In Need Of Some Advice

[titevm]

Hi to all!

 

Ive recently got a very good price on my first 149, Im not sure about the date, but from the small amount of research I did it seems to be from the 80s. Ebonite feed, 14c nib (very soft), no serial on the clip, just Germany. The nib is a fine and I love the flexibility of it, but it is super dry in normal writing, to the point that it skipped every stroke, eventhough I cleaned it for 2-3. Yesterday Ive cleaned it again, left it soaking for 12-15 hours changing the water. Now it writes, but dry as a bone without pressure, the weird part is that if I flex the nib it keeps up really well.

So Im here to ask your veteran opinions, I will not send it to a nib specialist, since Im still waiting for customs to feee my 146R that went to Mike Masuyama (Its been 2 months now and counting), and I dont think we have someone in Brazil.

Should I send it to Montblanc to tune the nib? Im afraid theyll just change the nib and feed. Or should I just keep using it and see if it gets better, maybe clean it again? It has been very frustrating, to the point Im considering just sending it to Montblanc and ask for a BB nib, still I have to ask, what would you guys do? Thank you for your time.

[piscov]

Boa tarde de Portugal,

 

Experimente o Josias "Amigo das canetas" no Rio de Janeiro. Em tempos comprei algumas canetas dele e sempre foi muito simpático.

 

Penso que o Josias poderá fazer esse afinamento para si, mas confirme com ele primeiro. Nunca afinou penas para mim, mas penso que o poderá fazer.

 

Aqui tem os seu blog.

http://oamigodascanetas.blogspot.com/

 

Um abraço de Lisboa!

 

Vasco

[Pravda]

If you send it to Montblanc for a check up and/or nib exchange youll definitely loose the feed. Their policy is a new feed for every time a nib is pulled out because it usually causes damage so they just put a new one in.

 

I would say get a loupe and check the gap space between the tines. Maybe the flow is constricted and previous owner just used to use a very wet ink. Maybe your ink is dried up with the accelerants evaporated, it happens.

 

If you can increase the flow by flossing the tines then it may help.

[titevm]

Boa tarde de Portugal,

 

Experimente o Josias "Amigo das canetas" no Rio de Janeiro. Em tempos comprei algumas canetas dele e sempre foi muito simpático.

 

Penso que o Josias poderá fazer esse afinamento para si, mas confirme com ele primeiro. Nunca afinou penas para mim, mas penso que o poderá fazer.

 

Aqui tem os seu blog.

http://oamigodascanetas.blogspot.com/

 

Um abraço de Lisboa!

 

Vasco

Entrarei em contato com ele! Muito obrigado!

 

If you send it to Montblanc for a check up and/or nib exchange youll definitely loose the feed. Their policy is a new feed for every time a nib is pulled out because it usually causes damage so they just put a new one in.

 

I would say get a loupe and check the gap space between the tines. Maybe the flow is constricted and previous owner just used to use a very wet ink. Maybe your ink is dried up with the accelerants evaporated, it happens.

 

If you can increase the flow by flossing the tines then it may help.

Ill get a brass sheet and try, the tines seem to be too close, thank you very much.

[titevm]

Sadly, flossing the nib did nothing.

[Pravda]

If you suspect its the tines the problem and they are still too tight (touching too closely) I personally use the nib on fingernail press method, very carefully and in installments/increments to increase flow. Flossing doesnt do much for me either but people seem to recommend it.

[siamackz]

Does a 0.02mm brass shim pass with just a little resistance? If its too much resistance then the tines might be too tight and Pravdas suggestion to open the tine gap is what I would try for.

[BlueJ]

The interface between the nib and feed is also critical. Do a search on FPN about "heat setting ebonite feed."

[niksch]

The interface between the nib and feed is also critical. Do a search on FPN about "heat setting ebonite feed."

 

Good point. Is there a gap between the nib and top/end of the feed, or is it set completely flush to the feed? Wish I had a photo to post to show specifically what I'm trying to explain.

[Barry Gabay]

I agree with Pravda, but you must be brave to do it. Works well though. However, if you can remove the nib & feed, flossing with a razor blade works wonders & has a much more refined result than the thumb-tine manipulation.

[titevm]

Just wanted to give an update on the nib situation, I've decided to try to tune it after your thoughts, here is the first results:

[CS388]

Nice work!

 

Nib tuning - for people who are not experts, like myself - is seldom a one-shot fix. It can take a few visits and a few different approaches to get it perfect. Slowly, but surely does it.

 

Enjoy.

[siamackz]

Well done!

[dubhe]

I messed up a nib using a razor blade once as it suffered from nib creep from a slight imperfection. I have given up trying to improve flow and would send them to an expert instead.

[meiers]

I messed up a nib using a razor blade once as it suffered from nib creep from a slight imperfection. I have given up trying to improve flow and would send them to an expert instead.

I used a razor blade too. ...with disastrous results.