Knock out blocks and their opposites?

[CS388]

Hello all.

I've never had a proper block for knocking out nibs. I've usually just drilled the correct(ish) sized hole in a block of wood and banged them out.
It has always worked - as long as I've drilled deep enough. (That's a mistake you only make once and learn your lesson quickly - fortunately, it was only an old junk pen, in my case)

But I write this post to ask: How do you put the nibs/feeds back in?
I usually just push them back into place with my hands. Once again, this has worked so far.
But it's a step which is often undescribed in step by step instructions - often simply stating Replace the nib and feed.

Any other methods out there? Any specialist tools or tips? Or is it so obvious that the question is laughable?

No urgency here. Just wondering.
But will soon be re-assembling a modern 146 (when the new sleeve arrives)

Thanks.

[Manny]

I use a spark plug plier/tool thing to hold the nib and feed together, then on a flat hard surface, I push them into the section until the bottom of the feed is flush with the bottom of the section.

[carlos.q]

Would you be so kind as to provide a photo of this "spark plug/plier tool"?

[Manny]

Would you be so kind as to provide a photo of this "spark plug/plier tool"?

[carlos.q]

Would you be so kind as to provide a photo of this "spark plug/plier tool"?

Thanks a lot for the photo! I would have never figured this thing out.
Just goes to show you how much I know about car repair...

[gweddig]

I have a few tricks, others with more expertise may chime in to correct me. I heat the section to start with and use a little water to lubricate the reentry process.

Before one knocks out the nib/feed I have found it helpful to note how deep the nib should seat by making a note of the distance from the edge of the section to a spot on the nib. I find it reassuring to know I'm not over or under doing it. Alternatively one can note how far from the back of the section the feed sits but this doesn't help with the nib depth.

Look on the inside of the section with a light, can you see the imprint of where the nib rested? That is (generally) the best place to return it. The inside diameter (id) of the section often slightly out of round, if one can find the spot where the nib needs to rest, the job will be easier. Sometimes putting the nib/feed in dry and lightly rotating it will help find the sweet spot but a visual indication is best, sometimes I even mark it with tape on the outside of the section.

Pay attention to how the nib lines up with the feed, can you see the spot on the feed that the nib rested against? Line it up there. Look at how the feed and the nib line up, should be oriented so the ink channels align with the nib slit. Seems obvious but worth saying.

This is the point where I start to use heat on the section, sometimes I will use a small piece of rubber sac or hose, slit down the side, to help me hold the nib/feed in alignment while I seat them. (and protect my fingers from nib impalement)

Then carefully push it in paying attention not to over-insert. I may lightly rotate (jiggle really) the assembly back and forth to make sure it's fully seated.

This represents the rantings of an amateur, your experience may vary.

--greg

[CS388]

Great advice. Thanks, all.

Good tip about lining up the feed, Greg.
The 146 I'm about to re-assemble has a perfect imprint of the feed on the underside of the nib - might be the first time they've ever been separated since the pen was built (probably 1970s). I'll be sure to leave this imprint in place and only clean up the top (visible surface) of the nib. This pen had a perfect flow and I'd like to keep it that way when it goes back together. (It was only dismantled because the feeder sleeve had cracked) - the imprint will allow me to put the feed and nib back into the exact same relationship as previously. Fingers crossed.

Quick snap of the imprint



May even invest in a pair of spark-plug pliers, if I'm feeling lavish.

Thanks again, everyone. Much appreciated.`

[Chi Town]

Hi, for the INSTALL of the NIB AND FEED;
1st - I mark the section with white out, a product found at staples or Walmart, to show where the feed was!
2nd - I Heat up very carefully the section....
3rd - I use a pair of pliers made just for this job of installing the Nib and FEED. These were made by the Parker Pen Co. And cost me about 50.00. They are not infallible as I have broken only 1 feed in using them! But by and large they are fantastic and typically can get the FEED and nib back to the position I want them into....if heat does not do it, I just might use a little silicone around the edges of the section, and between the two, I find it works!

[kirchh]

Hi, for the INSTALL of the NIB AND FEED;
1st - I mark the section with white out, a product found at staples or Walmart, to show where the feed was!

Wite-Out contains naphtha, which is a solvent for celluloid. I don't recommend applying it to external pen parts unless one is quite certain there will be no deleterious effects.

--Daniel

[Chi Town]

i just apply a dot and then remove it when i am finished