Visconti Van Gogh Maxi Nib Start Up Problem

[gclyn]

Hi all, hopefully, I can make myself clear and get some opinions. I have a Van Gogh Maxi that writes well. My problem is that if I put it in my shirt pocket (upright) for about 3 minutes or longer, the pen has problems starting up to write. I have to shake it a few times for the ink to flow into nib.

 

If I store the pen horizontally, no problems. Wondering what might be problem. I looked at my nib and noticed that the end of the nib is a little apart from the feed. I took a picture, to show where the nib and feed do not touch. Could this be the reason with the start up problem?

 

 

You can see the separation from the nib and feed at the tip

 

Thanks.

[zepp]

Yes, you would need to readjust so the feed and the nib are tightly stuck together, ink travels via capillary action to the end of the feed, and then from the end of the feed to the very tip of the nib, the separation makes it difficult to do so.

[gclyn]

Thanks zepp, that's what I thought. Do you know if the nib/feed are friction fit into the collar? Maybe I can fix it if I could take out the nib and feed? Or do I need to send to a nibmeister to do this?

[efchem]

The nib and feed are friction fit. The collar does unscrew from the section although Visconti pens are known for the collar sometimes being extremely tight. I personally would not try to unscrew the collar unless it has slots in it and you have the special tool.

 

I am watching this thread to see what answers you receive. I have always wondered if you need to take the nib and feed out of the collar to make them tighter or should one leave them in and use warm water and pressure to mold them?

Edited July 15, 2014 by efchem

[zepp]

I do not own a Visconti Van Gogh, although I did have some experience with readjusting the gap.

 

I have a Waterman Hemisphere, which was my very first fountain pen, not very costly, it wrote so bad, bad startings, skippings, reduced ink flow with prolonged writing time, so much that i just tossed into the drawer and never picked it again. Recently I have read that I could use boiling water to reset the feed and nib together, I did that but no success, the bending are still in the elastic deformation state and will not remain stuck together. (I was able to stick a piece of paper between the nib and the feed completely). I learned that they were friction fit so I disassembled it and forcibly bent the nib downward. Now they are tightly stuck together, I ground off the baby's bottom on the nib as well, now it writes like a dream.

 

So bottom line, to my experience the heat setting hasn't worked out for me. As for the nib and feed being attached to the collar being very tight, I would certainly send it to an experienced nibmeister or to Visconti to get it fixed if I had the issue with that pen!

[efchem]

I do not own a Visconti Van Gogh, although I did have some experience with readjusting the gap.

 

I have a Waterman Hemisphere, which was my very first fountain pen, not very costly, it wrote so bad, bad startings, skippings, reduced ink flow with prolonged writing time, so much that i just tossed into the drawer and never picked it again. Recently I have read that I could use boiling water to reset the feed and nib together, I did that but no success, the bending are still in the elastic deformation state and will not remain stuck together. (I was able to stick a piece of paper between the nib and the feed completely). I learned that they were friction fit so I disassembled it and forcibly bent the nib downward. Now they are tightly stuck together, I ground off the baby's bottom on the nib as well, now it writes like a dream.

 

So bottom line, to my experience the heat setting hasn't worked out for me. As for the nib and feed being attached to the collar being very tight, I would certainly send it to an experienced nibmeister or to Visconti to get it fixed if I had the issue with that pen!

Just to clarify, the feed and nib are friction fit like most other nibs and can be pulled as such. Sometimes the collar is overtightened but there is no reason this needs to come out.

 

How did you reshape the nib? Did you just bend the tines down a little or did you reshape the nib to the feed?

[gclyn]

I am able to unscrew the collar...but the nib and feed are extremely tight. I've tried pulling but it won't budge...afraid of braking something. Any other hints on how to pull a tight nib/feed from the collar?

 

Otherwise, my have to go to Laywine's in Toronto and let them do it.

[efchem]

You get better leverage if the nib, feed, and collar are in the pen. Use something to give you a firm grip on the top of the nib and feed. Then just pull straight. If your not comfortable doing it then going to a pro is a wise choice.

[raging.dragon]

The nib and feed are friction fit. The collar does unscrew from the section although Visconti pens are known for the collar sometimes being extremely tight. I personally would not try to unscrew the collar unless it has slots in it and you have the special tool.

 

I am watching this thread to see what answers you receive. I have always wondered if you need to take the nib and feed out of the collar to make them tighter or should one leave them in and use warm water and pressure to mold them?

 

Boiling water might work with an ebonite feed - heat will soften the ebonite and it will straighten if bent, then if necessary can be bent into shape and held until it cools. Visconti feeds are made from some modern synthetic plastic, your best bet is probably bending the nib to fit the feed.

 

I am able to unscrew the collar...but the nib and feed are extremely tight. I've tried pulling but it won't budge...afraid of braking something. Any other hints on how to pull a tight nib/feed from the collar?

 

Otherwise, my have to go to Laywine's in Toronto and let them do it.

 

Wear latex gloves (or some other sticky rubber if you're alergic to latex) to improve your grip, pinch the top of the nib and bottom of the feed between your fingers and pull them straight out. It may take several minutes of steady pressure, and rocking or rotating the nib a bit might help loosen it. If your fingers get sore, stop and try again later. I find it often takes several attempts over a few days the first time I pull a Visconti nib. After the nib has been pulled one or more times, subsequent attempts are alot easier.

 

Also, if you're in the Toronto area, there's a Toronto pen meetup planned scheduled this Saturday (the 19th). A topic should show up sometime between now and then in the FPN Clubs and Meetings subforum.

[zepp]

Just to clarify, the feed and nib are friction fit like most other nibs and can be pulled as such. Sometimes the collar is overtightened but there is no reason this needs to come out.

 

How did you reshape the nib? Did you just bend the tines down a little or did you reshape the nib to the feed?

 

I bent the tines down and reground it.

[gclyn]

 

Boiling water might work with an ebonite feed - heat will soften the ebonite and it will straighten if bent, then if necessary can be bent into shape and held until it cools. Visconti feeds are made from some modern synthetic plastic, your best bet is probably bending the nib to fit the feed.

 

 

Wear latex gloves (or some other sticky rubber if you're alergic to latex) to improve your grip, pinch the top of the nib and bottom of the feed between your fingers and pull them straight out. It may take several minutes of steady pressure, and rocking or rotating the nib a bit might help loosen it. If your fingers get sore, stop and try again later. I find it often takes several attempts over a few days the first time I pull a Visconti nib. After the nib has been pulled one or more times, subsequent attempts are alot easier.

 

Also, if you're in the Toronto area, there's a Toronto pen meetup planned scheduled this Saturday (the 19th). A topic should show up sometime between now and then in the FPN Clubs and Meetings subforum.

 

 

Well, after taking your suggestion and with some effort and time, I was able to remove the nib and feed. I bent the tines down a bit and reseated the nib onto the feed. After some adjustment, readjustment, adjustment, readjustment, etc. I was able to have the feed and nib touch and don't have that space between them that I had.

 

I have not inked it up yet, but will keep you posted if the problem persists.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

 

I won't be able to make the meet up this weekend, hopefully another one will come up soon. But, I am going to make it to the Toronto Pen Show.