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Thread: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

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    Default Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    I recently acquired a vintage Sheaffer Balance lever-filler and the section no longer friction-fits in the barrel well enough for it to stay put. It's not a huge difference - it's just enough that it won't stay put. I don't have much experience with celluloid lever fillers. I'm about to put a new sac on it and will test it well before I put the barrel back on so I don't anticipate having to open it for a long time.

    Should I use shellac for the section/barrel junction? Or what?
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    Senior Member jos's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    I guess that you were going to use shellac anyway to close the pen, so I would wait and see whether that works. It should work of the fitting is not too loose.

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    Default Re: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    If you were to ask Ron Zorn, a member here and the repairer at Main Street Pens, he would use the product he sells and recommends for Sheaffer pens rather than shellac.
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    Default Re: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    I would add a touch of shellac if it is a close but loose fit. (When you have to remove the section again, keep in mind the heat range between softening the shellac and damaging the celluloid.) If still too loose (presumably the celluloid barrel is to blame), you'll either have to try other old Sheaffer sections you have available for a better fit, or your section will require some modification on a lathe (e.g., a black hard rubber sleeve).

    By any chance, is there a crack across the barrel threads?

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    Default Re: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    Quote Originally Posted by FredRydr View Post
    By any chance, is there a crack across the barrel threads?
    No cracks on this pen. Other than this particular problem, there are no other issues and it's in really nice condition. (Marine green, standard size, no dot, flattened ball clip end - very pretty pen.)

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    Default Re: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    Shellac is the common substance, and you’ve already got it out to glue the sac to the nipple.

    Fred’s caution about celluloid is on point, and the stuff continues to age, deform, become brittle, etc…. Shouldn’t be an issue, but devastating things happen randomly sometimes…

    I use a rosin/castor oil mix, which Omas used to seal threaded sections (and I suppose is what Ron’s thread sealant is). You can mix it to different levels of tackiness/brittleness, (rosin is near crystalline and castor oil is, well, oil) but making it is tedious. Especially if you’re making different batches in differing consistencies for different uses. A member named Flounder has a set of posts about it. Here is the first of his blog posts about it.
    "A truth does not mind being questioned. A lie does not like being challenged."

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    Default Re: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    I think I will go the easy route and use a small dot of shellac.

    Thanks all.

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    Senior Member Ron Z's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    The thread sealant that I make and sell is designed for threaded joints only, and acts like pipe dope for pens. It does not harden and is very sticky. NOTE: Anticipating the question: don't use pipe dope to seal threads on pens. Don't even think about it.

    Sheaffer evidently did use shellac to secure barrels, but it can make it more difficult to get the section out in the future if used as an adhesive to hold the section in the pen. On sections that screw in, especially on Sheaffer plunger fillers, using shellac can make it nearly impossible if not outright impossible to unscrew the section without damaging the pen. Even worse on Triumph nib pens.

    The best thing to do is to apply a layer of shellac to the shoulder of the section that fits into the barrel and let it dry. Shellac dries fairly quickly, and it should be hard enough to test in a couple of hours. So let it dry, and then test to see how it fits. If it's a bit too snug, warm section and barrel to soften the shellac a bit as you press the section into the barrel. Warming both softens the shellac a bit, and also helps to prevent cracking the barrel. Some shellac may shave off, but you'll have a snug fit. If still too loose, add another layer, wait, and try again.

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    Default Re: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    Quote Originally Posted by Ron Z View Post
    The best thing to do is to apply a layer of shellac to the shoulder of the section that fits into the barrel and let it dry. Shellac dries fairly quickly, and it should be hard enough to test in a couple of hours. So let it dry, and then test to see how it fits. If it's a bit too snug, warm section and barrel to soften the shellac a bit as you press the section into the barrel. Warming both softens the shellac a bit, and also helps to prevent cracking the barrel. Some shellac may shave off, but you'll have a snug fit. If still too loose, add another layer, wait, and try again.
    Thanks.

    The section is currently snug enough in the barrel so gravity doesn't make it fall out when the nib is pointed down. It just pulls out really easy. I suspect a single layer of shellac, or even just a single layer on a small section of the shoulder will be enough, but we shall see.

    I can't wait to put this pen into use but it looks like a size 16 sac, the largest I currently have, is a bit too much of a stretch, so I've just ordered a couple size 18 from the UK and will probably have to wait a couple weeks to make the repair.

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    Default Re: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    It may seem a bit simplistic, and certainly not a real “restoration”, but if your aim is just to enjoy writing with a nice old pen, then the fix is to wrap the part of the section that fits into the barrel with teflon “plumber’s” tape. I works great.

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    Default Re: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    It not I

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    Default Re: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    I can only wish I worked great, but I’m moribund

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    Default Re: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    Please don't. I've seen barrels that cracked from this, and on threads it makes one heck of a mess. A paper shim is even worse.

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    Default Re: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    Clearly you need to be cautious in the amount of tape used. But this is true of any intervention.

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    Senior Member Ron Z's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    I still don't do it, and don't recommend it.

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    Default Re: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    I'm with Ron on this one. I've also seen images of cracked barrels & sections due to the addition of tape and wouldn't ever add any to my pens. Not even PTFE tape that I have rarely used on some glass ink bottle threads.

    Shellac should be enough to fix it even if you have to add an extra layer because it still pulls out easily after it's dry - very unlikely.

    If it had no tape on there when you disassembled it then I would also advise against adding any now.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Sheaffer Balance - loose section

    I agree with Ron and Chrissy. PTFE has no place in pen repair.
    Regards,
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