Strange Starting Issue With Visconti Nib

[Gasquolet]

I have an odd problem with a Visconti 23k Pd fine nib in a new old stock pen:

 

The pen writes beautifully with a reasonable flow normally. It starts immediately if it's been used the same day with no skipping and hard starting. The nib is well adjusted with good alignment and no baby bottom that I can see. Also the nib slit narrows well to the tip. It's not the softest Pd nib I've tried but is one of the best writing ones with, unusually, a lovely pencil like feedback.

 

However... If it's been capped for a day or longer, it won't start writing at all, even though there's ink in the nib slit to the tip from the look of it. Any normal 'encouragement' does nothing, like light pressure to move the tines or repeated light nib tip 'dots' with the pen held at a high angle to encourage flow . I can write line after line with not a drop or smear appearing on the page.

 

Weirdly, if I run my finger or a tissue under the nib from the feed to the tip, or on top of the nib, the ink that is in the nib gap immediately runs over the nib and that will often allow it to write normally afterwards.

 

When it does write, the ink doesn't show sign of drying any more than any other pen. The cap is airtight I've tried flossing gently to remove any foreigners... It's a mystery to me how or why it does this.

 

For information the ink is Robert Oster 'Caffe Crema' and the paper is Oxford Optik or Clairfontaine.

 

Any thoughts as to what I can do remedy this?

 

 

[Mulrich]

Does the ink have problems in other pens? Ive heard RO inks can be dry but dont have personal experience with them.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Dip the pen into a 1/2 full shot glass...to get it started....check your ink by using another.

 

Could be your converter, try a cartridge.

Edited December 16, 2017 by Bo Bo Olson

[Gasquolet]

Thanks for the ideas. I have to admit that I've not tried another ink in this pen, will do - it should be about run through. It's a captive convertor without ink view though so I'm guessing a bit. (this behaviour was evident from straight after the fill)

 

I have only used this same ink in one other pen; a Kaweco sport - it behaved normally in that pen which I've used with several inks over the last couple of years. I have several Oster inks and generally found them well behaved but not having used this one more than twice it might be causing the issue in this Visconti.

 

Bo Bo, I normally have an espresso shot glass full of water on my desk for impromptu cleaning and flushing, a quick nib-tip-dip does the trick here but always dilutes the ink for the first line or so which is a disapointment. I have been using the finger swipe method more often - I normally have inky finger tips anyway.

[Bo Bo Olson]

That works also.....but I often have 17 pens inked so some dry out....I have a German rubber postal cup with a sponge.....in GB you may have that....the States have no lick stamps....so are out of luck.

[Honeybadgers]

Some viscontis have really mild baby's bottom that extends REALLY far up, since they tend to have pretty big iridium blobs.

[ReadyFireAim]

One of mine did that with PR fast dry ink.

 

Everything you said.

 

I would do that old tip-tongue-touch-trick and it would instantly write like normal.

[Gasquolet]

That works also.....but I often have 17 pens inked so some dry out....I have a German rubber postal cup with a sponge.....in GB you may have that....the States have no lick stamps....so are out of luck.

I like that idea, mostly self adhesive stamps have made that a thing of the past in Post Offices but I might mock something up.

 

Some viscontis have really mild baby's bottom that extends REALLY far up, since they tend to have pretty big iridium blobs.

I have to say, this is one of the better Visconti/ Bock fine tips I've seen, I think I'm looking at the ink to blame here.

 

One of mine did that with PR fast dry ink.

 

Everything you said.

 

I would do that old tip-tongue-touch-trick and it would instantly write like normal.

 

Google to the rescue; it seems from reviews that this particular RO ink is in fact a bit prone to causing this issue. I'll just have to accept it happens in some pens.

 

No idea how much more ink still in the pen but the captive convertor must be a decent size - I'm still writing it out!