• Thanks for visiting The Penturners Forum today.

    There are many features and resources that currently you are unable to see or access, either because you're not yet registered, or if you're already registered, because you're not logged in.

    To gain full access to the forum, please log in or register now. Registration is completely free, it only takes a few seconds, and you can join our well established community of like-minded pen makers.

Ink proofing cap of wood pens

Tony

Full Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2020
Posts
78
Location
Wiltshire
First Name
Tony
Hi all, sorry if this question has been posted before.

I am using one of my all wood fountain pens and notice that ink is being absorbed through the wood in the cap. This is an all wood pen so no metal tubing.

There’s probably not much I can do with this pen but for future builds the only option I can conceive to minimise this happening is a few coats of spray varnish in the cap (likely to affect the cut thread when spraying). How do people overcome this issue?
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,340
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
Cause and effect principles apply for all to see with fountain pens. Ink is introduced using refills etc ,travelling in aircraft you need to empty your pen of ink or have it full,it is in the aeroplane taking off where the atmosphere pressure can cause leaking. Pens need regular cleaning etc etc. So much for leakage,now the subject of ink seeping into the timber would require some form of treatment or inner capping. Honestly very few people talk about this problem in my experience.

My conclusion is to have other pens other ie than fountain pens where physical forces abound and travel included.

One way I can see to assist would be a sleeve inside the cap or other than spray CA coating before the threading.Good luck with this question it is valid and necessary IMHO.

Peter.
 

Tony

Full Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2020
Posts
78
Location
Wiltshire
First Name
Tony
Thanks for the response Peter and Mark.

I'm actually not sure why the pen leaked - it's a v decent nib. My guess it will be something like residue from having recently filled the ink converter. I also recently flew back from Athens without emptying the ink which won't of helped :rolling:

That being said, I would imagine that ink leaking would be an occupational hazard of sorts. I'd be really interested in whether other people have figured that into their design/ have a solution or would expect a reasonable amount of precautions to be taken.
 

Phil Dart

Moderator
Executive Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Posts
5,455
Location
Colebrooke, Devon
First Name
Phil
You're right Tony, it's an occupational hazard, and it would be naive to think that a fountain pen is never going to leak during it's lifetime for some reason or another. I think the only solution to the wood absorption problem you have though is to do what you've already suggested, or something along those lines. I would be tempted to construct the inside of the cap then soak it is a bath of sealant before constructing the outside. You can spruce up the inside, including the threads, once it's dry, and the outside won't be effected in regard to what ever finish you want to apply, because you still have some tooling to do.
 

Tony

Full Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2020
Posts
78
Location
Wiltshire
First Name
Tony
"I would be tempted to construct the inside of the cap then soak it is a bath of sealant before constructing the outside".

Thanks Phil - nice idea.
 

Curly

Graduate Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2019
Posts
420
Location
RM of Aberdeen, Saskatchewan, Canada
First Name
Peter
Generally the best practice is to make the pen with a thin ebonite liner that also has the threads. The wood is then made as a sleeve glued over the ebonite. If you don't care for ebonite pick you favourite plastic. I ain't done it but will someday. :whistling:

Pete
 
Warning! This thread has not had any replies for over a year. You are welcome to post a reply here, but it might be better to start a new thread (and maybe include a link to this one if you need to).
Top