Thanks Al and Meredith regarding sourcing ink writing stylus for = helicorder. I guess I will stick with the thermal stylus that is on the = unit for the time being and contact Geotech and see if I can afford an = exact replacement. James Allen ----- Original Message -----=20 From: meredith lamb=20 To: psn-l@................. Sent: Saturday, October 24, 2009 2:38 PM Subject: Re: TELEDYNE-GEOTECH HELICORDER James, Perhaps Geotech might have such as Al Hrubetz suggests...but being as = ink stylus writing went out long ago...one may have to resort to other (surplus...read: junk or = unknown condition substitutes) brands. The tips of worn pens usually gets worn out or abrasively flattened to = where the ink flow smears all over the place; rather than flow evenly and write with little snagging = "sharpened" pen tip effect...as you likely already know. I've never = figured out how to "round out" or "smooth the outside and inside" of the = writing tips to effectively, re-use such. Sometimes....the pen tip isn't exactly flat to the writing drum = surface (the prior tube gets bent up, down or sideways...and this condition will give the impression that the pen = isn't working...you might check that first....in all directions of movement. Heated (electrical resistance) tips might be a consideration, but the = thermal paper prices are out of this world for obtaining and prices are the same of course. If you want to eventually take it email private, I do have a "junk = box" assortment of other brand pens; that ~~~might~~~be mechanically = adaptable if all else fails. It might involve cutting, solder or glue = or other monstrocities of the original pen. If you have a accurate micrometer = or vernier gauge that tells the outside and (rough) inside diameter of = the pen; that "might" help. Chances are probably poor for a match; and = it may involve you "adapting" a different brand or size. There is zero = guarantee of my junk; they may be worn out also, or dried ink clogged; = I've not used such for many years...it can be extremely frustrating to = fuss with and get a "good" one. Meredith Lamb =20 On Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 1:56 PM, James Allen= wrote: Does anyone have or know of a place where I can obtain a replacement = ink dispensing writing stylus for a Teledyne-Geotech Helicorder? Thanks James Allen Thanks Al and Meredith regarding = sourcing ink=20 writing stylus for helicorder. I guess I will stick with the = thermal=20 stylus that is on the unit for the time being and contact Geotech and = see if I=20 can afford an exact replacement.James Allen----- Original Message -----From:=20 meredith lambSent: Saturday, October 24, = 2009 2:38=20 PMSubject: Re: TELEDYNE-GEOTECH=20 HELICORDERJames,Perhaps Geotech might have such as Al Hrubetz suggests...but = being as ink=20 stylus writing went outlong ago...one may have to resort to other (surplus...read: junk = or=20 unknown condition substitutes) brands.The tips of worn pens usually gets worn out or abrasively = flattened to=20 where the ink flow smears all overthe place; rather than flow evenly and write with little snagging = "sharpened" pen tip effect...as you likely already know. I've = never=20 figured out how to "round out" or "smooth the outside and inside" of=20 the writing tips to effectively, re-use such.Sometimes....the pen tip isn't exactly flat to the writing drum = surface=20 (the prior tube gets bent up, downor sideways...and this condition will give the impression that = the pen=20 isn't working...you might checkthat first....in all directions of movement.Heated (electrical resistance) tips might be a consideration, but = the=20 thermal paper prices are out of thisworld for obtaining and prices are the same of course.If you want to eventually take it email private, I do have a = "junk box"=20 assortment of other brand pens; that ~~~might~~~be mechanically = adaptable if=20 all else fails. It might involve cutting, solder or glue or = othermonstrocities of the original pen. If you have a accurate=20 micrometer or vernier gauge that tells the outside and (rough) inside = diameter=20 of the pen; that "might" help. Chances are probably poor = for a=20 match; and it may involve you "adapting" a different brand or = size. =20 There is zero guarantee of my junk; they may be worn out also, or = dried ink=20 clogged; I've not used such for many years...it can be extremely=20 frustrating to fuss with and get a "good" one.Meredith Lamb