QUOTE(djmaher @ Mar 25 2008, 06:42 PM) [snapback]557479[/snapback]
How far do I dip the nib into the ink as I turn the piston, so as not to draw air??
Dip the nib in up to the section. You don't need to immerse the entire section. I'd say just past the "lip" is best.
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If I want to just put a small amount of ink into my pen, how much is enough to have it write?
With the way the Pelikan (and many other) feed is designed, it will write for some time with just a dip and not actually drawing ink. What you will not be able to tell is how well it is feeding ink from the barrel to the nib. But you'll be able to test the feel of the nib sufficiently.
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How far does the piston actually travel up the barrel?
I always have trouble with this question. what does "up" mean? Do you mean how close does the piston come to the section? If so, then the answer is, all the way. The piston stops at the place where the ink view window and section meet.
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Is the turning knob for the piston suppose to be "loose"? This pen is actually used, but in great shape, but this know thing bothers me a bit. I'm not sure its supposed to be this way... can someone help??
Yes, it should have some play in it. Ask one of the many engineers here why that is.
Legal Lapis is fine. I've never had any problems with it.
Yes, you can remove the nib, fill with syringe, then reattach. You may have to prime the nib if you do this, but it should only take moments for the ink to move into the feed if you don't prime it. Prime: twist the piston knob until you push ink from the barrel into the feed/nib assembly.
Those Pear Tree Pen samples are plenty. The pen holds about 1.3 mls. That's not much more than most of the PTP samples I've gotten. And less in some cases. Depending on the nib size, you'll get a few pages out of a sample.