MB146 shows ink around nib hole

[Flere-Imsaho]

I have a MB146. When the pen is more than half empty it often happens when I uncap the pen there is ink around the nib hole. Seems like there are air/ink bubbles coming out of the nib hole while the pen is capped, or while the pen is being uncapped. Anyway, I never see the actual bubble. I only see the ink left around the nib hole, and it can very from a lot of ink to only a little bit.

 

What is causing this?

Is this normal?

Does something needs to be done?

 

Thanks.

Hans.

[LDF]

Here is Richard Binder's glossary definition of nib creep which I think is what you're describing:

 

"nib creep: The spontaneous accumulation of ink on the top surface of a nib; the ink is said to “creep” up out of the slit. Some inks are more prone to creep than others, but the root cause of the phenomenon is a nib slit that is either damaged or manufactured with insufficient attention to finishing; nicks, scratches, etc., can create a capillary path across the edge between the slit wall and the top surface."

 

You can get a nib man like Richard to fix it, but you can also try different inks.

I have a Waterman that did this, but since switching to MB black, it has become much less of an issue.

I still get a little ink around the hole when it's getting empty, but since it lacks an inkview window,

I rather like this warning system.