A little Sheaffer's TD help

[jzuzphreek]

Guys, I posted this question over at FPN, and after 20 views and not a single reply, I'm still in need of help.

I have a Sheaffer Touchdown (I'm pretty sure it's a Craftsman model) and am trying to remove the nib for cleaning. I'm almost positive these nibs remove, but are they friction fit or screwed into the section? I don't want to force it to do something it's not designed to do. Any help?

Here's a bad picture of the pen in question.

 

[syngent]

Doug Nemo, or Brian may know, sorry Jessy I've never had one to take apart before but you know someone will be along with an answer shortly

 

[Rockminer]

You have plenty of friends here Jessy. ( me included ) Having said that, I can be of exactly ZERO help to you, on this subject. Just wanted to support ya Bro.

 

[strop]

I would only remove the nib if you absolutley have to. If it writes well now and doesn't need adjustment, you may have a difficult time getting it back. If soaking doesn't work you can remove the sac and flush it some that way. If you must remove the nib and feed, I'm pretty sure you'll need to use a knockout block, and carefully.

 

[nemo]

Those nibs don't remove. You shouldn't need to get it out except to replace it -- you'll need a knockout block and a very special punch.

Do all your soaking and cleaning with it in the section, trying to pull on it will damage the feed.

 

[jzuzphreek]

NOW he tells me!

Well that's good to know. Then, I wonder which models of Sheaffer's pens have interchangeable nibs.

I guess I have to change the ink out the old fashioned way.

Squeeze
Release
Squeeze
Release (repeat 46,584 times)

 

[strop]

If you're just talking about routine use, yeah, that's about right. I thought you had a really stubborn one you were trying to rehab.

I'm convinced that when these pens were in common use by everyone, most people did not frquently change color or brands of ink very often. Most people simply refilled from the same bottle with the same color. When I got the pens from my father there were two half empty bottles of Scrip. One blue-black the other blue. As far as my father could remember, he never used anything else. Thorough flushing to change ink color was something that just never occured to him.

 

[jzuzphreek]

If you're just talking about routine use, yeah, that's about right. I thought you had a really stubborn one you were trying to rehab.

I'm convinced that when these pens were in common use by everyone, most people did not frquently change color or brands of ink very often. Most people simply refilled from the same bottle with the same color. When I got the pens from my father there were two half empty bottles of Scrip. One blue-black the other blue. As far as my father could remember, he never used anything else. Thorough flushing to change ink color was something that just never occured to him.

And we call those the good ol' days! Harumph!

 

[ChefJohnBoy-ardee]

My inherited Sheaffer TD will only ever have blue ink in it. Its all Grandma used and everything it touches is blue lol.

Nemo and strop beat me to needing a knock out block... darnit!

 

[strop]

I'll refrain from posting next time. Sorry

 

[ChefJohnBoy-ardee]

I'll refrain from posting next time. Sorry

Its fine. LOL. I started a second job so I'm only on B&B a fraction of what I was. As much as I like the nib, I like working for a high end restaurant and making money to buy more vintage Sheaffers more

 

[syngent]

And we call those the good ol' days! Harumph!

Jessy i dont think you are old enough to have "good ol' days" yet

 

[ChefJohnBoy-ardee]

Jessy i dont think you are old enough to have "good ol' days" yet

People were happy to have something other than blue or black!!!! We take Noodler's for granted lol

 

[jzuzphreek]

Jessy i dont think you are old enough to have "good ol' days" yet

Ah... almost 30. I remember a little of the 80s and 90s. Cartoons were better back then. Comic books were still cool. And I didn't have to work. Good 'nuff for me.

That said, I think I'm one of the rare "young" people who still really appreciates and tries to understand all the sacrifices that were made by generations gone by to make life what it is today (good and bad).

People were happy to have something other than blue or black!!!! We take Noodler's for granted lol

You mean there was such a thing as just BLUE and just BLACK?!!

 

[strop]

Of course not

 

[jzuzphreek]

Of course notView attachment 307481

Well sock me sideways!

 

[Liberty_2112]

You need to embrace the flushing of a vintage fountain pen as an enjoyable experience. It takes a few days, but is well worth it. I enjoy it.

My advice, only use water. I don't buy into the dish soap or pen cleaner routines. They just become one more thing that needs to be flushed.

I say fill, empty, fill, empty, etc until the water runs clean. Then fill it and leave it on its side for 24 hours. Repeat the process of fill, empty, fill until clear. Repeat the 24 hour side routine. Do this until a 24 hour sit period still produces clear water. Then you are done!

For me, it's worth the wait. It gives me a reason to have multiple pens in rotation. I keep 4 pens in writing rotation and usually have at least one or two in a soaking rotation at any given time.

All that said, I agree with Strop & Nemo. Knock out block is the only true way to do it, and that should only be done if absolutely necessary.

 

[nemo]

Here is a pic of the feed, your drift would need to accommodate the fragile hard rubber wick.

It's also not recommended to remove the nib/feed from most vintage pens because the sections have ovalized slightly over the years and when the parts are re-inserted they are tough to get back exactly as they were -- sometimes leading to leaks. Just take an old pen and spin it in your fingers and you will feel the section isn't perfectly round anymore.

 

[Liberty_2112]

It's also not recommended to remove the nib/feed from most vintage pens because the sections have ovalized slightly over the years and when the parts are re-inserted they are tough to get back exactly as they were -- sometimes leading to leaks.

I completely agree with Nemo here. If you think getting it out without damaging the nib will be difficult, just wait until you have to put it back in.

Embrace the flush.