Baby's Bottom On A Double Broad Kaweco Sport?

[jaysongo]

Hello, I have a Kaweco Sport with a double-broad nib. When I first use the pen it doesn't start at all and I have to give it a couple taps or scribble a bit to get the ink going, but after that it works fine until I stop writing for a bit. I hear a lot about baby's bottom but I've never experienced it personally, so I don't know whether this is the case with my pen or not. The tines are wider apart than other Kaweco nibs I've used, including another double-broad, and there's a thin taper going from the bottom to the top of the tipping. I'm afraid the photo I've posted is the best I could manage. So, I'd like to ask (1) whether it's possible to tell from my description and the photo if this is a baby's bottom problem, and (2) would it be advisable to correct this myself with an abrasive? If it matters, the ink I currently am using with it is J. Herbin Orange Indien.

[Chrissy]

It's difficult to tell from the picture that angle.

 

There is a lot of good information about nibs on the Jet Pens web-site Here that includes 'baby's bottom.'

 

I suggest have a read and see if you think your problem is covered.

[jaysongo]

It's difficult to tell from the picture that angle.

 

There is a lot of good information about nibs on the Jet Pens web-site Here that includes 'baby's bottom.'

 

I suggest have a read and see if you think your problem is covered.

Thank you Chrissy for the link. I've taken a look at the article and it does seem that their description of baby's bottom is spot on to what I have. Of the workarounds they suggest I suppose trying wetter inks is worth trying.

 

Apologies for the picture, it is really the only usable one of the many I've taken from different angles, so I doubt trying to snap another one would provide any more clarity.

[tryphon]

Press the wings inward with your thumbs to restore the proper camber of the tines. More info here: http://www.newpentrace.net/articleGA04.html

[jaysongo]

Press the wings inward with your thumbs to restore the proper camber of the tines. More info here: http://www.newpentrace.net/articleGA04.html

Thank you for the suggestion. I looked at the article you linked to and followed your advice. I'm afraid the problem still persists. I was able to reduce the taper slightly but with great difficulty since the Kaweco Sport doesn't have much in terms of wings because it curves so closely around the feed. Also the amount of pressure I was using was such that I'm afraid any more would risk damaging the nib.

[tryphon]

Jay, try widening the gap between the tines. This makes the nib touch the paper further up the iridium pellet and many times it will solve the problem.

[jaysongo]

Jay, try widening the gap between the tines. This makes the nib touch the paper further up the iridium pellet and many times it will solve the problem.

Thanks for the reply.

 

As I mentioned in my first post, the gap between the tines was pretty wide to begin with. This may be because I stuck a brass shim between the tines when I first received the pen, as I find Kaweco nibs tend to write very dry unless I do something to open up the tines a bit. Alternatively, it may have started off wider than usual.

 

Widening the gap further by pressing down on the nib was the first thing I did to try and resolve this issue. Subsequent attempts at widening and narrowing the tines have not made any difference at all.

 

I can say that over-rotating the pen, at least to start with, will lessen the issue significantly. Though writing like this isn't comfortable for me and I doubt I'll remember to do it when I start writing.

[tryphon]

Thanks for your reply! I guess you tried all the logical steps. Next step is to extract the nib and increase the curvature to bring the bottom of the iridium pellet closer together.

[jaysongo]

Thanks for your reply! I guess you tried all the logical steps. Next step is to extract the nib and increase the curvature to bring the bottom of the iridium pellet closer together.

I did try that following your initial suggestion to press inward on the wings: I extracted the nib and feed from the housing after trying to do it with the pen assembled proved too difficult. Again, using my fingers only resulted in an insignificant reduction in the taper and I fear any further pressure or bending by mechanical means would damage the nib.