How To Modify A Jowo Plastic Feed?

[steve50]

Hey folks,

 

Has anyone tried modifying a basic Jowo feed to improve the flow?

I asked Pablo from FPnibs.com to increase the flow for a nib I ordered from him, and he did it by tweaking the feed (he told me so) - the result is quite amazing... But it's not clear what he's done to it. Does anyone know how this can be achieved?

 

Cheers.

Edited February 26, 2018 by steve50

[Fuellerfuehrerschein]

If you disassemble the JoWo feed unit FPnibs.com worked on and provide clear images I will try to look for differences with a JoWo OEM feed unit to see what is done.

 

The nib and ink feed are simply friction fitted inside the nib housing and can be pulled apart. I use small pieces of rubber to grab the nib and nib housing to obtain grip on these small parts.

 

 

The ink channel on the top of the ink feed that provides ink to the underside of the nib is a very narrow cut. The narrow ink channel or "fissure" is hardly visible in the above image. I would not be surprised that an enlarged ink channel is the applied tweak.

 

For reassembly; the nib must protrude 23 mm from the nib housing and the ink feed must be totally inserted showing itself partly at the rear of the nib housing at the slanted cut connection tube for a converter or ink cartridge. You can easily check how far the ink feed goes in by sliding it in its housing without a nib on top. Beware that inside the nib housing there is a ridge present to position the underside of the ink feed. This ridge prevents the ink feed from being inserted upside-down.

Edited February 26, 2018 by Fuellerfuehrerschein

[Fuellerfuehrerschein]

 

The (narrow) ink channel cut along the length of the top of a Jowo #6 ink feed. Notice the ink channel doesn't extend to the tip; the channel also becomes shallower at the very end before ending. Ink feeds from other manufacturers can feature double or triple parallel ink channels.

[Frank66]

Excellent pics above.

 

For ways to improve ink flow in a plastic feed, one can search this forum. The way I do it is as follows:

 

1. The terminal 2-3 mm of feed towards the nib tip is best left untouched as to prevent ink spillage. Also the feed part corresponding to the part of the nib past the breather hole towards the nib tip is best left alone.

2..A very thin razor blade is used to widen a bit the existing ink channel(-s). Alternatively, a coarse sandpaper can be used to flatten the top part of the feed (1mm on both sides of the ink groove) to increase in flow. In both ways make sure that no debris is left blocking the ink flow.

3. Nice how to diagram by twomartoe found here may be helpful https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/309550-opening-air-channels-in-feed-for-flex-nibs/?do=findComment&comment=3762150

[Ichiro]

Ive used a razor blade on this feed before. Doesnt take much. Maybe did two passes and that took care of my anemic feed. Was paired to a noodlers flex nib and couldnt keep up with the demand

[steve50]

Sorry guys, posted this question a while ago and forgot to thank for your advice and pics! Thanks for them. Currently trying to make it look like the third pic....

[lurcho]

Excellent pics above.

 

For ways to improve ink flow in a plastic feed, one can search this forum. The way I do it is as follows:

 

1. The terminal 2-3 mm of feed towards the nib tip is best left untouched as to prevent ink spillage. Also the feed part corresponding to the part of the nib past the breather hole towards the nib tip is best left alone.

2..A very thin razor blade is used to widen a bit the existing ink channel(-s). Alternatively, a coarse sandpaper can be used to flatten the top part of the feed (1mm on both sides of the ink groove) to increase in flow. In both ways make sure that no debris is left blocking the ink flow.

3. Nice how to diagram by twomartoe found here may be helpful https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/309550-opening-air-channels-in-feed-for-flex-nibs/?do=findComment&comment=3762150

 

Frank, you helped me in the past on this flow business, but I don't remember your mentioning sanding the top of the feed. I understand this to mean that doing so creates a gap above the central channel and between it and the underside of the nib, allowing an easier air gulp. But doesn't that same gap separate the ink from the nib?

[Frank66]

 

Frank, you helped me in the past on this flow business, but I don't remember your mentioning sanding the top of the feed. I understand this to mean that doing so creates a gap above the central channel and between it and the underside of the nib, allowing an easier air gulp. But doesn't that same gap separate the ink from the nib?

 

I would recommend one should use extra caution when trying to alter feeds, do just a tiny bit at a time and then test and repeat if necessary. Feed alterations are non-reversible, so it would be prudent to practice first with an in-expensive pen. Alternatively, if one does not wish to alter the feed, there is always the alternative to alter the ink, by adding a tiny bit of PhotoFlo or other type or surfactant to an ink sample. A lot of resistant and dry pens can be made wetter using this method.

 

As far as the sandpaper method is concerned, a pass or two of a 200 grit sand paper over the feed (mainly the two thirds closer to the feed spigot) microscopically increases the space between feed and nib, and I have found that this increases ink flow. However, it is easy to overdo it and result in a pen with ink blobs and spillage or hard starting, so use extreme caution as stated above. In this respect, the thin razor blade or a surfactant is more predictable method in increasing ink flow. At least this has been my experience.

Edited March 20, 2018 by Frank66

[Fuellerfuehrerschein]

Instead of deepening the ink channel with a sharp instrument you can also try to clean/widen it.

 

I like to use a feeler gauge set for that. Start with the thinnest blade; for my metric feeler gauge set just 0.05 mm thick.

[steve50]

I've tinkered with the plastic feed, first with a razor blade and then with a knife to broaden the channel. I think it worked out but I also realised it's not just about the feed but the tipping as well. It's a very thin italic nib (I mean the tipping is very thin) and this seems to make it very dry.

[lurcho]

I've tinkered with the plastic feed, first with a razor blade and then with a knife to broaden the channel. I think it worked out but I also realised it's not just about the feed but the tipping as well. It's a very thin italic nib (I mean the tipping is very thin) and this seems to make it very dry.

 

I have sometimes found that a nib that is not quite as wet as I'd like is surprisingly transformed into a much wetter one by a very few passes on abrasive. This is usually accompanied by a slight loss of smoothness, as sometimes happens with a session on the abrasives.

 

I've never understood this phenomenon, but I have come round very much to preferring wetness over perfect smoothness.

Edited March 23, 2018 by lurcho

[steve50]

 

I have sometimes found that a nib that is not quite as wet as I'd like is surprisingly transformed into a much wetter one by a very few passes on abrasive. This is usually accompanied by a slight loss of smoothness, as sometimes happens with a session on the abrasives.

 

I've never understood this phenomenon, but I have come round very much to preferring wetness over perfect smoothness.

That's interesting, but I would imagine that wetness increases smoothness? Anyhow, my italic nib has almost no tipping. Not the 1.1 stub, it started from broad and now there's almost none left... It's very crisp but I still would have traded that off for more wetness.

[lurcho]

That's interesting, but I would imagine that wetness increases smoothness? Anyhow, my italic nib has almost no tipping. Not the 1.1 stub, it started from broad and now there's almost none left... It's very crisp but I still would have traded that off for more wetness.

 

I wasn't very clear. Of course, increased wetness increases smoothness, but I meant to say that roughness sometimes increases wetness! Sometimes I'll try to smoothen a nib but end up making it less smooth per se, but with a compensatory greater wetness. As if a slight texture on the point wicks ink better. See what I mean?

 

I'm sorry this sounds like a load of cobblers!