Hello All,

I've been on FPN for a few months now, and have found all the discussions here very interesting reading. My collection, all of which are in regular use, has now extended to:

MB 149 and Starwalker Due
Waterman Carene
Pelikan M800 and M400
Sailor Pro Gear
Lamy 2000, Al Star & Safari
Parker 100 & Frontier

I think thats all of them at the moment. The only pen that I have had issues with has been the M800 (medium nib) - its been writing quite dry ever since I got it, and if I write "quickly", it actually skips, and the line density varies with writing speed and angle, and obviously pressure. Certainly it is dry compared to all of my other pens, and this is on cheap NHS paper (I'm stuck with it owing to the fact that I'm a doctor, and this is what I do the majority of my writing on) and on Moleskeine and Calirefontaine papers, using Pelikan black ink. I have flushed it 3 times.

I know I could send this to Richard Binder to get fixed up, and get one of his cursive italics that I've been thinking about as well, but surely, there must be someone like Richard in the UK who can do this? Musn't there? This is what I have been thinking for a while now as I try to deal with this problem.

Or should I just send it back to Pelikan/the shop where I bought it from?

But even more than that, there must be someone in the UK, right? I just ordered a Namiki VP with a stub italic from Richard, and am looking forward to receiving it, and I know I will want to have many more personalised nibs. Richard, if you're reading this and if this first pen works out, I know theres a lot more business coming your way from the UK(!), so I am just astounded that in a city like London, there appears to be noone who can do this for you?

Please please correct me if I'm wrong!

Many thanks

Raj

I would recommend getting some experience of the pen with a properly functioning nib before contemplating any customisation. Since you live in the UK, your contract is with the retailer from which you bought the pen. Go back to them and ask them to adjust the nib properly. Take a writing sample with you for reference. If they look at you in a funny way, put it down to experience and choose another retailer for your future purchases! Flow adjustment is a basic repair function that any fountain pen repairer or specialist fountain pen retailer can perform.

There are a number of respected pensmiths in the UK that can grind an italic nib for you. It's just that they don't advertise here on FPN.

HTH,

Martin

OK, silly question then - where do they advertise?

Check tihis out http://www.penmuseum.co.uk

Maybe they offer pen repair or can help you out with your problem.

Yes, that looks like a very useful link - thanks very much barny.

You're welcome

Have you tried a different black ink by any chance?

Quink Black in my M200 medium nib writes oK with good flow whereas the Pelikan Blue Black seems to make the nib catchier / slower ie with less lubrication

I appreciate the Pel should write nicely with any ink but it maybe worth a test to find out

Thank you very much for the responses, and the most useful link!

I have discussed the issue with the retailer I purchased it from, and they are more than willing to have a look at/replace the pen. So thats what I am going to do. I have not tried any other inks in it - this was intended as my daily writer and I am more less committed to writing in black. As far as brands are concerned, I only have Mont Blanc, Lamy and Waterman blacks as comparison.

In any case, I am getting it looked at.

As far as nib customisation goes, thanks for the link posted above, I am looking forward to trying out nib customisations as part of my normal daily writing rather than getting into flex nibs for calligraphy and lettering...for now...

Ta all

Raj