Do you use a fountain pen?
Discussion
I use Pentel
Both the traditional plastic ones we all know and love but also one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0013NHU7Y
However, I do also own this "Fyne Point" by Mabie Todd which I bought non-functioning to complement my Swan by Mabie Todd
Both the traditional plastic ones we all know and love but also one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0013NHU7Y
However, I do also own this "Fyne Point" by Mabie Todd which I bought non-functioning to complement my Swan by Mabie Todd
They are fixable CC, most of the problems are caused by dust from the leads or broken leads, blocking the mechanism. I know a repairperson who does such work. it all depends on whether you want to use it. Big leads in the MT Fyne Point, 1.1 from memory.
Edited by K87 on Wednesday 6th March 08:33
I am being reminded that fountain pens can be a bit fickle.
My new (to me) Montblanc Le Grand has been sublime to write with, but last night started to behave a bit oddly.
Where previously the flow was superb, it started feeling a bit scratchy. Also, some strokes were wet and normal, some completely dry (with no line) and in other places the ink on the page seemed to be soaking into the page as though the nib had scored the surface.
Overnight I soaked and flushed it, and this morning it worked fine for half an hour. Then it started playing up, particularly on down strokes, which were completely dry.
I switched to Quink and again it was OK for half an hour.
The nib looks fine under a loupe.
Any ideas chaps please?
Montblanc gave the title Le Grand to more than one pen design, I am assuming that yours is not a cartridge converter pen but a piston filled pen, similar to a 146 pen.
I don't know the history of the pen, I take it that it has not been used with India ink or drawing ink
It is a case of eliminating the easy stuff by a process of elimination.
The first is to check that the piston is working properly, filling and emptying the pen with cold water to see that all is good.
Next is to flush the pen, if you have some ammonia available use a 10:1 solution in something like an egg cup, stand the nib in the solution and just leave it for a while, if you have access to an ultrasonic bath use that instead. If neither use warm water with a couple of drops of washing up liquid, you can draw this through the pen to flush it, do so repeatedly.
There is a channel under the nib and in the feed, this can become blocked if certain types of ink have been used, the idea is to clear that channel.
Dry everything, flush with clean water.
Take a look at the pen nib especially the slit which should be parallel and cleared of any debris, I don't know how old your pen is, it may need 'flossing' with a brass shim
The feed under the nib should also look clean and close to the nib. This is a likely culprit to the problem. I suspect the gap is too large. You may be able to improve it by squeezing the nib and the feed together just with your finger and thumb if it looks like they are not snug.
A final test, and based on the possibility that the pen may not have been used for a while. Fill the pen with Parker ink, stand it nib down on kitchen paper in a glass and leave it there for at least an hour. The ink should flow through the pen if it is working properly and soak the paper.
If you have done all that and there are still problems you have some choices. Return to the seller or have an expert look at it which means either a MB shop who will send it to Hamburg. There are UK experts, I have only used one who is usually very busy, I think that there may be alternatives. This could also be an opportunity to vary the shape of the nib if that is something you want.
Must admit, that if this was an ebay purchase then I would alert the seller that the pen doesn't work as it should..
I don't know the history of the pen, I take it that it has not been used with India ink or drawing ink
It is a case of eliminating the easy stuff by a process of elimination.
The first is to check that the piston is working properly, filling and emptying the pen with cold water to see that all is good.
Next is to flush the pen, if you have some ammonia available use a 10:1 solution in something like an egg cup, stand the nib in the solution and just leave it for a while, if you have access to an ultrasonic bath use that instead. If neither use warm water with a couple of drops of washing up liquid, you can draw this through the pen to flush it, do so repeatedly.
There is a channel under the nib and in the feed, this can become blocked if certain types of ink have been used, the idea is to clear that channel.
Dry everything, flush with clean water.
Take a look at the pen nib especially the slit which should be parallel and cleared of any debris, I don't know how old your pen is, it may need 'flossing' with a brass shim
The feed under the nib should also look clean and close to the nib. This is a likely culprit to the problem. I suspect the gap is too large. You may be able to improve it by squeezing the nib and the feed together just with your finger and thumb if it looks like they are not snug.
A final test, and based on the possibility that the pen may not have been used for a while. Fill the pen with Parker ink, stand it nib down on kitchen paper in a glass and leave it there for at least an hour. The ink should flow through the pen if it is working properly and soak the paper.
If you have done all that and there are still problems you have some choices. Return to the seller or have an expert look at it which means either a MB shop who will send it to Hamburg. There are UK experts, I have only used one who is usually very busy, I think that there may be alternatives. This could also be an opportunity to vary the shape of the nib if that is something you want.
Must admit, that if this was an ebay purchase then I would alert the seller that the pen doesn't work as it should..
Edited by K87 on Wednesday 6th March 10:09
K87 said:
Montblanc gave the title Le Grand to more than one pen design, I am assuming that yours is not a cartridge converter pen but a piston filled pen, similar to a 146 pen.
I don't know the history of the pen, I take it that it has not been used with India ink or drawing ink
It is a case of eliminating the easy stuff by a process of elimination.
The first is to check that the piston is working properly, filling and emptying the pen with cold water to see that all is good.
Next is to flush the pen, if you have some ammonia available use a 10:1 solution in something like an egg cup, stand the nib in the solution and just leave it for a while, if you have access to an ultrasonic bath use that instead. If neither use warm water with a couple of drops of washing up liquid, you can draw this through the pen to flush it, do so repeatedly.
There is a channel under the nib and in the feed, this can become blocked if certain types of ink have been used, the idea is to clear that channel.
Dry everything, flush with clean water.
Take a look at the pen nib especially the slit which should be parallel and cleared of any debris, I don't know how old your pen is, it may need 'flossing' with a brass shim
The feed under the nib should also look clean and close to the nib. This is a likely culprit to the problem. I suspect the gap is too large. You may be able to improve it by squeezing the nib and the feed together just with your finger and thumb if it looks like they are not snug.
A final test, and based on the possibility that the pen may not have been used for a while. Fill the pen with Parker ink, stand it nib down on kitchen paper in a glass and leave it there for at least an hour. The ink should flow through the pen if it is working properly and soak the paper.
If you have done all that and there are still problems you have some choices. Return to the seller or have an expert look at it which means either a MB shop who will send it to Hamburg. There are UK experts, I have only used one who is usually very busy, I think that there may be alternatives. This could also be an opportunity to vary the shape of the nib if that is something you want.
Must admit, that if this was an ebay purchase then I would alert the seller that the pen doesn't work as it should..
Top info again thanks. I will have a play.I don't know the history of the pen, I take it that it has not been used with India ink or drawing ink
It is a case of eliminating the easy stuff by a process of elimination.
The first is to check that the piston is working properly, filling and emptying the pen with cold water to see that all is good.
Next is to flush the pen, if you have some ammonia available use a 10:1 solution in something like an egg cup, stand the nib in the solution and just leave it for a while, if you have access to an ultrasonic bath use that instead. If neither use warm water with a couple of drops of washing up liquid, you can draw this through the pen to flush it, do so repeatedly.
There is a channel under the nib and in the feed, this can become blocked if certain types of ink have been used, the idea is to clear that channel.
Dry everything, flush with clean water.
Take a look at the pen nib especially the slit which should be parallel and cleared of any debris, I don't know how old your pen is, it may need 'flossing' with a brass shim
The feed under the nib should also look clean and close to the nib. This is a likely culprit to the problem. I suspect the gap is too large. You may be able to improve it by squeezing the nib and the feed together just with your finger and thumb if it looks like they are not snug.
A final test, and based on the possibility that the pen may not have been used for a while. Fill the pen with Parker ink, stand it nib down on kitchen paper in a glass and leave it there for at least an hour. The ink should flow through the pen if it is working properly and soak the paper.
If you have done all that and there are still problems you have some choices. Return to the seller or have an expert look at it which means either a MB shop who will send it to Hamburg. There are UK experts, I have only used one who is usually very busy, I think that there may be alternatives. This could also be an opportunity to vary the shape of the nib if that is something you want.
Must admit, that if this was an ebay purchase then I would alert the seller that the pen doesn't work as it should..
Edited by K87 on Wednesday 6th March 10:09
The seller has offered to have it back, but that is expense and aggro.
Yes it’s a 146 piston pen.
To add: just before I came out I tried it again and it was fine again, with Quink. Odd.
Edited by Louis Balfour on Wednesday 6th March 10:55
K87 said:
They are fixable CC, most of the problems are caused by dust from the leads or broken leads, blocking the mechanism. I know a repairperson who does such work. it all depends on whether you want to use it. Big leads in the MT Fyne Point, 1.1 from memory.
Thanks for the info - very much appreciated. It's not seized; quite the opposite. It just spins freely and doesn't advance the lead.
I don't plan to repair it and really just bought it to aesthetically complement the Swan fountain pen.
K87 said:
Montblanc gave the title Le Grand to more than one pen design, I am assuming that yours is not a cartridge converter pen but a piston filled pen, similar to a 146 pen.
I don't know the history of the pen, I take it that it has not been used with India ink or drawing ink
It is a case of eliminating the easy stuff by a process of elimination.
The first is to check that the piston is working properly, filling and emptying the pen with cold water to see that all is good.
Next is to flush the pen, if you have some ammonia available use a 10:1 solution in something like an egg cup, stand the nib in the solution and just leave it for a while, if you have access to an ultrasonic bath use that instead. If neither use warm water with a couple of drops of washing up liquid, you can draw this through the pen to flush it, do so repeatedly.
There is a channel under the nib and in the feed, this can become blocked if certain types of ink have been used, the idea is to clear that channel.
Dry everything, flush with clean water.
Take a look at the pen nib especially the slit which should be parallel and cleared of any debris, I don't know how old your pen is, it may need 'flossing' with a brass shim
The feed under the nib should also look clean and close to the nib. This is a likely culprit to the problem. I suspect the gap is too large. You may be able to improve it by squeezing the nib and the feed together just with your finger and thumb if it looks like they are not snug.
A final test, and based on the possibility that the pen may not have been used for a while. Fill the pen with Parker ink, stand it nib down on kitchen paper in a glass and leave it there for at least an hour. The ink should flow through the pen if it is working properly and soak the paper.
If you have done all that and there are still problems you have some choices. Return to the seller or have an expert look at it which means either a MB shop who will send it to Hamburg. There are UK experts, I have only used one who is usually very busy, I think that there may be alternatives. This could also be an opportunity to vary the shape of the nib if that is something you want.
Must admit, that if this was an ebay purchase then I would alert the seller that the pen doesn't work as it should..
Just about to do the tissue test. The nib looks okay to my untrained eye.I don't know the history of the pen, I take it that it has not been used with India ink or drawing ink
It is a case of eliminating the easy stuff by a process of elimination.
The first is to check that the piston is working properly, filling and emptying the pen with cold water to see that all is good.
Next is to flush the pen, if you have some ammonia available use a 10:1 solution in something like an egg cup, stand the nib in the solution and just leave it for a while, if you have access to an ultrasonic bath use that instead. If neither use warm water with a couple of drops of washing up liquid, you can draw this through the pen to flush it, do so repeatedly.
There is a channel under the nib and in the feed, this can become blocked if certain types of ink have been used, the idea is to clear that channel.
Dry everything, flush with clean water.
Take a look at the pen nib especially the slit which should be parallel and cleared of any debris, I don't know how old your pen is, it may need 'flossing' with a brass shim
The feed under the nib should also look clean and close to the nib. This is a likely culprit to the problem. I suspect the gap is too large. You may be able to improve it by squeezing the nib and the feed together just with your finger and thumb if it looks like they are not snug.
A final test, and based on the possibility that the pen may not have been used for a while. Fill the pen with Parker ink, stand it nib down on kitchen paper in a glass and leave it there for at least an hour. The ink should flow through the pen if it is working properly and soak the paper.
If you have done all that and there are still problems you have some choices. Return to the seller or have an expert look at it which means either a MB shop who will send it to Hamburg. There are UK experts, I have only used one who is usually very busy, I think that there may be alternatives. This could also be an opportunity to vary the shape of the nib if that is something you want.
Must admit, that if this was an ebay purchase then I would alert the seller that the pen doesn't work as it should..
Edited by K87 on Wednesday 6th March 10:09
The top of the nib looks fine,
The bottom of the nib might be the problem, it might be just the pic but it looks very tight against the feed.
The perfect thing to use is a brass shim, not many people have one to hand. If you have something with a raised security tag, often has a bar code printed on it, if you cut it open you will find a brass shim inside. This is the ideal thickness. If you don't have one then perhaps a very thin feeler gauge, failing that perhaps some strong aluminium foil,
take any of these and work them between your nib and feed, almost as if you are flossing your teeth but also you are try to increase the gap.
Same action down the slit of the nib, pulling the shim backwards and forwards cleaning out the gap.
I know it a faff but this is the problem in buying secondhand, it could have had all sorts of dodgy ink or perhaps it has been left i a desk draw for months, the ink has dried to a paste and now there is a problem.
If you want to concentrate on one area it is the underside of the nib.
The tissue test is the way to know that the pen and feed are working properly.
also a good test after you have washed the pen through to make sure that all the ink is gone.
A warning to others, someone showed me a new MB Le Grand today that they had bought on ebay,, cost them £50 and described as MB World from memory, very, very similar to the real thing apart from it was cartridge converter (with Montblanc name) and not a piston filler. Even the nib looked identical.no MB box or packaging.
The fakers have upped their game although I haven't seen a piston filler MB fake, just too complicated to fake at the price.
,
The bottom of the nib might be the problem, it might be just the pic but it looks very tight against the feed.
The perfect thing to use is a brass shim, not many people have one to hand. If you have something with a raised security tag, often has a bar code printed on it, if you cut it open you will find a brass shim inside. This is the ideal thickness. If you don't have one then perhaps a very thin feeler gauge, failing that perhaps some strong aluminium foil,
take any of these and work them between your nib and feed, almost as if you are flossing your teeth but also you are try to increase the gap.
Same action down the slit of the nib, pulling the shim backwards and forwards cleaning out the gap.
I know it a faff but this is the problem in buying secondhand, it could have had all sorts of dodgy ink or perhaps it has been left i a desk draw for months, the ink has dried to a paste and now there is a problem.
If you want to concentrate on one area it is the underside of the nib.
The tissue test is the way to know that the pen and feed are working properly.
also a good test after you have washed the pen through to make sure that all the ink is gone.
A warning to others, someone showed me a new MB Le Grand today that they had bought on ebay,, cost them £50 and described as MB World from memory, very, very similar to the real thing apart from it was cartridge converter (with Montblanc name) and not a piston filler. Even the nib looked identical.no MB box or packaging.
The fakers have upped their game although I haven't seen a piston filler MB fake, just too complicated to fake at the price.
,
I picked up this Lamy Dialog 2 rollerball pen a few years ago. Designed by Knud Holscher - a respected Danish architect and industrial designer. Twisting of the shaft of the pen either extends the ‘nib’ out from the shaft and closes the clip, or twists back to recess the ‘nib’ into the shaft and moves the clip out slightly to be used to clip the pen onto a shirt pocket or to stop the pen rolling on a desk when not in use. Lovely design
https://www.lamy.com/en/lamy-dialog-2/
https://www.lamy.com/en/lamy-dialog-2/
K87 said:
The top of the nib looks fine,
The bottom of the nib might be the problem, it might be just the pic but it looks very tight against the feed.
The perfect thing to use is a brass shim, not many people have one to hand. If you have something with a raised security tag, often has a bar code printed on it, if you cut it open you will find a brass shim inside. This is the ideal thickness. If you don't have one then perhaps a very thin feeler gauge, failing that perhaps some strong aluminium foil,
take any of these and work them between your nib and feed, almost as if you are flossing your teeth but also you are try to increase the gap.
Same action down the slit of the nib, pulling the shim backwards and forwards cleaning out the gap.
I know it a faff but this is the problem in buying secondhand, it could have had all sorts of dodgy ink or perhaps it has been left i a desk draw for months, the ink has dried to a paste and now there is a problem.
If you want to concentrate on one area it is the underside of the nib.
The tissue test is the way to know that the pen and feed are working properly.
also a good test after you have washed the pen through to make sure that all the ink is gone.
A warning to others, someone showed me a new MB Le Grand today that they had bought on ebay,, cost them £50 and described as MB World from memory, very, very similar to the real thing apart from it was cartridge converter (with Montblanc name) and not a piston filler. Even the nib looked identical.no MB box or packaging.
The fakers have upped their game although I haven't seen a piston filler MB fake, just too complicated to fake at the price.
,
This is an hour’s worth of QuinkThe bottom of the nib might be the problem, it might be just the pic but it looks very tight against the feed.
The perfect thing to use is a brass shim, not many people have one to hand. If you have something with a raised security tag, often has a bar code printed on it, if you cut it open you will find a brass shim inside. This is the ideal thickness. If you don't have one then perhaps a very thin feeler gauge, failing that perhaps some strong aluminium foil,
take any of these and work them between your nib and feed, almost as if you are flossing your teeth but also you are try to increase the gap.
Same action down the slit of the nib, pulling the shim backwards and forwards cleaning out the gap.
I know it a faff but this is the problem in buying secondhand, it could have had all sorts of dodgy ink or perhaps it has been left i a desk draw for months, the ink has dried to a paste and now there is a problem.
If you want to concentrate on one area it is the underside of the nib.
The tissue test is the way to know that the pen and feed are working properly.
also a good test after you have washed the pen through to make sure that all the ink is gone.
A warning to others, someone showed me a new MB Le Grand today that they had bought on ebay,, cost them £50 and described as MB World from memory, very, very similar to the real thing apart from it was cartridge converter (with Montblanc name) and not a piston filler. Even the nib looked identical.no MB box or packaging.
The fakers have upped their game although I haven't seen a piston filler MB fake, just too complicated to fake at the price.
,
Slightly weird photo perhaps, but this was two downstrokes of the pen. Twice I tried to write the downstroke of a capital T and all I got was this.
It seems to be ok if I keep the nib absolutely straight, but that isn’t practical obviously. I am off to see if I can find a shim of some sort.
It seems to be ok if I keep the nib absolutely straight, but that isn’t practical obviously. I am off to see if I can find a shim of some sort.
Ammonia is quite difficult to find now, I haven't tried for a few years but the last I bought was in Boots.
The directions for a pen flush are to take a tablespoon of ammonia and add it to ten tablespoons of distilled water, or boiled, cooled water. Add two drops of washing up liquid.
Let the nib stand in the solution for an hour.
It can discolour clear windows in pens so I would be reluctant to draw the up the solution.
Diamine also sell a Pen Flush for £2.20 for 30ml from Cult Pens.
The directions for a pen flush are to take a tablespoon of ammonia and add it to ten tablespoons of distilled water, or boiled, cooled water. Add two drops of washing up liquid.
Let the nib stand in the solution for an hour.
It can discolour clear windows in pens so I would be reluctant to draw the up the solution.
Diamine also sell a Pen Flush for £2.20 for 30ml from Cult Pens.
K87 said:
Ammonia is quite difficult to find now, I haven't tried for a few years but the last I bought was in Boots.
The directions for a pen flush are to take a tablespoon of ammonia and add it to ten tablespoons of distilled water, or boiled, cooled water. Add two drops of washing up liquid.
Let the nib stand in the solution for an hour.
It can discolour clear windows in pens so I would be reluctant to draw the up the solution.
Diamine also sell a Pen Flush for £2.20 for 30ml from Cult Pens.
I think my £2.20 might be better spent sending back the pen! I will of course be asking the seller to pay postage.The directions for a pen flush are to take a tablespoon of ammonia and add it to ten tablespoons of distilled water, or boiled, cooled water. Add two drops of washing up liquid.
Let the nib stand in the solution for an hour.
It can discolour clear windows in pens so I would be reluctant to draw the up the solution.
Diamine also sell a Pen Flush for £2.20 for 30ml from Cult Pens.
It is seeming to me that you're right about "this can be the problem with second-hand pens". Two pens, two pens that don't didn't work correctly. Though it seems the 51 is now all good. I have the leads for the pencil now too, and that is very useful.
K87 said:
blueg33 said:
I would be sending it back.
I would agree, a seller should know or at least find out that anything that they sell is fit for purpose or at least make it very clear to the buyer that the item contains faults.To be fair enough, for about a week it was sublime to use. I can understand why he may have missed it.
K87 said:
A warning to others, someone showed me a new MB Le Grand today that they had bought on ebay,, cost them £50 and described as MB World from memory, very, very similar to the real thing apart from it was cartridge converter (with Montblanc name) and not a piston filler. Even the nib looked identical.no MB box or packaging.
The fakers have upped their game although I haven't seen a piston filler MB fake, just too complicated to fake at the price.
,
Surely a MB for £50 is all the info anyone needs? same as a Patek Phillipe Naultilus for £1500 or a Rolex Sub for £200The fakers have upped their game although I haven't seen a piston filler MB fake, just too complicated to fake at the price.
,
blueg33 said:
K87 said:
A warning to others, someone showed me a new MB Le Grand today that they had bought on ebay,, cost them £50 and described as MB World from memory, very, very similar to the real thing apart from it was cartridge converter (with Montblanc name) and not a piston filler. Even the nib looked identical.no MB box or packaging.
The fakers have upped their game although I haven't seen a piston filler MB fake, just too complicated to fake at the price.
,
Surely a MB for £50 is all the info anyone needs? same as a Patek Phillipe Naultilus for £1500 or a Rolex Sub for £200The fakers have upped their game although I haven't seen a piston filler MB fake, just too complicated to fake at the price.
,
The only difference was the filling system, at first sight.
The price was secondary, it could easily have been on sale at £300 and would still attract bidders.
Going to take a break for a while, all the best guys.
K87 said:
blueg33 said:
K87 said:
A warning to others, someone showed me a new MB Le Grand today that they had bought on ebay,, cost them £50 and described as MB World from memory, very, very similar to the real thing apart from it was cartridge converter (with Montblanc name) and not a piston filler. Even the nib looked identical.no MB box or packaging.
The fakers have upped their game although I haven't seen a piston filler MB fake, just too complicated to fake at the price.
,
Surely a MB for £50 is all the info anyone needs? same as a Patek Phillipe Naultilus for £1500 or a Rolex Sub for £200The fakers have upped their game although I haven't seen a piston filler MB fake, just too complicated to fake at the price.
,
The only difference was the filling system, at first sight.
The price was secondary, it could easily have been on sale at £300 and would still attract bidders.
Going to take a break for a while, all the best guys.
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