Visconti Homo Sapiens Ink Flow (Or Rather, Lo-Flow)...

[eijiwolf]

So.

I have had the Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age Oversize with EF nib (Yes, I checked the forums here before deciding on the nib size, as the consensus seems to run that the HS is generous in its ink flow) for a while - actually a few years, but haven't used it much.

Beautiful piece of work, by the way.

 

But.

 

Now that I decided to start using it again, it writes really poorly (out of box it wrote rather fine, but nowhere near what I would expect with all the hullabaloo around the DreamTouch nib).

Before starting to use it again I emptied the pen and thoroughly rinsed the nib. Carefully and gently, oh so gently... um... anyway, I dried it by softly soaking up the water with a paper towel, being careful not to get any paper filaments on the nib, filled the much-touted "power filler" system or whatever it is called... TWICE... using Diamine Jet Black ink in a Visconti travel inkwell (yes, I am such a freak) and...

 

...disappointment. The pen writes with very low ink flow, the more I try the worse it gets. I frequently have to go back and try to re-write the invisible letters, push down ever harder on the nib, write much more slowly than I would want... and when it does write, the ink flow is irregular and, frankly, quite insufficient. When I keep the pen uncapped and do not write with it for even a few seconds, it is an even bigger chore trying to coax the ink out onto the paper. Overall, a really bad writing experience.

 

Also, when filling, the piston/titanium rod that extends from the back of the pen seems to be covered with ink (a small amount but still, is that supposed to happen?).

 

I don't want to rinse/flush the whole pen but it seems that this is the only avenue of DYI attempts left for me... or is it?

 

Help, please?

 

Thank you most kindly for your insights!

Edited March 2, 2016 by eijiwolf

[jekostas]

It sounds very much like the tines on your nib are too close together, you'll have to spread them a bit. There are videos on Youtube showing you how to do this but you need to be pretty careful. Unfortunately, this is a pretty common issue with Visconti pens.

[esteroids]

It sounds like you were satisfied with the writing the first time around. You also mention a few years and then emptying and refilling. If I have the timeline right then there's a very good chance there is still some dried or thick ink clogging the feed. Remember, you can get water or ink shooting out the filler/breather hole while the capillary sized ink feed is blocked.

 

Visconti also seems to rely on slight upward pressure from the feed on the nib tines to fine tune the flow. When the feed is set to the nib it's actually formed to push up on the nib. If you clean the nib/feed with hot water this will relax the feed, and maybe even curve it down a bit (solid upper half of the feed expanding more than the finned lower half) with the heat. This would push the tines together and cause symptoms you describe.

 

Also, I find that Visconti over-polished almost every nib I've gotten from them - even EFs. I wouldn't think it possible to have baby's bottom on an EF but Visconti does it. Getting the tip round again not only makes it start better but also smoother all around.

 

My guess is that you've got a bit of all three going on.

I've had very good experiences with the US service at Cole's of London (in Atlanta) if you want someone to check it.

[Tas]

Ink on the piston rod thingy doesn't sound right. Get it checked & sorted and fall in love with the pen again

[MBFan]

I find jet black to be a dry running ink in itself. You might like to try a wetter ink, such as J Herbin Perle Noir.

 

I hope your HS starts to play nice soon!

[eijiwolf]

Thank you all for prompt and useful tips and advice.

 

Much appreciated!

 

Also, I'll let you know how it went. Might take a while... more important issues came up. Yes, even more important than the pen. Can you believe it?

[eijiwolf]

All right, it seems that I've hammered out the kinks now.

 

After pondering your tips, I perused Youtube, found some tips (S.B.R.E. Brown has become my instant favorite!) and made two, and only two adjustments:

 

1/ Very thorough flushing of the pen and thorough filling from the traveling inkpot

2/ Identifying that the nib was actually scratchy and adjusting - VERY carefully - it for better smoothness

Presto! My writing experience has improved drastically.

 

The piston rod having traces of ink on it is an issue for another time.

Also, the baby bottoms may be a slight issue, as far as I was able to see with my 10x loupe. I'll do some more studying on that as well.

 

So, just let me reiterate: thank you all most kindly! My days have definitely become brighter.

At a risk of sounding corny: love ya guys!

Edited March 5, 2016 by eijiwolf

[MBFan]

Long live your Visconti HS!

[4lex]

I have Lava Steel Midi, and after the nib problems were resolved (by Visconti, took 8 weeks) I now have ink flow problems. Stops writing after a A5 page of writing.

It is now on my list of pens I need to sell on. I guess ink flow could be resolved but I can't be bothered. Pen of this price should work straight out of the box. I will get Pilot Justus or Sonnet Cisele instead.

It is frustrating tho, this pen with unique closing mechanism and material had so much potential...

[eijiwolf]

Huh. Yes, Italian creations do seem to have quite a few mechanical/technical problems compared to others. Also, interesting how they probably only concentrated on the one single problem you sent the pen to them for, and did not bother to screen the pen thoroughly.

 

I agree, pens at this price range should be pretty much flawless, and this is not the case with HS, as many forum posts here and elsewhere seem to attest.

 

(I left my pen carelessly laying around and my 1-year old and/or my 5-year old probably got hold of it. The tip was misaligned, the nib scratchy again, I even pondered the possibility of having to buy an entirely new nib... luckily, thanks to my previous experience - assisted by the wonderful folks here on FPN - I was able to resurrect it. It now writes nearly perfectly again, aside from the "common" issue of rather generous ink flow. Still, not thinking of parting with it. Hope you can muster the energy, resolve and patience to give your HS another chance. Once you tune it, it's well worth it, in my humble opinion.)

 

Cheers and good luck!

[pjdw]

I bought a HS bronze from a collector. I was mint, but after filling it had same leakage problems and ink all over the cap.

The closing mechanism wat not snappy anymore and i send it to italy.

The cap is much better and the bronze is really bling/bling. The inflow is now very poor.

I tried the shebrown trick with pushing on your nail. I have to force it to much for proper ink flow.

Maybe get some brass to spread the tines more. If there is any other advise?

[Ghost Plane]

Sounds like a feed issue. Send it back and let them know they messed it up in the course of repairs.

 

Welcome to the board!