OK...so I have this beast and filled it by unscrewing the section and using the eyedropper. I can see the stopper that fits into the back fo the section stopping the flow of ink, and it does, in fact, stop the flow when screwed in.

My question: I filled the pen with the blind cap screweed completely in and it took a lot of ink...seemingly filling the entire barrel. What is the purpose of the plunger? My assumption is that the pen feeds by gravity, once filled, simply by "venting" the barrel thru turning the blind cap a turn or two. Why would one pull, or push, the plunger when in use? And if its not needed for filling what is its purpose.

Thanks

Randy

Dont pull or push it. It is purely a valve. Open it a little and the ink flows. Close it and it stops.

What do you think of the pen?

Unlike your ordinary piston filler, the plunger (also known as shut-off valve (hint!)) has no function for filling the pen. Instead, it shuts off the flow of the ink - it plugs the path of ink to nib. Ýou then have to screw the blind cap open so as to move the plunger back from plugging the hole, thus allowing the ink to flow to the nib.

I hope that the above information helps!

/Tojusi

I usually back the shut-off valve out a turn or so before removing the section, filling the pen, and replacing the section; that way there is no pressure on the shut-off valve when removing the section.

I wouldn't recommend unscrewing the blind cap to the point you can pull the shaft of the valve - you risk breaking the shaft and then you have a bigger problem.

I find that I sometimes have to open the valve a couple of turns or maybe three to get the feed fully re-filled and then I can shut the valve back to a more normal position - around one turn open.

Have fun with your Densho - they are great pens.

Mine tends to be 1.75 turns to prime it and 1.5 turns to write with it.

I would agree with opening the valve slightly before unscrewing and screwing up the section again. It is something that I have done without thinking about it.

To what the other have said, I will only add that when you close the blind cap completely, the ink feed will still have enough ink in it to write for a while. I usually close mine off when I am nearly done with my writing and I can still get a couple additional sentences written.

I will also ask how you like the pen?

Thank you for the prompt and numerous replies. In follow up to my original question and your replies, why does the pen have the plunger to begin with? Wouldn't it have been enough to simply have a blind cap that unscrewed sufficiently to "unstop" the section and allow the "breathing"? It sounds like the plunger's existence could only lead to problems, e.g., breaking plunger shaft, opening too far, etc.. Just curious or a bit more of your thoughts in regard to the filler.

As to my impressions, in the few days I've had the pen I find that:

1. It meets my "big" criteria
2. The nib meets the "hipe" for being great to write with. Mine is marked "fine", but the seller didn't know if it was the flex or stiff version. I'm guessing the flex because it does have some line variation. Anyone know how to tell for sure?
3. It more than meets my criteria for "holds a lot of ink"
4. It has no "bling"....it's all about function not beauty. My Pelikans or MB will go to meetings, but this is likely to be my desk pen of choice as it writes as nicely as any pen I own.

Thanks again for your input.

Randy

Just because it unscrews all the way doesn't mean that you have to!

Understood. Just curious if there was some function I was missing.

As far as I know, the blind cap has nothing to do with "breathing". If it did let air in (and ink out) the pen would drip ink from the nib at best and run ink out the nib at worst. The pen "breaths" through the feed, like all other fp's.

The ink shut-off valve is a feature of many Japanese eye-droppers and simply serves to seal the barrel of ink from the feed when you're not writing. I often leave my Densho's blind cap backed off in normal writing position when I put the pen in its box on my desk - no leaks, no problems and the feed doesn't dry out for weeks/months at a time.