Hi,

This is my first "proper" fountain pen. I must say it's running a little dry. It was fine in the shop and when i got it home, but after a while i got the odd skip and dryness.

i called cross here in the uk. the lad i spoke to blamed the convertor, stating that now they are made somewhere else they are not quite as good and that i should try a cartridge. i was about to insert a cartridge, when i noticed the ink was gathering at the top of the convertor(where the piston gasket is). So i refilled and flow improved.

i felt that this was just clutching at straws, but what do i know? anyone else had convertor issues?? are cartridges really less problematic??

i'm just using standard lined a4 paper, the type sudents use. is this ok?? i can't imagine this type of paper would be capable of sucking all the ink out??

this is the third pen i have bought this week with flow issues, the first was a sheaffer perlude, then a waterman expert(both of which were returned to the shop).

so many questions, sorry.


thanks


kevin

Dear Kevin,

You may have a common converter problem where ink beads in the top of the converter due to surface tension in the water (ink is water based).

There is an easy solution to this - empty the pen of ink and flush it, and then fill and flush it using the converter several times in a soapy water solution using mild dishwashing liquid (much the same concentration you would use washing dishes in the sink). Let the pen dry after a final flush - but DO NOT rinse it with clear water. Let the soapy residue dry in the converter.

This will coat the inside of the converter with a soapy film which will make it more difficult for the ink to bead and keep it close to the nib where it belongs.

Many modern converters are made from a hard plastic that has properties that make it easy for water to bead on it, much like a freshly waxed car. We want to discourage that (and the pen companies should use a different clear plastic - like Lamy does, for example) so the pen behaves properly.

If this does not fix the problem, definitely try the pen with a cartridge (notice that cartridges are *not* made from the same plastic as converters - hmmmm), and if it works fine with the cart, then get a new converter - Cross should exchange it for free, as it would be defective.

thanks pen hero.

so you just let the soapy residue remain in the whle pen or just the convertor??

the cartridges are better, still skips a bit!!

do pens need a bedding in period??



cheers


kevin.

I would flush just the converter with the soap mixture. The feeds are dipped in a pretty powerful surfactant here in Lincoln and I'd advise against doing too much cleaning initially.
I agree with Jim on the converter, if flushing it does not help then we'll replace it.

Also take a peek between the nib and feed out near the tip and make sure there is no gap. The nib should touch the feed near the tip.

Bill

thanks bill

i must say i am dissapointed with this problem. but, the good thing is though, it's such a lovely writer when it's flowing nicely!!

the feed is touching the nib, i can see the vent hole up the side of the back of the feed, i take it that this is normal?? and the nib is curved fron the ferrule to the nib-tip, i guess this is normal.

i really appreciate the help, cheers.


kevin.