Pen Won't Write

[JonDC]

I just got a modern pen, brand new, that won't write. I've had nonstarters before, but I've not had this specific problem before.

 

I flushed it with cool water, dropped in a cartridge, but the thing won't write. The problem seems to be between the nib and the feed. The feed is not starving. I get a nice blot of ink when I touch a paper towel to the back of the feed, but it's not getting to the point. The tines on the nib aren't too close together, as I can see a thin line of light when I hold it up to a light source.

 

Has anyone else had this problem?

 

I'm about to email the seller about it, but I thought I might be missing something here.

[USMCMom]

Many times, just plain water doesn't flush the pen well enough. Try a tiny bit of dish soap or non-sudsy amonia diluted with water. Flush the pen out and the converter, if there is one. Rinse well and place nib down in a wadded up paper towel to get rid of the water. There are quite a few very good posts about how to flush/clean a fountain pen. Flushing/cleaning should always be done.

[londonbooks]

You might want to try dipping the nib into some ink for 15 or 20 seconds. That might get the ink flowing.

[TimGirdler]

Two things are possible: The nib is sprung off of the feed or you have a severe case of baby's bottom. If you're going to the DC Pen Show, bring the pen by my table--or, for that matter, by Richard Binder's table, Mike and Linda Kennedy's table, etc......

 

Blessings,

 

Tim

[JonDC]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I gave it a really good flush, but still no go. So I contacted the seller, and he is going to replace it.

[WaskiSquirrel]

Replacement is probably your best bet.

 

I did have this problem with a Crocodile (which may be spelled incorrectly) brand pen. It refused to write for weeks. I tried everything. I was close to throwing it in the trash, when I tried it one more time. It wrote nicely. Then I realized that I didn't like using it because it was so narrow.

 

So, apparently if you scare the pen badly enough, it will write?

[Sasha Royale]

Takes a long time for cartridge ink to saturate the feed/nib of a clean, dry fountain pen. Filling with a converter involves immersion in the bottle

of ink, so the nib begins saturated. Do you have a converter ? Which pen is the subject of this discussion ? Above flushing and dipping ideas

are good.

 

Does the pen write when dipped ?

[Mike 59]

This is a problem with new, never inked pens. To send back or to try to get it going, which could throw away the possibility of sending it back.

When I have bought a new pen, I assume it has never had any ink in it, and will give it several flushes through with about 1% detergent in water, using a converter.

Then after a dry out on paper towel, I will dip the nib in bottled ink, and test write it.

If all seems ok then will part fill a converter with ink and see if the nib needs any adjustments. Prove the pen works, one step at a time.

[CraigR]

I have also had hard starters when using a cartridge. I am thinking that basically, I am filling the feed and nib from the rear end. Placing a cartridge on the post and seating it doesn't really start an ink flow to the feed some of the time. I have had to squeeze the cartridge a bit and even resort to wrapping the pointy end in paper towel and giving the pen a shake or two to get stuff flowing. Of course, there was the time when the pen slipped out of my hand mid-shake and sailed across the room, embedding itself in a nice light beige area rug. Oh, the black ink flowed just fine that time. This was during a brief unsupervised period of time.

 

You mention that the seller is replacing the pen, so your problem will be solved shortly. It took me a much longer time to get out of the dog house for spotting that rug.

 

Craig