Startup issues with fountain pens
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- Sometimes, your pen does not write straightaway when you uncap it, or when you haven't written for a few minutes. Does that mean your feed is broken? No, it doesn't. In this interesting (and somewhat chaotic) video, I show you some ways to get the ink flowing again. Bang!
Enjoyed this video as usual. I especially liked the dead pan delivery about one's fate if they opt for a ball point to avoid skipping. :-). Helpful and entertaining.
Glad you enjoyed it!
This helped me resurrect a 34 year old Parker 15 that I was told wouldn't ever write properly! It's amazing how simple solutions sometimes work the best!
Thank you!
I bought a new Parker Vector for a friend’s birthday. He has never had one, but loved mine. I inked it up to get it ready to give to him and spent about 20 minutes trying different methods of my own device to get it to write, but with no success. Tapping the nib on the paper worked after 5 taps and the pen works great. Thank you for the tips.
Squeezing a drop out of the cartridge into the nib worked perfectly. First time I've been able to write properly with this pen. Thanks!
You're very welcome!
“That’s part of the fountain pen experience”. Made me chuckle. This guy is adorable. Thanks for the vid
Thank you for the helpful and interesting information about an otherwise "dry" subject.
Finally, the solution to the problem that has been bothering me for almost 3 decades. Thank you, sir.
You're very welcome!
Just an update, Stephen. The Waterman Florida Blue worked magic on the nib. The difference is just amazing! Not that there's anything wrong with the Parker Quink since it works beautifully on my other pens. Now I really appreciate the importance of carefully choosing the right inks for different fountain pens. Thanks for your help, Stephen.
The last tip does the trick . thank you may you do great with the fountain pens :)
Glad this was useful.
Thank you soooo much for this video! I have a Waterman pen that went unused for several years. It was, naturally, dried out. I used the "gently squeeze a bit of ink out of the cartridge and let the nib suck it in" technique and it worked beautifully! I hereby Knight you.
Thank you, glad this was helpful.
The last tip he gave was super helpful and helped my pen to work again!
Hey Stephen! This is what I'v found - an extremely effective method to tackle start up issues in FP!
- Cleanse your pen thoroughly with water
- Then clean it with soap solution - I added few drops of dish cleaner in a mug & rinsed my already water cleaned pen in it multiple times.
- Leave the pen overnight (filled with soap solution in cartridge/converter)
- Wrap your pen in a tissue so dat it keeps on draining the solution.
- In the morning dry your pen
- Fill with Ink ! and Bingo .. no issues
A bit late but I got a Sheaffer 300 that skips after writing a couple of pages. Tried this exact same thing. Yet to see the results.
These were some very helpful hints, Stephen. BANG!
Thanks for the great tips. I've never seen anyone load the tip before. Very cool, and i bet it would be a neat way to sample an ink as well.
"Of course, that will also mean that you'll go to hell."
:-).
😂😂
Such a cute hamster! I had a fountain pen in school but I'm coming back to them now. I'm completely in love with them and cannot understand why everyone doesn't use them. Thank you so much for the video. I've bed. A bit paranoid with a new pen and you eased my anxiety!
My go-to feed tricks:
1. Remove all air from converter. (push and screw type only--and be careful, had to clean out some drops on my couch the other day)
2. Drop the pen on the paper nib first. (from only 1/2''-1'' from the paper. It seems to work better than a tap, the "shock" gets the ink a flowin')
3. Wipe the nib with a tissue reverse of the feed side from the body to the tip. (Don't use the lotion infused tissues, this works best while flex writing with the Ahab for me.)
sbrebrown Stephen, call me a fountain pen nerd, but one of my favorite CZcams video segments is when you pull up the ballpoint and say, "You'll go to hell ..." We are Christians and roared out loud (I'm converting my 19 year old son t fountain pens). I'm a big fan! Thanks for all you do!
Jeff Aman I'm glad you enjoyed it :-).
Wow, I tried everything to get my new fountain pens flowing including running the nibs under warm water. You were right - follow your steps and Bang! I was in business. Thank you.
I'm glad this was helpful!
@sbrebrown I believe Richard Binder actually recommends "swaddling": after inking the pen, wrap the nib in paper towel and let it soak for a few seconds, then wipe off any excess ink. He says that pushing out a few drops of ink isn't nearly as effective as that. He went into a bit more detail to explain why swaddling works, so let me know if you want his exact words.
Somewhat unrelated to this video: when you wipe nibs with a paper towel, tissue or cloth - even a very soft one - it scratches the nib's surface. That's why one may notice fine scratches all over nibs (gold nibs, primarily, but I'm sure the same is true for steel). That's one reason "swaddling" is recommended. I only learnt all that just now!
Thanks for the valuable tips! My ink flow improved right away. The "hell" comment was great. Cute hamster.
I'm glad this was useful.
Mr. Brown, Thank you Sir for taking the time to share your knowledge and pen experiences with us. God Bless and God Save The Queen!
George J, Texas
You're welcome!
My pen stopped working in an exam the other day when I changed cartridges. Just had a peek inside and the ball wasn't moving when I put it inside. Such a great time to have a dud haha.
I usually use a converter so I think I'll go back to using one of those.
Thanks without this video I probably wouldn't have realised :)
Thanks a lot. I recently bought a Parker Metallix and had the ink skipping in between problem, this really helped me. I was going haywire thinking that i have to get it fixed from somehwere. :D
I'm glad this was useful!
But still this skipping keep happening off and on. Is there any way to clean the nib/feed for any blockage?
I would flush it with water.
+Neil Richard Innis (NRI) Waterman Black?
hah 12 years later and you saved me, tyvm ;)
Thank you for this!! got ink all over my fingers but got my pen to flow, yeah!! Now to purchase more pens with a smaller nib:-)
Very very helpful if I have any other questions I'll be sure to watch your videos for answers and ideas!!!
I wonder if I'm the only person who sometimes uses this technique with stubborn pens (I haven't read all the comments): Cap the pen, hold it downwards, and give it a vigorous shaking (about four shakes at a try). The centrifugal force will bring ink into the nib--if not on the first try then with repetition. It may also bring ink into the cap, which you will have to clean out, but by this means you avoid the risk of damaging your nib or spilling ink.
Thanks for the video. I usually just keep a small pot of water on my desk and dip my fountain pen (nib and feed only) quickly in it. This has always kick started any pen I was using that stopped writing. I have an Noodler's Ahab and I find the feeds on those pens dry very fast and dipping in water really helps there.
"of course, it will also mean you'll go to hell..." brilliant. I act the same to my friends who look at me weird when I refuse to write with a ballpoint.
Lol I was going to say your pens are so obedient, glad that I am not the only one having pens that leak out ink at the most inappropriate time. It was a great video, really helpful. Could you please give some tips on how to store fountain pens? Thank you so much :)
The very best summary of causes/solutions to hard-starting (and/or skipping problems) with fountain pens can be found in a FountainPenNetwork (dot) com "pinned thread" in the Writing Instruments forum entitled "Five Bad Things That Happen With New Pens". I *highly* recommend reading this! In a pinch, I have been known to shake a fountain pen (with a tissue paper wrapped around its nib) gently to start the ink flowing. I've also dipped it in a cup of water (but it does dilute the ink, at first).
that line "you're going to hell" got me cracking up laughing.
I wet the nib using damp paper towel to quickly get the pen started without diluting the ink. Also make sure new pens are fully cleaned and flushed before inking to get rid of factory residues or debris. I once crushed a nib by accidentally banging it against the page. Oops.
This was so helpful! You are amazing!!! Thank you.
I was lucky that my 1st pen worked right away. No problem at all.
This happens with my new Levenger L-Tech 3.0. After a while, the flow decreases, then is unstable and then stops - I have to squeeze the cartridge until I see the ink coming onto nib again. It is almost like using dip pen instead of fountain pen.
I originally thought the problem is with a paper (too greasy) but the problem does not occur in other fountain pens I had.
Thanks for the video - I will try other type of ink and see.
once, I stopped using fountain pens for a week and when I went back to fountain pens, it felt like magic!
Very very helpful, I'll be sure to check out your other videos for ideas as well.
I too was horrified to hear you recommend...one of those pens! I'm glad I kept listening for the final end.
I have used a couple other methods to pretty good effect.
1. Just dip the pen in the bottle from which I filled it.
2. With the cap on, nib down, holding the end of the pen with thumb and pointer finger, wiggle it back and forth a few times. If it does blob out, it's in the cap instead of on the paper. (Of course, sometimes it means rinsing the cap out, but I usually stop soon enough, wiggling and testing 2-4 times.)
+John Allen Thanks for the input!
I think some of us over wipe the nib after bottle filling so much so that the paper towel or cloth suck up too much ink from the feed. It does not cause any problem to most pens but it may to some dryer pens. Montblanc actually suggest to drip 1 to 3 drops of ink back to the bottle after each filling/wiping the nib to ensure the feed is well moist. It works for me most occasions.
Yes, that is an excellent strategy.
I recently got a 1950's shaeffer and it was pretty new, it didn't write but this is helpful
Well done. So the ink on my fingertips is not strictly the mark of a rank amateur after all! So here are a couple of questions: What is the best position in which to store a filled pen (cap on, of course)? ...on it's side, upright, point down? (Will ink pool up inside the cap if I leave it filled and laid on its side?) Any thoughts on whether or not to drain/empty the reservoir after each use?
You can leave a pen inked and unused but not for longer than about two weeks at a time. I always store penns nib up.
Was in class, stopped writing for a second and this happened. I was about to go crazy and submerge the nib in water (why I don't know) thanks for the video!!
You're welcome!
Thanks a bunch, Steve. I just ordered a bottle of Waterman Florida Blue. Hopefully, that will solve the problem. Happy holidays!
The issues might be caused because sometimes while u stop for a while most of us hold the pen in a way like the nib facing upwards which might cause the ink to flow downwards and also it could be that the ink is really dry or u left the pen uncapped a little longer.
That's possible.
Lord Mirdaln: "I've got expanding cheeks and you give me only one raisin!!! ...and you wonder why I don't let you pick me up!"
Very true.
sbrebrown Well, it means he's got personality and that's a cool thing.
There was a company that made a small traveler's bottle of coffee/tea sweetener that was about the size of a pen barrel. It was about 1 inch long. I used to have an empty one. I popped the dispensing nipple off the bottle and filled it with water. I have many pens that have this issue of drying out after 30 seconds, or so. I used to keep this bottle with my pen and when the ink dried out I just dipped the nib in this bottle to wet the nib. I was back writing right away.
That's a great tip!
Thanks Rusty. Your method beats the hell out of "lick the nib" as recommended by a friend of mine, but which doesn't sound particularly appealing to me. Ink on my fingers I can deal with - ink on my tongue, not so much.
Do you know someone on Nitro? It comes in a glass vial of about 1-2cc and has a thread on cap.
Rusty Knight Only both my parents, Rusty. I'll see if Mom has kept their old Nitro bottles. Perfect for a dry nib. I gave my boss a pen recently and she left the cap off for a day and wondered why her pen stopped writing. This would be the answer for her. Thanks!
Thanks for the suggestions. I could not figure out a way to remove the nib and feed from the section. So, if the problem worsens I think I will slide the shim carefully between the tines without removing the nib at all. I am hoping it will not damage the feed. Thoughts? Also, something helped. I flushed the pen with water plus a drop of dish detergent. That increased the flow and hid the problem for now. So, normal writing is good. Ink is gusing out of my B nib and the text looks vibrant.
The issue I'm having is that when first starting to write, or after stopping, capped/or uncapped for as little as 5-10 seconds, the pen doesn't start writing immediately. It will take 1 stroke, or 1/2 stroke to get ink flowing again. Once that happens it will write until I stop. I never have to tap, or do any of that. Even laying the nib on the paper for a few seconds before writing will work. This happens with different inks, on both a Jinhao X750, and 159, but not with my Metropolitan.
A very passionate video.
Thank you so much. This got me going again in no time.
Thank You Sir, Your Idea is working! I appreciate your kindness! ...Nice video!
You're welcome!
I think it is the air that enters thru nib, puts upward pressure, hence breaking the flow of ink . That's what I think.
I think the tapping worked lol I was gonna give up and just keep my pen for looks but it helped
Your Hamster is a cutie pie. I, too am a fancier.
P.S. Also eyedroppers are more likely to have a reservoir with imperfect seal (unlike cartridges/converters) resulting in even less vacuum and more inkflow.
Which would explain why Pilot V-pen (or Varsity pen) is, supposedly, the only FP that doesn't leak on a plane..... it has a perfect seal that is not compromised at the point where a cartridge/converter usually attaches to the feed!
The pen I have often skips, usually on the upstroke and worse when writing fast or on smooth, cheap paper. Anything I can do w/ it? It is montblack mozart. It writes brilliantly on Moleskine paper. But my work paper, just regular paper, it always skips. Thank you, love your videos.
Have a bit of kitchen paper towel handy ,just put nib onto it,ink flows again without getting your work ruined
Surprisingly it works on VFM too, although you have to tap it at least 5-6 times
Could this something have to do with the hydrofobic character of a fat nib surface (fingerprints) which can be removed by soap so that the inkt behaves more hydrofylic and stay in chantant withnthe metal in top of the pen instead of contracting it inside the nib and not having direct surface contact with the paper??????
A quick online search told me that Lord Mirdalan is a Wookiee. Are you still sure he's a hamster? ;)
I rarely have issues with dry starts, as it's now an ingrained habit of mine to cap the pen when not in use, even if just for a second. I learned the hard way! I'm reminded of the Pilot Vanishing Point/Capless pens and how useful the mechanism sounds - just click to retract the nib without fumbling for the cap. I haven't decided whether I'll get one yet...
I added 2 drops of dish detergent to my ink before drawing it, now the pen writes like a ballpoint. It almost didnt write at ALL before the soap and a few drops of water. I'm using calligraphy/tattoo ink so some doctoring may be required ;)
Very useful tips which I shall try as I am having trouble with a Hero pen skipping, and stop starting . I have heard that the tines on the nib can be too closed up and need to be opened a little using a razor blade( carefully of course) is this true?
How do u stop ink from flowing from calligraphy pen because I put my Ink in and used it then took it out and now the cartridge won't stop dripping ink out
@sbrebrown I heard you talked about the Waterman's red ink being really interesting/mysterious looking? It was in of the video talking about nib sizes i think
Lord Mirdalan is adorable! Now, whose dog is that barking in some of your videos? Re: hard-starting---the 1st thing I do with a new pen is to flush the nib/section with water that has a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap in it, followed by a 2nd rise with just clear water. This will help to remove any residual manufacturing oils. If that doesn't work, the problem could be: tine misalignment, the feed not being properly set, narrow feed channels or a non-airtight cap (among other things!).
I have found that rubbing a tissue or even a regular piece of paper down the length of the slit can get the ink moving.
@sbrebrown Just something that looks interesting, something with a small hint of ostentatious but yet looks mysterious, you know...a complex red, both the 1670 and Oxblood looks really up to my taste, I am also looking to buy the Iroshizuku tsuki-yo, which looks like one of the best blue out there, with a sense of mysterious(kept using this word...).
I like your all videos . And iam more thankfull to you for giving us such good and rare information. Iam new to fountain pens. Just 9 months old(because in india at my place it is hard to find good fountain pens) . But not now. I bought online. But i like them since i was in 1st standard.
If I have this problem, I swish the end of the pen in a glass of water for a few seconds. This usually works, though the pen writes with faded ink for a short while.
You really helped me. Thank you so much!
My brand new parker pen won't write at all. Tried all these steps. Still no luck. The frustration is that it is the same model that I used earlier :(
Sometimes your ink may cause you to have startup problems,so just change the ink that was the situation for me.
Definitely. Ink can make a big difference.
Lord Mirdalan is a G!!
The nib drying up after not using for a while and also misaligning the nib explain why pens don't write in such situations.
BUT it doesn't explain why some pens just dry up whilst writing.
I wonder if the system on some pens doesn't properly allow air in to replace the ink that flows from the cartridge/converter and, as a consequence, a further flow of ink out is gradually stopped by a sort of suction effect.
My pen often stops in mid flow and by simply removing the cartridge and replacing again all is fine - for a while! It doesn't usually dry up when left for a few days.
Yes, air replacement is an issue in some pens, especially in very broad-nibbed pens.
I bought a new $10 fountain pen and it doesn't write. Why though?
I just got my very first fountain pen, it is a noodlers ahab lapiz blue and I the cap it pretty much sealed really really tight and I can't open it anymore
Unscrew the finial that keeps the clip in place to break the vacuum.
Being nerdy is perfectly fine when one has a passion for something! ,p hihi... It does manke me wonder if I should ever upload a few tubes of absolutely random toss I love to yat about and have a laugh
PS. Don't take the nerdy comment as a bad thing, I am very such so myself. And if you ain't a slav deep down, I will throw a glass into a fireplace haha.
For your Hero 616, do you know how to dissemble the feed and or nib from the grip section?
Hi! can i ask you someting?. 1) if a ink is to dry? can i "wet it" with some water? or does that has nothing to do with the ink's "wetnes/drynes" (yes i know it's a stupid question :S) 2) between the blue quink and the blue lamy inks, wich do you think it's weter/dryer? 3) can you write the name of that thing there that you use to "erase" the ink on the paper. Muchas gracias y excelente video!
Does your Hemisphere has this issue? I am using the original Waterman cartridge(blue), is that a "dry" ink? my Baoer is using the converter and Parker Quink in black, and writes 100% of the time, no skip whatsoever, I am also interested in the Namiki Iroshizuku line of ink, how are those? more towards the tsuki-yo or momiji color
The ink is coming out the breathing hole, it only works when i shake the pen in the air but ink flies everywhere, how can i fix this?
I don't know, I'd have to see the pen.
Hi! I am using 2 inks: Noodler's Purple Martin and a Noodler's Bad Black Moccasin. The Black Moccasin works perfectly, but when I use the Purple Martin, in any of my pens, it skips *every single time* I start writing! Even if I try to mix them both, is the same result... What can cause it? If I add water or something, can it solve the problem with the purple ink?
+Rafael Borges I assume it's something in the chemical consistency of the ink; perhaps it's not lubricated enough. I don't know how to solve that, but I do think adding water will only dilute it.
I can relate to your ballpoint pen feelings....
"If you want to avoid that, the solution is this. *Holds up ballpoint clicking pen* Because this will make sure your pen doesn't skip... of course it will also mean you'll go to hell..."
:DDDDD
Parker Urban 1, sbrebrown 0. there is a lot to dislike of old line of urbans... but that they dry easily is not one of them :)
Just got a yard o led grand sent to the states and am having hard starts skipping issues and sometimes it just doesn't work. I flushed it a few times but still having issues might try it again, but I am definitely dismayed :/
I've read there is some question about cap vents (often near or around the clip or end finial) drying out nibs when capped and left. A few people have even mentioned plugging them with beeswax, rubber cement or clear nail polish. I'm okay with taking the time to restart after a few days unused, but wonder what your thoughts on this may be. Thanks!
Love the videos!
nice video, do you have any tip on how to fix a conversor who does not suck it up all of it capacity?
Most converters do not. You can use a syringe to squirt in ink if you like.
thank you!
Feed saturates with manual turning of converter. Problem js between the converter and feed. No flow. Noodlers black. Private reserve. And mont blanc blue black. Soaked pen. Re assembled . No go. It uses up the feed ink and doesnt pull from the converter. Any thoughts?
I have a Pierre Cardin President fountain pen (#2 nib). Though it is an entry level pen, the nib is one of the smoothest ones I've ever used. It writes smooth most of the time but it tends to skip at times especially at starts. I've checked the nib alignment and it looks fine to me. I've tried cleaning the pen as well. What might be the problem? Is it the nib or my writing style? Hope you could help! :) Thanks!
It could be baby's bottoms syndrome. I have a video on how to fix that.
+sbrebrown I'll check it out. Thanks!
no it is possible. take a cap of a cheap pen with metal bands place the pen on about 50 sheets of paper or notebook . Now holdthe pen against paper sheets . Place the metal cap on the nib just before the ball of the nib. Now pull your pen. It is done!
Does that loud barking sometimes heard in your vids come from Lord Mirdalan? outstanding takedown of the 78G w/concomitant explanations.
I have one parker urban, newer model and also write with parker quink and have the same startup issue. Can you kindly suggest name of some wetter ink available at low prices? I really want to move from parker quink.
Further, i have a preppy 0.3, the flow is very thin and also fades like anything. When i use quink black in preppy, it just dries up much faster than blue-black. Please help me with a solution.
Many of the Diamine inks
sbrebrown thanks.
thank you,your tipp ... its very helpful
Thank you for the helpful video
I opened the tip and couldn't replace it. What was a deal for opening tip in at the beginning? 🤔
In a OMAS Paragon (old style) Broad that I have recently acquired, I get a consistent problem of skipping on upstrokes. Say, I draw circles (1 inch radius) clockwise. I will see the left half of the circle is barely visible. Waterman Black makes it worse. J Herbin Eclat de Saphir improves it a bit. I am just not getting it!!! In general this pen requires slight pressure to write. So, if I just hold the pen at the tail end to gently draw a line, it won't, but my Pelikan M600 will effortlessly!!!