Sheaffer Calligraphy Pens

[dbotts73]

I recently bought a Sheaffer Fine Calligraphy Pen and it has been leaking ink like crazy. I am new to Fountain/Calligraphy Pens and don't know what to do. Any help is appreciated!

[Ernst Bitterman]

That's odd behaviour in one of those. There's something amiss with the air/ink exchange, and the usual reason for that in this kind of pen is the cartridge either not sitting firm on the nipple or having a crack in it.

[ac12]

Specifically WHERE on the pen is it leaking from?

There could be several places, each with a different cause.

And be careful to find the actual leak or as close as you can, not where the ink is "puddling," because the leak might not be at the puddle. Although the puddle could be a clue.

 

And are you using ink cartridge or an ink converter?

Edited September 19, 2014 by ac12

[jar]

Are you using Sheaffer brand cartridge/converter?

[SteveE]

Are you using Sheaffer brand cartridge/converter?

Jar has probably hit the nail on the head. Sheaffer is one of a handful of pen brands that must use their own brand of cartridge or converter. While others may fit into the pen, they will not seal properly to the feed nipple, and will leak a lot.

 

Other brands that use their own proprietary cartridges or converters include, but are not limited to the following:

 

Parker

Pilot/Namiki

Aurora (uses Parker cart's)

 

There are others, I'm sure, but they don't jump to mind right now. If a pen is not on this "short list" it probably uses the standard international cartridges or converters.

[Nathaniel Harter]

Could you post a picture of it? Specificly the nib and converter.

[Icywolfe]

Does it have a hole for the ink viewing and a rubberized grip section?

 

If so I had a leaking problem too but there is nothing to fix it. I just threw out the 3 out of the 5 total I bought a while back.

[dbotts73]

Icywolfe yes it does. Mine is red and has a fine nib and using the cartridge it came with.

[bogiesan]

I have several Sheaffer calligraphy units. I don't recall any of them ever leaking. But you pretty much get what you pay for with these little pens. They are not meant for writing. You can do illustrative glyphs and some drawing but the nib is not set up for normal handwriting. It's just stamped metal, sharp and angular. I've used a Japanese sharpening stone to VERY gently round off the corners and the edges of many of my Sheaffer calligraphy pens. Ruined a couple of them in the process.

 

Please answer the early question, where is the ink coming from? A beginner may have trouble describing or locating the exact location. But it's possible you got defective pen. If you like this unit, get the deluxe set that has all three nibs and barrels and a study manual. It's a fun and inexpensive introduction to a certain type of fountain pen.

 

Hope you get it figured out.