I recently acquired a Namiki VP (fine point) that I had to return for a replacement. After filling the first nib assembly with Noodlers Legal Lapis, and using it a bit, I noticed a small accumulation on the flat (feed) side of the D shaped hole where the point exits the body. At first I tried to ignore it, then changed out nib assemblies, but the problem persisted. I talked to Pilot's head of customer service, who was very nice, expecting him to be surprised. Instead, he said this sometimes happens and the only solution was to send the pen to them for fine tuning (this after I told him I tried to "fine tune" a nib assembly myself -- only to have it break!) or else exchange it. After some more tinkering, I decided to exchange it, which Paradise Pen gladly did (but they were surprised to hear of this issue).
The new one does the same thing to a much lesser degree. It's not a huge issue until you inadvertently touch (or your shirt does) the end of the pen. I don't really want to send it to Pilot, because they apparently adjust the nib assembly (without breaking it, of course) and I don't want to have to do that every time I feel like changing a nib assembly.
Has anyone else experienced this?
Jerry
Full Version: Namiki VP exit hole ink accumulation
I've only had my VP about a month or so, but no, have not experienced this. 
I think that changing the ink may help.
As far as I remember, it was mentioned that Legal Lapis flows very generously (I don't know if that's correct) in every pen. Hope it will help you, as VP is a wonderful pen.
Jarek
As far as I remember, it was mentioned that Legal Lapis flows very generously (I don't know if that's correct) in every pen. Hope it will help you, as VP is a wonderful pen.
Jarek
Very strange. I've never experienced this myself, although I was surprised to find that when cleaning out the nib section barrel, there was quite a bit of dried ink in it (after a year of usage). It never accumulated at the opening, though. I always store the pen sideways and carry it nib side up (using the clip).
Is the accumulation present before using the pen, or does it gradually appear while writing with it? Does the Legal Lapis write wet? If so, then perhaps it may be inadvertently trickling out. I do wonder if there's any chance that the nib tip may touch the spring loaded "hatch" in the opening when stored, thus causing some nib trickling.
Is the accumulation present before using the pen, or does it gradually appear while writing with it? Does the Legal Lapis write wet? If so, then perhaps it may be inadvertently trickling out. I do wonder if there's any chance that the nib tip may touch the spring loaded "hatch" in the opening when stored, thus causing some nib trickling.
I use Noodler's in my 2 VP's and they both exhibit serious ink creeping on the nib, but the ink does stay inside. Try these things:
(1) After you fill the cartridge, make sure you expell a few drops, then pull some air back into the converter.
(2) Swab all the excess ink off the nib and other bits.
(3) Knowing that Noodler's creeps on metal and not wanting it to creep all over the insides of my pen, I treated the assembly above the nib with car wax/polish (I used Zymol, but I don't think it matters). This indeed keeps the ink from creeping up the assembly.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your VP!
Doug
(1) After you fill the cartridge, make sure you expell a few drops, then pull some air back into the converter.
(2) Swab all the excess ink off the nib and other bits.
(3) Knowing that Noodler's creeps on metal and not wanting it to creep all over the insides of my pen, I treated the assembly above the nib with car wax/polish (I used Zymol, but I don't think it matters). This indeed keeps the ink from creeping up the assembly.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your VP!
Doug
I am sure it is the ink. No other brand besides Noodlers acts as badly in my VP's. The worst being the FPN Brown. It creeps everywhere inside the pen, so bad it started coming out the top also. I was constantly wiping down the pen, inside and out. I finally gave up on the ink, and the bottle is now collecting dust on my shelf. I like the label though, so it makes a pretty dust collector.
Bob
Bob
| QUOTE (MYU @ Mar 6 2007, 10:17 PM) |
| Is the accumulation present before using the pen, or does it gradually appear while writing with it? Does the Legal Lapis write wet? If so, then perhaps it may be inadvertently trickling out. I do wonder if there's any chance that the nib tip may touch the spring loaded "hatch" in the opening when stored, thus causing some nib trickling. |
Nope, the accumulation is the result of the point being extended/retracted and the feed coming in close contact with the edge of the opening. Otherwise, the pen writes fine, not too wet, and doesn't seep or drip or gather ink inside the space between the trap door and the outer opening. It's obvious that if the feed slid just a hair farther away from the opening edge, the ink wouldn't accumulate.
With this pen, I've had 3 nib assemblies (all from Paradise Pen). All three looked to the naked eye as if the feed/nib emanated at a very (and I mean very) slight downward angle from the tubular part of the assembly. This is what I tried to correct on one, resulting in my breaking the nib. The head of customer service at Pilot said they try to correct the same thing in the nib assembly, but they're able to make the correction in the tubular area using special equipment.
There's also the remote possibility that the D-shaped hole in the end of the pen is slightly out of place. It just seems odd that it would be that way on two different pens (albeit probably from the same lot).
I just don't want to be sending it to Pilot every time I feel like changing the nib!
On a positive note, the guy at Pilot liked my idea for providing a cap with each nib assembly for those of us who load different assemblies with a variety of inks. I'm thinking of making my own. . . .
I have owned a VP for 4 months now. The past 3 months, using only Noodler's black and blue (if it matters), when I pull out the nib unit , I noticed half of the nib is full of wet ink. Luckily, I haven't had the ink come out of the hole just yet, but I have a feeling the inside of the barrel is full of dry ink.
I don't think I will be sending the pen back unless the ink starts to come out through the hole.
But in this case, I still want to clean this pen properly. Will it be okay to pour water inside the mechanism of the pen? How do you dry it out if the door trap of the nib remains closed when the pen is dismantled? I wonder if it will rust.
I don't think I will be sending the pen back unless the ink starts to come out through the hole.
But in this case, I still want to clean this pen properly. Will it be okay to pour water inside the mechanism of the pen? How do you dry it out if the door trap of the nib remains closed when the pen is dismantled? I wonder if it will rust.
| QUOTE (jofpn1236 @ Mar 7 2007, 12:14 AM) |
| I wonder if it will rust. |
I highly doubt this. Although I'm not an expert, I do know the VP is designed to be hermetically sealed in its interior. That's why the trap door mechanism works in lieu of a cap. I'd be surprised if a company like Pilot didn't use corrosion resistant materials in the interior of this design.
You get what you pay for; this was free. . . .
Jerry
I checked my 3 VP's and I can see that all of them slightly touch the nib opening. The underside of the nib has a "spacer track" running in the middle that helps push the nib up after being extended. It shouldn't leak ink, though.
Do you have any other ink you can test your pen with? I usually use Namiki or Lamy inks in mine, although I do have Noodler's Nightshade in my VP Raden and it shows no signs of leakage.
EDIT: Correction! I just double-checked my VP Raden. The underside of the nib has a very light coating of ink on it. I wiped it off, turned the pen with the underside of the nib facing up, and let the nib retract and then extend again. Once more, a light "lick" of ink. So I think it's the Noodler's... but I should qualify my experience further--although there is a trace of ink, it's by no means enough to say it's leaking.
Do you have any other ink you can test your pen with? I usually use Namiki or Lamy inks in mine, although I do have Noodler's Nightshade in my VP Raden and it shows no signs of leakage.
EDIT: Correction! I just double-checked my VP Raden. The underside of the nib has a very light coating of ink on it. I wiped it off, turned the pen with the underside of the nib facing up, and let the nib retract and then extend again. Once more, a light "lick" of ink. So I think it's the Noodler's... but I should qualify my experience further--although there is a trace of ink, it's by no means enough to say it's leaking.
Several years ago I had a big leak from the nib of my Vanishing Point. I do not recall what ink I was using, maybe Penman. So I cleaned out the pen by flushing with water. After it dried the trap door no longer worked. I checked with a couple of stores to see if I could get it fixed, and the folks there told me to send it back to Pilot. Well, I didn't do it, I just used other pens for the longest time. Then last summer I sent it back to Pilot with a note to fix it and send me a bill. About a week later it was back with a note that they replaced the cap section at no charge! And I've been loving it ever since and only using Namiki cartridges.
Len
Len
| QUOTE (MYU @ Mar 7 2007, 03:05 AM) |
| EDIT: Correction! I just double-checked my VP Raden. The underside of the nib has a very light coating of ink on it. I wiped it off, turned the pen with the underside of the nib facing up, and let the nib retract and then extend again. Once more, a light "lick" of ink. So I think it's the Noodler's... but I should qualify my experience further--although there is a trace of ink, it's by no means enough to say it's leaking. |
Thank you for doing this! Except for your result, and the corroboration from Pilot customer service, I was beginning to think I was crazy! Maybe it is the Noodlers (bummer!). When I re-ink, I'll have to try something else.
BTW, for those who may have missed it earlier, Pilot customer service liked the idea of providing caps with each nib assembly for those of us who wish to have more than one ink/nib assembly readily available. Has anyone tried this already? I'm thinking of fabricating my own. . . .
Jerry
I currently have a VP fine nib filled with Legal Lapis, but no problem. I guess I'm lucky.
| QUOTE (sirgrunthos @ Mar 7 2007, 01:44 PM) |
| BTW, for those who may have missed it earlier, Pilot customer service liked the idea of providing caps with each nib assembly for those of us who wish to have more than one ink/nib assembly readily available. Has anyone tried this already? I'm thinking of fabricating my own. . . . Jerry |
The last time I emptied a cartridge in my VP, I tried seeing if the empty cartridge would make a good "cap" for the nib assembly, and it looks like it would work. You have to remove the little disc that acts as a plug for the full cartridge, but the section (?) is a nice, snug fit into the cartridge's opening, so I think it will seal reasonably well. I just have the one nib unit, so I didn't test it over time.
Bill
| QUOTE (Bill Dodson @ Mar 7 2007, 01:27 PM) |
| The last time I emptied a cartridge in my VP, I tried seeing if the empty cartridge would make a good "cap" for the nib assembly, and it looks like it would work. You have to remove the little disc that acts as a plug for the full cartridge, but the section (?) is a nice, snug fit into the cartridge's opening, so I think it will seal reasonably well. I just have the one nib unit, so I didn't test it over time. Bill |
That's brilliant, Bill! For some reason one of my VP's came with an empty cart without the disc so I might try that!
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