Lost an old friend!

[woodwish]

About 4 years ago I turned my first pen, a 24k European from CSUSA in walnut. I have used it faithfully everyday, never lost it (although I did dig through a trash can once to retrieve it), finish worn completely off the metal, and used maybe 15-18 refills. This past weekend it ended up in the pocket of a shirt I washed, and didn't find it until the dryer finished. Remarkably it doesn't look any worse, actually maybe cleaner, and still writes some. Replaced the refill but the twist mechanism seems to not be working right.

So should I attempt to replace the mechanism and hope I don't destroy the pen? Retire it to a place of honor and start using a newer (and much nicer) pen? Use it as is and remind myself to not wash my own cloths again? Have a cold beer and worry about it later? [?]

 

[TellicoTurning]

Have a beer, put it up in a place of honor, get a new pen, and move on... won't comment on the laundry.. my wife takes care of that for me.

 

[Firefyter-emt]

Just like an old car that needs a new motor... Put a new tranny in it and keep using it. (or would that be more like and old car that blew the tranny??) []

 

[txbob]

Try lubricating the twist mechanism before you replace it.
txbob

 

[les-smith]

Retire it with honor and turn another pen. Turn the new pen with someone special, your child, parent or friend. Then that pen will be as special as the first. You will be able to use your new pen for the next four years with the memory of who you made it with. Sure you could probably fix the pen, but here's an oportunity to make a pen that will be as special as the first. Then you'll have two special pens.

 

[Randy_]

Ray: Since this was your first pen, I would retire it and make a new one for your daily use. Lots of folks sold or gave away their "FIRST" pen and are now sorry they don't still have it!! (I still have mine!!)

As to repair, that should not be a problem. I really can't imagine that washing a pen would do much more than remove a little of the lubricant from the tranny. I agree with the earlier suggestion to re-lubricate it with a drop or two of 3 in 1 oil or something similar. The original lubrication was some sort of a grease; but it may not be possible to get more grease into the mechanism. If the re-lubing doesn't work, it should be easy enough to pull out the old transmission and press in a new one if you so desire.

Good luck!!

 

[wudnhed]

Fix it, give it honor and have the beer.....LOML lost his yesterday. Second time........ but I think it's gone for good this time[]

 

[stevers]

If it's special to you, fix it an keep using it. If it's time to treat yourself to something new, well there you go.

 

[GaryMGg]

No pic, didn't happen
Bwahahahahahahahahahaha.

[]


Give your pen a cold beer and turn a new one. Keep the old one in the empty can -- that's probably its first beer, right? []
ps: don't take advice from a guy who gave away his first pen. []

 

[ilikewood]

Mine was a teak cigar....lost it out of my pocket while on my riding lawn mower. Didn't survive too well when I ran it over next lap around. At least yours is repairable![]

 

[Ozzy]

Have the beer, replace the tranny and continue using the pen as a testamony of your work. I wouldn't retire it until it is completely worn out.