Hi all,

I have a vac junior and a 51 flighter, and both seem to leak very slightly (just enough to get a little ink on my fingers) when they are almost empty.
Not a big problem, because it won't happen as long as I keep them filled, and the leak is very small, but still annoying.
I was wondering if anyone else has been experiencing this, and if there is any simple solution.
As a note, the vac junior has been professionally restored about 6 months ago, and is in great shape (in other words, it probably doesn't need any part replacement).
One possible explanation is that I live at an altitude of 1200m and work at 500m, so maybe the difference in pressure may cause this??

thanks

David

The 'height difference' might be a possibility. I know for a fact that Parker 51 Flighters DO LEAK. I have one and mine leaked when it was in a plane. So that could be it.

David, do you notice them leaking more at home or at work?? As you have noticed these pens will blot a little when nearly empty, and as you have also stated the cure is to keep them full.
I would suspect that the altitude difference is the issue, and is compounded by the emptiness of the pens. A flighter "should" not leak though with that altitude difference, I wonder if the breather tube needs some seeing to. Do you know when the Flighter was last resacked?? If not it might be worth it to have it done, and the repairer should also look at the breather tube at the same time.

Cheers,
Sean

Actually, it's not that uncommon for a pen to flow more heavily right before it runs out. Since you don't have the "backstore" of ink in the pen, it increases the capillary flow outward. You see a similar effect if you are pouring out a bottle full of liquid- it flows out faster when it's almost empty.

It can also be the heat from your hand causing the air to expand and just push out the last drop of ink. But get the pens checked or keep them relatively full if that is an easy cure for the problem.

Just my .02 worth

Most pens of any type, will blob ink when almost empty. The air/ink balance is less than ideal when the pen is almost empty. Simple solution? Fill your pens regularly. You should have an idea of how long it takes you to use the ink in the pen. It does not sound like there is a problem with your pens.

Nick makes a good suggestion. As a rule, I fill my pens when they're 1/2 full. Perhaps you should do the same and see what happens.

It's perfectly normal. Really. The Parker repair manuals say that fountain pens will do this, and that the answer is to fill the pen.

My Parker 21's announce the end of the fill by running wet and dry on about alternate lines of text, just for the last couple of drops. I've not noticed this with aerometric fill "51"s yet, but the vac fillers do tend to run suddenly very wet at the end of the fill.

I suspect it's the air in the pen expanding from hand heat combined with low resistance to flow due to the empty sac or ink chamber.

Peter

thank you all for your helpful replies.

I will keep my pens filled for now, and get them checked if I have any other issues.

David