Feeding Problem?

[razr]

I've noticed lately that I've had skip/feed problems with my 149 (BB) and Noodler's Legal Lapis. The nib starts to skip like it's almost out of ink, but it's not. I've noticed that if I bleed off 1 drop of ink the FP writes fine. I've had to do this 2 times already on this one fill. Normally I only bleed off 1 drop when I fill my FPs. Do I need to change this?

 

I've had this FP about 3 years and I've never had this problem before.

 

Any advice?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Chrissy]

It sounds like it could do with a service. The feed may be blocked inside. You could try emptying and soaking it overnight in cool water with a drop or two of detergent (dish soap?) in it. That may help.

 

There are also good products on the market to soak it in. Goulet Pens sell one

[razr]

Thanks Chrissy. I'll try that.

[WirsPlm]

Another thing to try, if the problem persists after a nib gets a good flush and soak, is to floss the nib with a very, very thin sheet of brass (you can get them from Goulets or Anderson Pens I think). A nib slit can get tiny fibers or hairs stuck in it which cause flow problems, and flossing or flushing the nib well can clear them out. I've done this to several pens when I notice them being drier than usual and it helps.

[vannesspen]

I've noticed lately that I've had skip/feed problems with my 149 (BB) and Noodler's Legal Lapis. The nib starts to skip like it's almost out of ink, but it's not. I've noticed that if I bleed off 1 drop of ink the FP writes fine. I've had to do this 2 times already on this one fill. Normally I only bleed off 1 drop when I fill my FPs. Do I need to change this?

 

I've had this FP about 3 years and I've never had this problem before.

 

Any advice?

 

Thanks in advance.

Certain colors and brands of ink may have affect on flow as well- MB are notoriously picky when it comes to inks- they need thin viscosity for the best flow as others have written already- some bottles within a color may even cause issues. A good soak may solve your problem as well. We stick to water ( and recommend that method for customers) as a soaking method (overnight) unless it is a severe clog- also we use an old Parker Centrifuge- but you can make your own at home.

[GTOZack]

you can also buy goulet pen flush at gouletpen.com ( no affl, just a happy customer),, that thing cleaned my 60 year old parker 51 I was shocked to see how dirty the water was after a nice soak.

[JLS1]

Certain colors and brands of ink may have affect on flow as well- MB are notoriously picky when it comes to inks- they need thin viscosity for the best flow as others have written already- some bottles within a color may even cause issues. A good soak may solve your problem as well. We stick to water ( and recommend that method for customers) as a soaking method (overnight) unless it is a severe clog- also we use an old Parker Centrifuge- but you can make your own at home.

 

Vanness: I'm not so sure that I'd say MBs are 'notoriously picky', but obviously some inks will work better than others... I do agree with you on the water-soak method, though. What does a centerfuge look like?

 

To the OP: You mentioned that you've used the pen for 3 years without problems, but have you used Noodler's (and/or this color of ink) in this pen before? If not, what inks have you been using in the pen up to now?

 

EDIT: corrected spelling mistakes

Edited February 4, 2014 by JLS1

[razr]

Certain colors and brands of ink may have affect on flow as well- MB are notoriously picky when it comes to inks- they need thin viscosity for the best flow as others have written already- some bottles within a color may even cause issues. A good soak may solve your problem as well. We stick to water ( and recommend that method for customers) as a soaking method (overnight) unless it is a severe clog- also we use an old Parker Centrifuge- but you can make your own at home.

 

For the last 2+ years I've only been using Legal Lapis in my MB and also Pelikan M1000 w/o any problems...until now.

[razr]

Another thing to try, if the problem persists after a nib gets a good flush and soak, is to floss the nib with a very, very thin sheet of brass (you can get them from Goulets or Anderson Pens I think). A nib slit can get tiny fibers or hairs stuck in it which cause flow problems, and flossing or flushing the nib well can clear them out. I've done this to several pens when I notice them being drier than usual and it helps.

 

ooh...thanks for the suggestion but I'd rather not mess with a nib that cost me $$ to replace.

[Tombstone]

 

For the last 2+ years I've only been using Legal Lapis in my MB and also Pelikan M1000 w/o any problems...until now.

 

To be honest: for me the fact that you already use it for 2+ years carries a certian "WoW!"

 

Lagal Lapis is one of the "Bulletproof"-Inks of Noodlers, so be sure that there are some substances inside who can for sure block the flow in your feed. Result: give the pen a real good flush - even a real long ultrasonic bath would be useful.

 

Note: the drop of ink moved out by the piston does not indicate that everything is ok. With this you only press a certain amount of ink in the feeder, so the pen keeps on writing for a certain time, until it runs empty again.

 

Resume: for me an expected result of using Legal Lapis.

[vannesspen]

 

Vanness: I'm not so sure that I'd say MBs are 'notoriously picky', but obviously some inks will work better than others... I do agree with you on the water-soak method, though. What does a centerfuge look like?

 

To the OP: You mentioned that you've used the pen for 3 years without problems, but have you used Noodler's (and/or this color of ink) in this pen before? If not, what inks have you been using in the pen up to now?

 

EDIT: corrected spelling mistakes

The centrifuge can be made with a salad spinner- I think there is an old thread on instructions- I know we have helped several pen repair businesses make them- our Parker is quite old- but it works. Our store does keep cleaning solution in stock- but we really prefer water. Over the years we have found a few brands of pens that are more sensitive to inks than others. Cartier and Mont Blanc are a few examples.

We have a Cartier that will one accept one ink brand- and not every color in that brand, crazy how pens have personalities.

[razr]

 

To be honest: for me the fact that you already use it for 2+ years carries a certian "WoW!"

 

Lagal Lapis is one of the "Bulletproof"-Inks of Noodlers, so be sure that there are some substances inside who can for sure block the flow in your feed. Result: give the pen a real good flush - even a real long ultrasonic bath would be useful.

 

Note: the drop of ink moved out by the piston does not indicate that everything is ok. With this you only press a certain amount of ink in the feeder, so the pen keeps on writing for a certain time, until it runs empty again.

 

Resume: for me an expected result of using Legal Lapis.

The weird thing is that I've also been using LL in my Pelikan M1000 for ~2 years w/o any problem.

[JLS1]

 

To be honest: for me the fact that you already use it for 2+ years carries a certian "WoW!"

 

Lagal Lapis is one of the "Bulletproof"-Inks of Noodlers, so be sure that there are some substances inside who can for sure block the flow in your feed. Result: give the pen a real good flush - even a real long ultrasonic bath would be useful.

 

<SNIP>

 

Just FWIW, I've heard it's possible to remove plating on a nib if you leave it in an ultrasonic bath too long...not sure I'd want to experiment with a 149's bi- or tri-color nib. Has anybody used an ultrasonic cleaner with their 149?

 

DISCLAIMER: I don't own an ultrasonic cleaner. (I also don't play a character that uses an ultrasonic cleaner on TV, but wish I did. )

[Tombstone]

 

Just FWIW, I've heard it's possible to remove plating on a nib if you leave it in an ultrasonic bath too long...

 

If this happens, the plating was not correct - it never happend to my pens, and I do this since decades with all kind of pens and nibs. I use a professional ultrasonic which runs at 300 W - so we also do not talk about about one of those trashy Super-Sale-Cheap-Ultrasonics.

 

the only way I killed a plating was by polishing... ok, Cape Cod works well...