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Duh Moment...filling A Visconti?


TheOtherBart

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After using a couple of inexpensive Sheaffer and Waterman fountain pens for a long time, I had a milestone at work and decided to treat myself to a proper pen. After some deliberation today I ended up with a Visconti Homo Sapiens. I'm a sucker for unusual materials, and the "lava rock" just felt nice.

 

Now...I can't fill the darn thing. I've watched a video on YouTube, read the review here, and tried to emulate the process. I unscrew the end, but I cannot get the plunger to pull out. I'm hesitant to apply too much force because I'm sure it isn't necessary. What am I doing wrong???

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is it the steel version with the piston filler????? ;)

 

Why yes, yes it is. Did I mention this was a "duh" moment? :blush:

 

So that problem is solved, and another arises. Like I said, this is my first "nicer" pen purchase. At the shop I tested ten or twelve pens using the water and special paper. I loved the way this one felt, but now that I have it inked I feel pretty strongly that I'd prefer a finer nib. I have an e-mail into the store asking if an exchange is possible at this point. Does anyone have an idea what the response is likely to be? I'm guessing "no" since it's been inked, but I'm hopeful.

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i think they can replace the nib unit easily as it unscrews to give you a new nib......good luck....

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i think they can replace the nib unit easily as it unscrews to give you a new nib......good luck....

 

Thanks! I might be better off starting a new thread with a more relevant title, but in the little time I've had writing with this pen so far I've found it to be VERY wet, and yet skip frequently enough to be a bit annoying. Same behavior on my old Exacompta notebook, a cheap composition book, and some high quality "resume paper" I have around. And on the Exacompta the bleed-through is horrendous where my cheap Sheaffer with the same ink only has a little bit of ghosting. Could it be an issue of technique? Pen/ink/paper synergies? Nib size? Lunar phase? I want to love this pen!

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A pen is not supposed to skip, esp. at this price. Love the pen, but have the nib changed or taken care of. Did you buy your pen in BM shop? Because if so, it would make all the process a lot easier...

amonjak.com

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Visconti are famous (and beloved) for their wetness. However skipping says you need to send it back for repair/replacement. They used to be great about nib exchanges with just tested pens, but I haven't needed a swap since Cole's took over in the US, so ask.

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Forgive my ignorance, but I don't know what a BM shop is. I bought the pen at Paradise Pens in Oak Brook IL. I have an email into the store asking about exchanging for a finer nib, so if the skipping is a sign of a nib problem maybe that will solve it. I will call the shop Monday if I don't hear back on my email today, but would it make sense for me to contact the US distributor directly?

 

This certainly isn't a pen I could use with my daily notebook, I'd have to wait too long for the pools of ink to dry before I could turn the page! :-D

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B&M = Brick and Mortar (real store, not internet store)

PAKMAN

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If the store doesn't help you, then turn to Coles.

 

You can dry things down further by using "dryer" writing inks like Pelikan. Check the ink reviews forum for which inks are "wet" and which ones make nibs write (feel and act) dryer.

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The BM store (thanks for the definition!) says no joy after it's been inked, which doesn't surprise me. But I found that Visconti has a nib exchange program where I can get the nib replaced with whatever I like for $25. Seems reasonable. I wish I could write with an inked Visconti fine and extra fine nib to help decide, but I'm leaning towards going to EF.

 

Now off to the ink forum to research "dry" inks!

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The BM store (thanks for the definition!) says no joy after it's been inked, which doesn't surprise me.

!!! no wonder BM stores are closing. Some really don't understand that service quality is the only way they can survive the internet competition - that and the goodwill of pen users... *sigh*

amonjak.com

post-21880-0-68964400-1403173058.jpg

free 70 pages graphic novel. Enjoy!

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!!! no wonder BM stores are closing. Some really don't understand that service quality is the only way they can survive the internet competition - that and the goodwill of pen users... *sigh*

Well, the two that I use - one more than the other, due to distance! - are first class and will carry on being successful. Write Here in Shrewsbury and Akkerman's in The Hague.

The Good Captain

"Meddler's 'Salamander' - almost as good as the real thing!"

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