piston filler version?

And, on that topic, the converter piston leaks too... So it is kind of a lemon all around. Lesson learned.

Ah yes, I forgot that the 221 came in two flavors. So sorry that you can't enjoy that pen.

[azkid]

It's a bummer. I got to write with it a few times then noticed all the ink on my fingers. Drat.

[FredRydr]

You could send it to Brad Torelli. If anyone can repair the plastic, it'll be him.

[azkid]

I found a lower barrel listed for a 24, but it looks identical in shape, so I will give that a try.

[jmccarty3]

I had one that cracked like this. I sent photos to Brad and he said it was not repairable. Somehow I remember reading that the burgundy 221s were more likely to crack than the black ones. Is this true?

Fortunately, I was able to buy a NOS 221R, and it writes like a dream. I am very careful with it.

[azkid]

Great news! I found and ordered 2 replacement barrels from a Thailand seller. They arrived today and fit perfectly. I'll test the pen tomorrow for leaks. The converter is still kind of sketchy but at least there is hope of using this thing again.

[Jon Szanto]

Great news! I found and ordered 2 replacement barrels from a Thailand seller. They arrived today and fit perfectly. I'll test the pen tomorrow for leaks. The converter is still kind of sketchy but at least there is hope of using this thing again.

That is excellent!

[azkid]

The new part has a sort of brushed finish. I guess could polish it but it doesn't bug me. Maybe another day.

No leaks so far. Converter isn't leaking yet (didn't retract piston into the looser part of the tube).

[FredRydr]

It boggles the imagination why someone would manufacture these parts. You are very fortunate. How did you find these parts? Deep deep Googling?

[azkid]

They were sold as NOS parts for a different model but it looked to be exactly the same as what I needed (except for the finish). I lucked out on my eBay searches after a few weeks of frequent searching.