New Fountain Pen User Pilot Prera Skipping

[Redeemed]

I'm new to fountain pens. I bought a Pilot Prera a couple of weeks ago. Initially, it wrote beautifully, but that changed after I attempted to get some line variation by pushing on the nib (not that hard). Since then, it skips periodically.

 

I bought the fountain pen to help me with my hand injuries. Before the skipping problem, it required almost no force to use. Now it requires more. What can I do to get it back to this state?

 

Please refrain from suggesting that I buy another fountain pen. The pen is new, and I'd like to keep it running.

 

 

[mike.jane]

There's a good chance that by pressing on the nib you bent the tines out of alignment a bit (Not such a big deal) You'd have to have a look at the nib with a loupe or strong magnifying glass (I believe some people also use phone apps for that)

Then you'd have to carefully push the offending tine back into alignment. Even if you have not done this before you really only need to follow the symmetry of the whole. Then test and possibly repeat.

[pajaro]

If you can't get the nib to work normally again, you might buy a new nib. We all have probably had experiences like this, especially when we were starting out. The nib is no doubt a bit spread out or out of alignment. I have one of these Preras with a F nib and have thought of buying another nib. I don't think they cost much. Sending the pen out for repair would cost more than a new nib, in all likelihood.

[Redeemed]

mike.jane: My phone camera lacks the necessary resolution, so I'll need to source a magnifying glass. What magnification is good?

 

Also, what do you use to fix the alignment? Just hands?

[Redeemed]

pajaro: that's my next option.

[mike.jane]

Yes, once you are able to see it properly, it's no problem to just use your fingernail to adjust it.

 

Edit: A magnification factor of ~10x - ~15x would be grant.

 

Edit, edit: But of course anything would be better than nothing. (I know it's not fun to spend money on something so.... mundane)

Edited May 25, 2016 by mike.jane

[AD64]

If you have an iPhone, there are free magnifying glass apps on the iTunes store. I can't vouch for any of them, but there are several listed.

[Redeemed]

Hi everyone,

 

Thanks for your help on my previous question. I have another question.

 

I bought a second pilot prera (one for work, one for home) and this one has a different problem. It writes well at first, but after 4-10, it becomes scratchy. If open the pen up and slightly depress the plunger, it will write smoothly again for another 4-10 pages. Does anyone know what might be causing this?