Hi there!

So I've recently gone back to writing almost exclusively with fountain pen and in addition to a newly purchased Cross, I've fished out my first FP, a Waterman Expert. It's been a couple of years since I've last touched it, so I've gone and flushed it out a couple of times, before filling it up with some PR Electric DC Blue.

I'm beginning to notice some flow issues with the pen -- it fine for a bit, and then stops pushing out ink and I'll need to coax it out. Has anyone experienced this with an expert before? It also feels like it writes rather dry.

Thanks!

Iris

Since none of the "big dawgs" have chimed in here, as (a step past) a Noob, I'll give it a shot.

You may have some old ink cloggage issues.

It depends on your level of patience (of which I am working at attaining a slight amount of) as to
how to attack this.

If you have a decent level, get a cup full of warm water and soak the nib section. Every few hours replace with
more warm water. At each water refill try to lightly blow some water through from the open end of the nib
section. While it's best to use a rubber bulb, I did this by mouth (LIGHTLY blow...) you may have to do
this several times over a day or so to clear all the old ink out. Hopefully at some point of the refills/blowing
you'll notice clear flowage from the the feed area of the nib, if so, you should be good to go at that point.
Either (securely holding the section) give it a few "thermometer type shakes" to clear the water or wrap
it in tissue and let it set overnight for the capillary action to draw any remaining water out.

If you have less patience or desire to babysit it, get some Dawn dish detergent (that's supposed to
be the strongest dish type stuff) add just a couple drops to the same cup of warm water and just let that
sit overnight. Flush thoroughly with clear water the next day. Lightly blow some water through the section
to be sure you have nice clear flowage. Dry the nib section as described above.

Hopefully with the favor of the pen gods, that will get you going again, try it, you'll be no worse off than
you are now. If this doesnt't work, report back.

Bruce in Ocala, FL

Bruce,

Thanks for the reply! I was out in SF today checking out a new pen store and asked the folks there about the issue as well. They recommended the same exact thing. Looks like I'll be draining the pen and giving it nice long bath -- then filling it up with some new ink. I'll let you know how it goes.

Hi Iris and OcalaFlGuy!

Am I one of the "big dawgs" by now? Obviously not as big ( ) as RichardB or OldGriz to name a few but I think I'm getting there

I've used Experts for a couple of years now and don't have any problems with ink flow. At a church meet not so long ago I even noticed my Bishop using a really nice green dune one. Made me jealous as I only had plain colours and matt blacks.

The washing out advice is good but I think the moral is to clean any pen out before putting them to "rest" for a long while.

cheers,
Armchop

Bruce, you go, Dude!

I own several Experts also, and they are great pens. Arm, I have a green Dune (yeah, Bruce, I got it for a super low price of twenny bucks ), and a couple others. Your Bishop is REALLY anointed!


PS: Ok, Rookies, try to get this one (I promise not to bid, since I already have 3 Operas)
http://cgi.ebay.com/Set-2-Ideal-Waterman-B...1QQcmdZViewItem

Hint: "Isoldit" stores, when they have pens, the pens are always dirt cheap


Edited to assign homework

Cross-posted here at John Cullen's suggestion ... newbie to the FPN, but not to pens (have used and loved them for years ...)

My everyday pen is a black Waterman Expert, medium gold nib ... I love it. I also have a Blue Dune, with a medium steel nib that unfortunately has been bent, so it now doesn't flow anywhere near as evenly as I'd like. Any suggestions on where to go find a replacement nib? The blue color is magnificent, and if I could find a replacement nib, it would probably become my workhorse pen.

Thanks in advance for any help or pointers. I'd also be willing to purchase an Expert with a quality nib, but damaged / worn body and "harvest" the nib!

First call Waterman and see what they charge for a nib section of if they will cover the bent nib under warranty, ya can't get if you don't ask.

I am all over Fleabay and the marketplace here and I don't see parts Experts at all. Usable Experts usually go for $45-60. I'm just guessing that a nib from Waterman (since it's gold plated not gold,) MIGHT be around $30. Believe it or not, you also might get a nibmeisther to straighten it out for about $25-30 too, Deb Kinney quoted me around $25 to work on my Park Sonnet (just typical Sonnet flowage misbehaving..)

Bruce in Ocala, FL

UPDATE: spend yesterday patiently soaking and changing the water on the nib. It ran clear after about 7-9 batches, and I left it to dry for the night with a tissue wrapped around it. Filled it up with some PR Midnight Blues this morning and it's writing like a dream. Thanks for the advice!