Pro tip: skip the fancy 'vintage' fountain pen kits online

Honestly I spent $60 on one of those restoration kits for a vintage fountain pen I got at a thrift store. The rubber sac replacement was way harder than the video showed and I ended up ruining the nib trying to force it. Next time I'll just grab a pack of cheap disposable pens from the grocery aisle for $3. Has anyone else had bad luck with those DIY repair kits?

2 comments

2 Comments

pat3601mo ago

I read somewhere that some vintage pen restorers warn those kits use cheap parts that crack over time.

eva_lewis1mo ago

Those cheap rubber sac replacements in some kits, I heard they can get brittle and crack within like 2 years if you use certain inks. I think the main issue is the plastic feeds and nibs they substitute - they're not made from the same old celluloid or ebonite. Do you know if those kits also come with the right size o-rings for the piston or do they just toss in mismatched ones that don't seal right?