How long should the new sac be in relation to the lever box?

[Pen Tom]

I should probably know this after years of owning, collection and using pre 1930 Waterman pens.
I just replaced the rubber sac on one of my pens and was wondering if there is an ideal length of the sac in relation to the lever box?

I tend to leave about an inch or so beyond the back of the lever box.
It seems that if the sac is much longer than the lever box, the area behind the box would not get totally cleaned out. But the longer sac would hold more ink.
But I'm really not sure.

[Schaumburg_Swan]

Hi Tom,

I've always kept the sac as long as possible, no problems.
Gratulations on the BLACK! :-)

Best
Jens

[FredRydr]

...I tend to leave about an inch or so beyond the back of the lever box.
It seems that if the sac is much longer than the lever box, the area behind the box would not get totally cleaned out....

Once the pen is restored, what is there to "clean out" between the lever box and the end of the barrel? I cut a sac to leave about 1/4-inch from the inside end of the barrel.

[Chrissy]

...I tend to leave about an inch or so beyond the back of the lever box.
It seems that if the sac is much longer than the lever box, the area behind the box would not get totally cleaned out....

Once the pen is restored, what is there to "clean out" between the lever box and the end of the barrel? I cut a sac to leave about 1/4-inch from the inside end of the barrel.

I thought it was me.

What is it that couldn't be cleaned out? The sac is always totally cleaned out so it must be something left in the end of the barrel and whatever that is it probably should not be there.

[Stands on Feet]

I thought Tom was saying that if the sac was too long, it would be hard to clean the ink out of it when one flushes the pen.

[FredRydr]

If cleaning out meant flushing the sac, I submit flushing is achieved by turbulence of clean water through the ink channels and the sac. The portion of the sac that extends beyond the pressure bar, let alone the lever box, will be flushed by that turbulence.

[Deb]

The sac is measured to the barrel. It's placement with regard to the lever box is irrelevant. When flushing the whole sac is rinsed; there's no area beyond the lever box that is left out.

[Pen Tom]

...I tend to leave about an inch or so beyond the back of the lever box.
It seems that if the sac is much longer than the lever box, the area behind the box would not get totally cleaned out....

Once the pen is restored, what is there to "clean out" between the lever box and the end of the barrel? I cut a sac to leave about 1/4-inch from the inside end of the barrel.

I meant "clean out" the ink residue behind the lever box that is in the sac. In other words, if the sac fills the entire barrel, the part of the sac that is behind the lever box might be harder to get clean.
Maybe I'm all wrong on this, maybe its my cleaning OCD.

[Pen Tom]

The sac is measured to the barrel. It's placement with regard to the lever box is irrelevant. When flushing the whole sac is rinsed; there's no area beyond the lever box that is left out.

Thanks Deb, I think that explains it best. I've been cutting my sacs too short.

[Pen Tom]

Hi Tom,

I've always kept the sac as long as possible, no problems.
Gratulations on the BLACK! :-)

Best
Jens

Thank you Jens, The BLACK was not mine, I just commented on it. I wish that it was mine
Tom

[Pen Tom]

I thought Tom was saying that if the sac was too long, it would be hard to clean the ink out of it when one flushes the pen.

Exactly, thank you

[Pen Tom]

Thank you to everyone for clearing this up for me