I am a relative newbie to purchasing fountain pens. Looked around the forum and decided to dive in with a Pelikan 200, with a fine nib. Got it today and love the size and feel but I am less than impressed with a couple of things and want to know if this is normal.
First, the pen skips a bit on quick down stroke. Should I be applying more pressure or go slower. What amount of skipping is normal.
Second, I filled the pen and no matter how much I wipe the top of the nib off I keep getting some ink coming back. Not a lot but it doesn't stay clean.
These maybe stupid questions but I am new to this.
Full Version: New Pelikan Problems
Bit more information, a small bit of ink forms midway down the, for lack of a better term, split.
note2sb,
I am far, far from being an expert having just gotten back into FP's myself. But, I am a new Pelikan owner as well, and I can tell you a couple of things that might help.
My pen was skipping a bit as well. It seemed odd because I have read numerous posts from other experienced Pelikan owners and one of the common themes was the lack of skipping. I had filled my pen per the included instructions, but still noticed that I could see through the ink indicator window. So, I went through the filling instructions again, letting the few drops of ink be forced out, submerging the nib and a portion of the bottom trim ring in the ink, and twisting the fill knob S L O W L Y!! This did the trick. Apparently, I twisted the knob a little too fast on my initial fill and it didn't fill up completely with ink. Based on what came out when I repeated the fill prcoess, I think the nib was a little starved for ink, thus the skipping. Give that a try, and remember to follow the instructions re: after filling twist the knob back in the reverse direction to get about 3 drops of ink back out of the pen. Then, turn the pen nib side up and turn the knob back the other way (filling direction) until it stops. According to folks on here, that's very imoportant to get the air bubble necessary for propler ink flow. After I went through that process, my Pel works flawlessly with no skipping and a wetter line.
As to your second item, there always seems to be a small amount of ink there. The more you wipe, the more the wiping action causes the ink to be drawn through the slit and onto the material you are using to wipe (e.g. a Kleenex). Unless it's a big blob of ink, I wouldn't wory too much about it. You should be able to wipe the bulk of it off very carefully, making sure not to touch the "slit" which will just draw more ink out and spread it around.
Hope I'm not blowing smoke, here, but that's my experience. Hope it helps.
Good luck, Dean
I am far, far from being an expert having just gotten back into FP's myself. But, I am a new Pelikan owner as well, and I can tell you a couple of things that might help.
My pen was skipping a bit as well. It seemed odd because I have read numerous posts from other experienced Pelikan owners and one of the common themes was the lack of skipping. I had filled my pen per the included instructions, but still noticed that I could see through the ink indicator window. So, I went through the filling instructions again, letting the few drops of ink be forced out, submerging the nib and a portion of the bottom trim ring in the ink, and twisting the fill knob S L O W L Y!! This did the trick. Apparently, I twisted the knob a little too fast on my initial fill and it didn't fill up completely with ink. Based on what came out when I repeated the fill prcoess, I think the nib was a little starved for ink, thus the skipping. Give that a try, and remember to follow the instructions re: after filling twist the knob back in the reverse direction to get about 3 drops of ink back out of the pen. Then, turn the pen nib side up and turn the knob back the other way (filling direction) until it stops. According to folks on here, that's very imoportant to get the air bubble necessary for propler ink flow. After I went through that process, my Pel works flawlessly with no skipping and a wetter line.
As to your second item, there always seems to be a small amount of ink there. The more you wipe, the more the wiping action causes the ink to be drawn through the slit and onto the material you are using to wipe (e.g. a Kleenex). Unless it's a big blob of ink, I wouldn't wory too much about it. You should be able to wipe the bulk of it off very carefully, making sure not to touch the "slit" which will just draw more ink out and spread it around.
Hope I'm not blowing smoke, here, but that's my experience. Hope it helps.
Good luck, Dean
Hello and welcome!
Couple of questions:
1) What type of ink are you using?
2) Did you flush the pen before filling?
3) Is the ink in the slit between the tines or is it coming out onto the nib?
Skipping should not happen and, depending upon the ink, some "nib creeping" might be expected, but this typically happens with Noodlers permanent/eternal/bulletproof inks. If you mean that there's ink in the slit - yes, it's supposed to be there. That's how it gets to the tip, via capillary action.
If the skipping persists, I would recommend emptying the pen and flushing the ink in the pen down the drain. Take a cup of cold water and put a couple of drops of mild dish soap in it, fill the pen and empty it out several times. This will remove any residual oils from the manufacturing process (fairly common on new pens). Then flush the pen again with regular cold water a few times and place the pen nib down in a cup with a few paper towels in the bottom to wick out the remaining moisture. Then fill the pen with ink and give it another try.
Keep us posted and hth,
southpaw
Couple of questions:
1) What type of ink are you using?
2) Did you flush the pen before filling?
3) Is the ink in the slit between the tines or is it coming out onto the nib?
Skipping should not happen and, depending upon the ink, some "nib creeping" might be expected, but this typically happens with Noodlers permanent/eternal/bulletproof inks. If you mean that there's ink in the slit - yes, it's supposed to be there. That's how it gets to the tip, via capillary action.
If the skipping persists, I would recommend emptying the pen and flushing the ink in the pen down the drain. Take a cup of cold water and put a couple of drops of mild dish soap in it, fill the pen and empty it out several times. This will remove any residual oils from the manufacturing process (fairly common on new pens). Then flush the pen again with regular cold water a few times and place the pen nib down in a cup with a few paper towels in the bottom to wick out the remaining moisture. Then fill the pen with ink and give it another try.
Keep us posted and hth,
southpaw
QUOTE (southpaw @ Feb 16 2006, 08:12 PM)
Hello and welcome!
Couple of questions:
1) What type of ink are you using?
2) Did you flush the pen before filling?
3) Is the ink in the slit between the tines or is it coming out onto the nib?
Skipping should not happen and, depending upon the ink, some "nib creeping" might be expected, but this typically happens with Noodlers permanent/eternal/bulletproof inks. If you mean that there's ink in the slit - yes, it's supposed to be there. That's how it gets to the tip, via capillary action.
If the skipping persists, I would recommend emptying the pen and flushing the ink in the pen down the drain. Take a cup of cold water and put a couple of drops of mild dish soap in it, fill the pen and empty it out several times. This will remove any residual oils from the manufacturing process (fairly common on new pens). Then flush the pen again with regular cold water a few times and place the pen nib down in a cup with a few paper towels in the bottom to wick out the remaining moisture. Then fill the pen with ink and give it another try.
Keep us posted and hth,
southpaw
Couple of questions:
1) What type of ink are you using?
2) Did you flush the pen before filling?
3) Is the ink in the slit between the tines or is it coming out onto the nib?
Skipping should not happen and, depending upon the ink, some "nib creeping" might be expected, but this typically happens with Noodlers permanent/eternal/bulletproof inks. If you mean that there's ink in the slit - yes, it's supposed to be there. That's how it gets to the tip, via capillary action.
If the skipping persists, I would recommend emptying the pen and flushing the ink in the pen down the drain. Take a cup of cold water and put a couple of drops of mild dish soap in it, fill the pen and empty it out several times. This will remove any residual oils from the manufacturing process (fairly common on new pens). Then flush the pen again with regular cold water a few times and place the pen nib down in a cup with a few paper towels in the bottom to wick out the remaining moisture. Then fill the pen with ink and give it another try.
Keep us posted and hth,
southpaw
...........
or, what he said
no nib should skip. If the posted remedies don't help, contact either your pelikan dealer or if you're in the US, contact Chartpak.
yup, getting a nib completely clear of ink while it's filled is going to be darn near impossible and with certain inks, all the more so.
There are some inks that I've seen creep that were not Noodler's (WM Havana for example) but usually not to the degree that Noodler's inks creep. but there will almost always be a small amount visible on the top of the pen unless it's particularly dry-writing and a particularly stingy ink. Even then...
Keep in mind, the nib is meant to be wet so it's better for the nibs finish to let a little ink sit on the top than to wipe ink off of it often or obsessively.
yup, getting a nib completely clear of ink while it's filled is going to be darn near impossible and with certain inks, all the more so.
There are some inks that I've seen creep that were not Noodler's (WM Havana for example) but usually not to the degree that Noodler's inks creep. but there will almost always be a small amount visible on the top of the pen unless it's particularly dry-writing and a particularly stingy ink. Even then...
Keep in mind, the nib is meant to be wet so it's better for the nibs finish to let a little ink sit on the top than to wipe ink off of it often or obsessively.
refilled the pen and the skipping has stopped. there is definitely a smooth flow to this pen. 
regarding the residual ink, it is a bit better but still comes back. not sure what to think just yet. <_<
thanks for everyone's help!!!
regarding the residual ink, it is a bit better but still comes back. not sure what to think just yet. <_<
thanks for everyone's help!!!
Okay: regards to ink creep is what it sounds like... This has always worked for me no matter how bad the ink is with creeping. Get a washcloth or somethink similar and just soak it in water and run it over each 1/2 of the nib seperatly very lightly, and it should be cured.
Music Pen Guy: Tim
Music Pen Guy: Tim
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