I wonder if anyone has any insights into my experience with Watermans. Maybe I am terribly unlucky but any assistance / advice would be welcome and might just stop me going mad!

I was given an Etalon (M) 5 years ago - it was dry and skipped. I took it back to the dealer and a replacement was excellent - a fast wet pen which became the only one I used (all day). Oddly though it was only ever OK with black ink - it skipped and was dry with blue or blue/black. Then a few months ago it dried and skipped all the time. I tried flushing, washing, soaking but no real improvement. I sent it back to Waterman for a service - no better. So I bought a new nib unit (B this time) - amazingly this too was hopelessly dry and skipped all the time. That went back to Waterman and returned no better.

So I have just bought a Carene (M) - guess what??? It is dry, with a very fine faint line and skips. Flushing, soaking etc to no avail.

Do I give up?

Help!

I found your site one evening in desperation.

Regards from the UK

Nick

Hmmm

Are you using cartridges or convertor?
Did you do the dishwashing liquid trick?
You take a toothpick or pin, dip the tip in dishwashing liquid, then touch that tip to the opening of an ink-filled cartridge or convertor, then insert into pen.

Thanks - I will try this. I am using cartridges only (not much better with bottled ink after first few lines. Oddly it is a bit better on some papers - which allow the ink to bleed in a bit. Hopeless on xerox paper etc.

Thanks for advice though.

Nick

For what it's worth, I had similar problems with my fine-point Carene when I first got it. I think I tried the usual flushing with soapy water routine but the flow still seemed rather meager. However, it improved over time and especially when I started using Private Reserve Midnight Blue cartridges, which actually seemed to flow better than Waterman Florida Blue cartridges. (Of course, this could have been an illusion caused by the much deeper color of the Private Reserve ink.) Perhaps you could try the same thing.

I have just tried the washing up liquid stunt suggested by satrap - AMAZING SUCCESS !! It has totally cured the problem instantly. The pen (Carene) is now flowing perfectly. Thank you very much for this.

One question - satrap is this a one off cure or do I need to repeat the treatment with new cartidges or periodically in future?

Thanks again - I am impressed

Nick

===

This is the thing I do when I notice stubborn ink. Less time consuming than wishing a pox on the houses, and it really does cure the problem in most cases. Glad to know you are having fun now!


diane

Congrats!! The dishwashing trick always amazes. Now, sometimes a fill of waterman florida or blueblack will do the trick too.

I think that skipping is due to oilskin on the nib, but I've also noticed some convertors have that issue which puzzles me. Anyway, 2 drops of dishwashing in a glass of water, flush, rinse with water (don't overclean the pen, you want *some* of that detergent in your pen), and there you go.

Juan

Nick,
Do you rinse out your pens periodically? I have many Watermans, made from 1920s-present, and have not had this problem...it does seem that pens prefer certain inks...but also some of my models have wetter flows than others. (Flow can be adjusted by experts/repair people). And some of my pens don't seem to like catridges as much as convertors-and vice versa. So perhaps your sample size has been too limited to generalize about the brand. I hope the dishwashing liquid did the trick-

What about the L'etalons? Did the flushing trick work with them? Seems there is still the mystery of the other pens and why they stopped? Do you leave the pen uncapped and unused for periods of time? Maybe ink was drying out in the feed??? It is odd that this problem happened so much to you. You mentioned that the B L'etalon nib was dry and such from the start. Is it possible you are using some paper that has a coating on it that rubs off on the tipping material of the nib and prevents ink from flowing out.

I am glad your Carene is working. They are very nice pens, IMO. But what about the other ones?

j

I don't mean to offend by this comment, but is it possible that you are holding the pen/nib at the wrong angle? That can certainly impede flow.
Patrick

Thanks very much for these helpful comments...

The washing up liquid did the trick for the L'Etalon too and that is now fine. The Carene has, a few cartridges later started drying again - there is just enough ink but only just. Maybe I like a faster ink flow as I do write quickly. I do find some papers (especially xerox types) are worse and other papers (such as good writing paper) are better.

It may be my writing as I have always noticed this a bit with FPs (even at school).

I am going to try a B nib on the Carene to see if that is any better.

I may try the flushing with water + washing up liquid.

I think the angle of the pen is OK.

Let's see....


Nick

Before changing the nibs, reconsider if you really need the cartridges. I haven't used a cartridge in ages, but I have heard about the ink in cartridges not being the same than the bottled counterparts sometimes. Try the converter; give it a good flush with dishwashing fluid and see what happens.

Juan