(Noob here, please excuse my ignorance.)

I have a Black Lacque Sonnet enroute with as the seller describes it a wetter
gold M nib in it.

I've gone through a ton of Sonnet search posts and see that there may be
problems using Noodler's ink with them.

Alas, it just so happens that Midnight Blue is my most used ink. It's not a
bulletproof so what type of problems am I likely to see using it in a Sonnet
and how likely is it that I'll experience them?

Also,

I do have a small sample vial of PR Midnight Blues IF it Really Is Strongly
Advised not to use the Noodler's in the Sonnet, but of course it is too small
a vial to do a normal fill with. I'd plan to fill the converter with a syringe and
let the pen sit point down for while for the nib/feed to fill. Anything special
I should know here besides fill the converter with it open all the way and don't
puncture anything with the needle?

Thank all of you so much for your help,

Bruce in Ocala, FL

My Sonnet is picky, but it loves PR Midnight Blues. It's a Midnight Blue Sonnet, so it just works out that way. I haven't tried any Noodler's in it yet, but I might would give it a go. I just wouldn't use something like Baystate Blue in my Sonnet. I have that color and right now I'm only using it in a blue Phileas I have.

Oh yeah and be careful you don't stick yourself with that syringe. You can get blunt ones, but the sharp ones are easy to get. It's my fave way of filling carts too.

Sonnet pens, amongst others, have a breather gap in the cap. Unfortunately, the inner cap in a Sonnet doesn't seem to seal properly, and they tend to dry out when not used daily.

The result is that rich inks, including some PRs, the original Parker Penman Ebony and some Noodler's, amongst others, can dry out in a Sonnet and clog the nib, requiring much cleaning.

The solution is to melt some paraffin wax till it is very runny, and dip the top of the cap into the wax. The wax will run into the gap, which is under where the clip attaches to the cap, and block it.
Once it all cools down, you can wipe off the excess wax. You won't be able to see the fix, but you can test it by blowing into the cap. If you can't blow, you have sealed the gap.

I did this some ten years ago to my Sonnet and it has behaved flawlessly ever since.

As for sharp needles -- rub the point against a brick. That will blunt the tip very neatly.

Been there, done that. Right now the Sonnet has non-Noodler's in it, but I'm going to seal the cap so it won't be a problem.

I hope mine doesn't have the drying out problem when it gets here, from the usage pattern the
seller described (he said he used the Sonnet most of all his pens) I think I might be ok.

So far as using the wax to seal the cap goes, my monitor has just stopped smoking today from
reading the full paged, flaming warning yesterday from Mr. Binder not to do that on a Sonnet.


If mine ends up drying out I may not have much choice as mine won't qualify for any Parker
warranty work.


Bruce in Ocala, FL

I missed that post by Richard Binder. I did a search, but couldn't find it. Could you post a link, please?

NP. Just let me figure out where in 13 pages of posts it was...

Bruce in Ocala, FL

Here 'tis http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...6&hl=Sonnet

Bruce in Ocala, FL

Found it.
I just had to look for the term 'sonnet' by member 'richard'

I think his advice is valid for a new pen that is still under warranty.

But for a cheaper pen (i.e. < $100) that is not vintage, and is not under warranty, or where getting the repair done would just take too long (like Aus)
I think I will stick with the hot wax, and just be careful when I take the cap off.

I think it must depend largely on which Noodler's Ink you are thinking of. When the cap is off and writing, and after pausing to think for a brief moment, I find that the Judicial Black Ink (which is a dark black than the regular black and sold exclusively in Singapore) dries up in the nib faster than the regular black ink, and would require some writing/ priming before any ink flows out again. The regular black ink didn't exhibit such problems at all, not even when the pen was left unused for some period (capped of course), but the judicial black ink did cause some clogging when the pen was left capped for a couple of days.

Hi, I just checked my two Sonnets, as they had been sitting for about a week unused (although travelled in the cloth case that came with the matte black). One has a fine nib with Bulletproof Black, the other an XF with Luxury Blue. Both wrote perfectly from start-up. Not had any issues with drying/clogging so far ...

Yeah, I think I did read that is was mainly with the bulletproof Noodler's.

I really like the Midnight Blue. It's the closest to what *I* think a BLUE/black should be
(even though I still think it needs a tad of black added in). I guess I'll give it a shot in
the Sonnet, all else fails and I'll drain it and try the PR Midnight Blues.

I reluctantly agree with the above poster, I hesitate to go against someone with
Richard's credentials when they say not to do something, but I don't have any super
special kind of Sonnet, just a Black Lacque that definately doesn't qualify for warranty
work, so if I ever DO have a drying problem with multiple inks, I don't see that I have
alot of choice.

Bruce in Ocala, FL

No. DO use Noodlers' in Sonnets!

One of the great things about the Sonnet is that it is made to dismantle. An ink may dry quickly, clog or leave deposits. But you can always clean them out from a Sonnet.

It is exactly those supersaturated inks which throw deposits in their bottles, which I put in Sonnets rather than my other pens.

Sonnets are perhaps more exposed to quickly drying inks than other pens. I do not have a wide enough experience yet to say.

I use Noodler's inks of all types in my Sonnets. No problems. Sonnets do like to be used regularly (i.e., daily, all day long). They can get cranky when left unused for a day or two, and it does not depend on the brand of ink -- Sonnets are as likely to get balky when left loaded with Quink Washable Blue as they are with Noodler's El Lawrence.

Load it with whatever you like, use it, and don't worry about it. And as christob just said, Sonnets are easy to clean if worse comes to worst.

Are there any special methods of cleaning you use in such cases other than loading several portions of tap water in the converter through the nib?

I've got myself a Sonnet too, and I'm just about to buy a Luxury Blue or perhaps some other type of Noodler's ink to try with a Sonnet.

Also, can I add, how easy is it to dismantle and put it back together? Is it possible to tell if it was disassembled and put back together? I'm afraid to take the risk to try it right away.

Kurzman and TBiley, just grab hold of the nib and feed up close to the rest of the pen and unscrew (the normal way). Getting the nib of the collector and feed is a bit more problematic, use a small screwdriver or tool to press the nib clamp of the feed. Some force may be needed.

There is no way to my knowledge to see if the the nib and feed has been unscrewed. Not that it matters in any way. Pressing the nib of the feed may leave a scratch on the feed. But as long as the nib isn't hurt that doesn't affect the quality of the pen's writing.

This is one of those myths that I wish would Just Go Away.

I use Noodler's, bulletproof and otherwise, in ALL of my Sonnets. Not a one of them has clogged, melted, shot flames out the barrel, or had the nib fall off. I have not plugged any holes with wax. They Work Fine Just As Is.

There is nothing inherently harmful about Noodlers. There is nothing inherently wrong with Sonnets. They are inks and pens. Sonnets are not delicate, precise instruments that require only the finest and purest of inks.

Jeez Louise ...

(OK, I notice I replied to this thread already, two months ago. Whatever. Stet. )