Is This Normal Behaviour For A B Nib?

[beast786]

Hey guys,

 

So following up from my last post, here is a writing sample of my B 149. It does this thing where is either skips or leaves a hollow line when it first touches the paper on a stroke. Not EVERYTIME but quite often. I've posted a picture of the nib and of a writing sample. Don't judge me on my writing

Is this normal for a broad?

Edited June 7, 2018 by beast786

[Uncial]

What is the paper and the ink?

[JonathanHarker]

Google "hard start" and "tram lining" in respect to nib problems. "Babies bottom" is also worth googling.

 

The paper / ink question is irrelevant with a big fat Broad MB nib, in this instance, I feel.

 

Have you given the nib a really good clean (i.e. flush)? Is it a new pen, or could it have had ink standing in the feed for a very long time?

 

Do you write with a lot of pressure?

Edited June 7, 2018 by JonathanHarker

[beast786]

The paper varies but its done the same thing on a Clairefontaine 96gsm(??) pad, 3m post it notes, regular printer paper, my Moleskine, whether I have used a backing pad or just a single sheet against the table.

 

The ink is Pelikan 4001 royal blue - all i have at the moment. I did have some purple Waterman ink cartridges that I dripped 7 or 8 drops from onto the feed when I first got the pen home. It also did the same thing then.

[JonathanHarker]

Are the tines snug / flush to the feed? i.e. when viewed from the side./

[dubhe]

If its new Id flush it with Herbin ink flush to remove any oils from the factory.

[beast786]

Google "hard start" and "tram lining" in respect to nib problems. "Babies bottom" is also worth googling.

 

The paper / ink question is irrelevant with a big fat Broad MB nib, in this instance, I feel.

 

Have you given the nib a really good clean (i.e. flush)? Is it a new pen, or could it have had ink standing in the feed for a very long time?

 

Do you write with a lot of pressure?

 

Thanks for the phrases to look up Jon. I'll check now.

The pen was cleaned when i bought it, the seller is clearly an avid collector and lover of fountains. I did run it under the warm tap and also fill and empty it in warm water using the piston when i got it home.

 

As for writing with a lot of pressure, no, i wouldn't say I do. That's what i liked about these pens when i first ever tried them. You didn't have to press hard at all. Obviously I'm not hovering the nib over paper but I'm not pressing hard either.

[beast786]

If its new Id flush it with Herbin ink flush to remove any oils from the factory.

 

Thanks for the suggestion dubhe, its not new though

[Uncial]

Sounds like it might be either manufacturing oils (easily rectified) or an overly polished nib (in which case you will need a replacement or have a specialist work on it). If it's a second hand pen it shouldn't be oils. If you did buy it second hand, personally I'd be returning it for a refund. If you bought it new, Montblanc should fix it for you without any charge so long as you didn't buy it ages ago.

[beast786]

Are the tines snug / flush to the feed? i.e. when viewed from the side./

 

 

Looks like it. I guess...

[beast786]

an overly polished nib (in which case you will need a replacement or have a specialist work on it). If it's a second hand pen it shouldn't be oils. If you did buy it second hand, personally I'd be returning it for a refund.

 

 

Its that serious of an issue?!

[CS388]

From your pictures, the set-up looks good.

 

I'd still concentrate on cleaning and flushing for a while yet, before resorting to anything more drastic, or dismantling.

Have you used any pen-flush. or pen cleaning solutions, yet? Could be worth a try. Also 'flossing' the nib may help.

The smallest amount of dried ink blocking or obstructing one of the feed channels could cause your problem.

That would be my first guess - and I would eliminate that as a possibilty before going any further.

Patience and peserverence is the key, here. It ALWAYS takes longer than we think to full clean out a used pen without taking it apart!

 

And: No, it's not typical behaviour of a MB B nib. They should be nice juicy writers, in my experience.

 

Good luck

[beast786]

So, I've looked up hard starts and babies bottom. The skips are only at the top of down-strokes.

 

I dont think it is the ink because there is a generous flow of ink when it writes plus it has done the same thing with the purple Waterman, blue Pelikan and black Montblanc inks that i have used.

 

I don't think its the paper because it hard starts on all the papers i have tried.

 

Not sure what an over polished nib is.

 

Looking at the nib slit, the tines are definitely not touching and they don't look splayed but rather aligned.

 

I cant see the nib/feed alignment through the hole in the nib so that's a question.

 

The babies bottom is something I'm not able to confirm because I don't have a loupe unfortunately. If it is a babies bottom, can it be fixed?

[carlos.q]

Pelikan 4001 blue is one of the dryest inks around. Try using a wetter ink before you even consider fiddling around with the nib.

[beast786]

From your pictures, the set-up looks good.

 

I'd still concentrate on cleaning and flushing for a while yet, before resorting to anything more drastic, or dismantling.

Have you used any pen-flush. or pen cleaning solutions, yet? Could be worth a try. Also 'flossing' the nib may help.

The smallest amount of dried ink blocking or obstructing one of the feed channels could cause your problem.

That would be my first guess - and I would eliminate that as a possibilty before going any further.

Patience and peserverence is the key, here. It ALWAYS takes longer than we think to full clean out a used pen without taking it apart!

 

And: No, it's not typical behaviour of a MB B nib. They should be nice juicy writers, in my experience.

 

Good luck

 

Thanks CS. I guess i will try to find myself some pen flush locally and give that a go. I really hope it works out...

[JonathanHarker]

Do as I (and CS388) suggest.

 

96% of the time, a really thorough clean will sort it.

 

There are a few things you can try, depending on your level of "risk" or expertise if that doesn't help, but no nib (well, no MB nib) is fundamentally unfixable.

 

Worst case scenario, MB will fit it (and service the whole pen to "like new" for around £100-150), or a well recommended nib adjuster (google for one near you - what country are you in?) will get it perfect for a lot less.

[beast786]

Thanks again Jon. I will be trying the flush.

 

I am in Swiz for now but i pop back to England quite often and family visit me monthly. Can you recommend some nib adjusters in England (and Swiz perhaps)? I do also often pass through Spain as does my lady friend.

 

Also, when you say MB would service the whole pen to "like new" for around £100-150, do you mean they would work on the nib or might they clean/buff the body etc? £100-150 seems awfully cheap (in what other world could you say that other than the MB world...) for them doing work on a pen.

[JonathanHarker]

Thanks again Jon. I will be trying the flush.

 

I am in Swiz for now but i pop back to England quite often and family visit me monthly. Can you recommend some nib adjusters in England (and Swiz perhaps)? I do also often pass through Spain as does my lady friend.

 

Also, when you say MB would service the whole pen to "like new" for around £100-150, do you mean they would work on the nib or might they clean/buff the body etc? £100-150 seems awfully cheap (in what other world could you say that other than the MB world...) for them doing work on a pen.

 

Might be less than that to be honest... and yes they will buff it up and make it like new. Obviously, if any other parts needed replacing, there would be a charge for that too, but for a standard pen, in decent condition, it rarely happens.

 

Having said that, MB are looking to maximise their service revenue (plastic piston rods and feed cases etc, which can easily break, but are cheap for them to easily replace)... so beware of that.

 

Bot overall, they're pretty good!

[beast786]

 

Might be less than that to be honest... and yes they will buff it up and make it like new. Obviously, if any other parts needed replacing, there would be a charge for that too, but for a standard pen, in decent condition, it rarely happens.

 

Having said that, MB are looking to maximise their service revenue (plastic piston rods and feed cases etc, which can easily break, but are cheap for them to easily replace)... so beware of that.

 

Bot overall, they're pretty good!

 

Cheers Jon.

 

Thanks All, again, very helpful!

[beast786]

Pelikan 4001 blue is one of the dryest inks around. Try using a wetter ink before you even consider fiddling around with the nib.

 

Yep, its going to be something to order online I guess since it seems most physical shops don't sell Noodlers and these other wet inks that I had actually never heard of before joining this forum! ><