Cleaning And Anatomy Questions

[myrios]

I pulled my Daniel Shecter cartridge pen out of storage, soaked the nib in filtered water a couple of cycles and the writing went well, until I started to get sudden stoppages of ink. I'd then take the cartridge out, re-insert it, and I'd get another nice 50 words or so before suddenly stopping.

 

So I went back to soaking and flushing, probably at least 20 times now, soaking for 15 minutes or so, then blowing out he water through the tip, and dabbing on a paper towel. First the most recent blue washed out,and even after so many flushes the paper still turns slightly red, so I must have had a red cartridge in when I stored it.

 

A couple of questions: how easy should it be to blow water then air through from the cartridge insert side towards the nib? It is difficult on mine currently and even stops and is impossible to bow air through. It is easier to blow the other way, mouth over the nib and out through the insertion side. Secondly, should the hole inside the shaft that goes into the cartridge be open and clear to the eye, or is there supposed to be a material of some sort, inside and flush with end of the shaft? Mine appears to have something there...

 

I will try an ammonia misxter next, but of cousre it would be helpful to have these questions answered in case i have a problem that is more serious than old ink build-up.

[fpnnm]

myrios, . The pen repair pros seem to prefer a cleaner like Koh-I-Noor Rapido-Eze Pen Cleaner for soaking fountain pen sections. For example, in this thread: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/153237-koh-i-noor-rapido-eze-pen-cleaner/.

Edited September 21, 2014 by fpnnm

[FarmBoy]

Where in CA are you? Near SFO? We have regular pen meetings that might be of interest.

I have no idea what kind of pen you have but you can use a rubber bulb to flush water though the section/nib/feed unit in place of the cartridge.

If that fails, we have other methods of clearing out the gunk.

 

Farmboy

[Mike 59]

Hi, You won't be able to see light through the nib/grip section as the path for the ink isn't a straight line, and also the channel (s) are usually around 0.001" wide.

If you have some ammonia, then you could make up a solution of 10% ammonia/90% water, and let the section soak overnight.

Next day flush through with plain water, stand nib on a paper towel, for 10 minutes, shake the water out of the top part where the cartridge fits, and test pen again.

If that does not clear it, then it's possible to use other equipment, or ultimately the nib section can normally be taken apart and cleaned, which will work.

[myrios]

I got some Rapido-Eze from our local art supply store. The first short soak of 30 minutes did little more than then water soaks, but an overnight soak really realeased a lot of new fresh looking red! But that was short lived as I again the ability to blow water or air through has ceased.

 

I am stiil awaiting an answer on: should I always be able to blow air and water through the nib or is there some mechanism inside that prevents outward flow if it's not ink trying to pass through?

 

I will at this point attempt a few long Rapido-Eze soaks, and hope also thaat Daniel Hechter will respond positively to my request for a new part!