75 replies to this topic

[wpblaw]

I don't want to keep bothering Todd because he doesn't have any control over any of this, nor do I want to send it to Taccia except as a last resort.

Any suggestions?

I've had issues with my Taccia and Dupont Ellipsis stopping on me in the middle of long note-taking/lecture sessions and it's exceedingly frustrating. What's more, I LOVE my Staccato and would be terribly bummed if I found my section and nib drying up like that (a quick shake or even a turn of the converter seems to work best with mine). For me, it's just keeping the nib out in the air and then writing, stopping, writing, stopping that seems to stop the flow...

I don't know about you, but my money is hard to part with, regardless of the product or value! I think it would be entirely reasonable to expect a replacement from the seller if the pen is clearly defective, given what little time you've actually written with it! Why should you bear the risk and time waiting when he could just as easily return it to Taccia for credit or refund?

Edited by wpblaw, 07 April 2008 - 01:03.

[ArPharazon]

Kakaze,

I was in a nearly identical situation to you with my Taccia Staccato . . . I tried a new converter and a new feed to no avail, then finally sent mine in to Taccia to see if they could fix it. They returned it with a new nib, new feed, and new converter . . . and unfortunately, the same problem. It was better -- wrote for about three pages before drying up -- but it still dried up eventually. Would only restart by twisting the converter, or sometimes by giving it a good 'shake'.

In the end, I think it must be something to do with the converter. I ended up buying some silicon grease and turning my Staccato into an eyedrop filler (it sealed nicely, and the only possibly exposed metal was at the end of the barrel which I don't think is exposed to the ink). Since I've done this, it's worked flawlessly. It writes and writes, and does not ever even hint at drying out.

I guess I'm not suggesting you turn it into an eyedropper (though I certainly wouldn't recommend against it), but it does seem to support the idea that the converter may be at the root of the problem.

Aside from the flow problem, my Starry Night Staccato is one of my alltime favorites. I was terribly disappointed when I could not seem to fix the flow problem, and now I'm so happy that I am seriously considering buying another one (perhaps in ebonite).

Good luck and I hope this works out for you . . .

[FrankB]

Kakaza wrote"

"I don't want to keep bothering Todd because he doesn't have any control over any of this, nor do I want to send it to Taccia except as a last resort."

I understand the impulse. I am sorry you are having so much trouble with your Staccato.

One thing I do with some hard starting new pens is to fill them with ink, then let them stand upright, nib down, in a cup or pen holder. I allow them to stand overnight and then try them the next day. For the very hard starting ones, I use my favorite "initializing" ink, Waterman South Sea Blue, which acts like an Exlax. This method takes some patience.

If that also doesn't work, it just might be a trip to Taccia customer service. Although it will be inconvenient, I have found the Taccia customer service folks to be very good. They seem to be a young, very enthusiastic lot who are working hard to make a good name for their product.

Good luck, compadre.

[jkrewalk]

The second nib exhibited the same behaviour as the first nib. Todd was kind enough to send me a new converter—this one with a small plastic ball inside. The same problem happened again with the new converter; each nib dried up completely.

When they get ink into them they write well but it seems that if just a little bit of air gets near the intake the ink just stops moving. I even tried dipping the end of a toothpick into dish soap and then sticking that into the converter...immediately the ink became more fluid inside the converter but it still doesn't flow through the nib well. I'm using Noodler's Ottoman Azure.

The only things left to try, that I can tell, are a bottle of a different colour and/or brand of ink, a cartridge—does anyone know a place that sells samplers? If I'm going to get cartridges it'd be nice not to have to buy a bunch of one colour—or some of the Tryphon InkSafe Additive that I've seen people talking about.

I don't want to keep bothering Todd because he doesn't have any control over any of this, nor do I want to send it to Taccia except as a last resort.

Any suggestions?

I also had the same problem of ink drying up - seems to be too coincidental to be anything other that a serious design flaw. Also had he same problem with the Taccia Doric. I sold both and will never buy another Taccia.

Can't help but notice that Richard Binder stopped selling the Taccia line - can't help but theorize that their lack of writing ability had something to do with it!!!!!!

[yumbo]

I don't want to keep bothering Todd because he doesn't have any control over any of this, nor do I want to send it to Taccia except as a last resort.

Kakaze -

I've had really good service from Taccia. I bought a pen with a little ding in it. I mailed the pen to Taccia, and called the day it arrived at their office. They fished the box out of the mail bin, looked at it, and solved the issue right there.

- Yumbo

[Kakaze]

Thanks everyone. I do love the pen, it's beautiful. I've decided to try another ink with it so I've ordered Tanzanite, which I've read on the forums seems to be a very free flowing ink. If the Tanzanite works then I might buy some inksafe and see if that fixes the Ottoman Azure.

If the Tanzanite doesn't work then I guess I'm going to have to send it to Taccia and see what they say.

ArPharazon, how does one go about converting their pen?

[ArPharazon]

ArPharazon, how does one go about converting their pen?

First, you can search the forums for +eyedropper +conversion and find several threads on the subject. Here is a link to a thread I started discussing my experiences starting out with ED conversions. What I personally did was . . .

1) Buy some pure silicone grease (got a 1/4 oz tub at a scuba shop for about $4)
2) Unscrew the barrel from the section
3) Remove the converter / cartridge
4) Apply a liberal amount of grease to the threads between the section and barrel
5) Fill the barrel with ink (not too full . . . keep it below the threads), using an eyedropper (hence the name)
6) Screw the section onto the barrel and make sure it's snug
7) Wipe off the excess grease, and hope for the best

But seriously, after 7) be careful with the pen for a while, checking it to make sure it's not leaking from the threads (I wipe it down with a white Kleenex and check for any ink) or anywhere else. Don't carry it in your pocket right away until you're sure it stands up OK. Note also that if the nib unit unscrews, you can also add some silicone grease to those threads to insure a good seal there, too.

I've done five pens like this already . . . Taccia Staccato, Tacia Portuguese, Bexley Americana, and two Krone THINKs. All have worked beautifully, and the Portuguese and THINKs have also really benefitted because they all used those tiny, tiny plunger converters. From my readings of other threads, the important features a pen should have for this type of conversion are no exposed metal in the barrel or section (ink corrodes metal; this rules out my Taccia Doric and a few others), and a solid (i.e., non leaky) barrel. I check my barrels for leaks by puckering up and blowing in them. If they don't leak air through any holes, then I assume they won't leak ink.

Some people have recommended using a small o-ring between the section and barrel, but I haven't found that necessary. The grease works just fine.

If I had (or when I get) any more pens that meet the criteria, I will definitely convert them.

Edited by ArPharazon, 08 April 2008 - 00:05.

[ht1]

I don't use converters because I usually experience the same problem with the pen failing to write. I have two Taccia Swisher Exclusive Pens and one Taccia Staccato. I purchased the Stacatto from isellpens. I use cartridges and refill them. I have not had any problems with my Taccia pens. They are my best pens for not drying up or skipping. I have gone over a week without using the Taccia pens and they will write wet without having to prime them.

ht

[Kakaze]

Ah, so the whole pen becomes a cartridge.

I might have to try that if nothing else works.

Thanks, ArPharazon

[Sazerac]

I read this thread with a bit of amazement because I have a Staccato that has written flawlessly from the day I bought it. But I have used it as an eyedropper exclusively. In fact, I bought it for that purpose. It is an ideal "ED conversion pen." I followed the same steps as ArPharazon. Let me tell you, it takes a good, long bit of writing to drain that pen body of ink. I'd suggest trying it as an eydropper.

[ArPharazon]

All this talk of the Staccato made me really remember how much I like this pen. So much so, in fact, that I just ordered a 'Green Woodgrain Ebonite' version from Todd at iSellPens.com. Of course it'll be an ED in short order.

I will try to take some pics and post a review when I get it . . .

[Kakaze]

Sazerac: When the nib has ink in it it seems to write quite well. Unfortunately it's not getting any ink. Hopefully the Tanzanite will prove that it's not the nib itself.

[Reid]

I just received a new Taccia Staccato yesterday -M nib - writes wonderfully smoothly ... but it has the same 'drying out after a page or so' of writing, that many of you are encountering. When it does it, I unscrewed the body and sure enough there are air bubbles at the bottom (feed end) of the converter and all the ink is in the top end of it (near the plunger). After a bit of shaking, and tapping the converter, the bubble moves to the top of the converter and the feed fills up and the pen writes well. So in my case it definitely seems to be the air entering to replace the ink used, collects around the feed end of the converter and the pen has litterally run out of ink (even thought there is still some in the converter its not accessible to the feed mechanism). So if I can't get the converter to improve it's 'air moving' function, I guess I'll have to consider the ED option, because I really like how the pen writes.

[wpblaw]

I just received a new Taccia Staccato yesterday -M nib - writes wonderfully smoothly ... but it has the same 'drying out after a page or so' of writing, that many of you are encountering. When it does it, I unscrewed the body and sure enough there are air bubbles at the bottom (feed end) of the converter and all the ink is in the top end of it (near the plunger). After a bit of shaking, and tapping the converter, the bubble moves to the top of the converter and the feed fills up and the pen writes well. So in my case it definitely seems to be the air entering to replace the ink used, collects around the feed end of the converter and the pen has litterally run out of ink (even thought there is still some in the converter its not accessible to the feed mechanism). So if I can't get the converter to improve it's 'air moving' function, I guess I'll have to consider the ED option, because I really like how the pen writes.

I'm experiencing the same problem and converter/feed issues. I love this pen. When it works. I don't love the idea of converting it into an eyedropper to overcome what appears to be a design flaw.

[Songwind]

I just received a new Taccia Staccato yesterday -M nib - writes wonderfully smoothly ... but it has the same 'drying out after a page or so' of writing, that many of you are encountering. When it does it, I unscrewed the body and sure enough there are air bubbles at the bottom (feed end) of the converter and all the ink is in the top end of it (near the plunger). After a bit of shaking, and tapping the converter, the bubble moves to the top of the converter and the feed fills up and the pen writes well. So in my case it definitely seems to be the air entering to replace the ink used, collects around the feed end of the converter and the pen has litterally run out of ink (even thought there is still some in the converter its not accessible to the feed mechanism). So if I can't get the converter to improve it's 'air moving' function, I guess I'll have to consider the ED option, because I really like how the pen writes.

I have been reading a LOT of articles over the last two days, so I can't remember the source for what I am about to say.

However, one of the articles I read mentioned that sometimes the converters have mold release on them from the manufacturing process, and a good flush with gentle detergent, Formula 409, or a really weak amonia mixture can help. Just be sure to VERY carefully clean out all the cleaning solvent before you ink it again.

I am having a bit of this problem with my Libelle, and may have to try the same thing myself.

[Kelly G]

I'm of the opinion (shared by others) that the problem with some converters is the narrow bore combined with the inner surface condition of the converter doesn't allow for the ink to overcome the surface tension of the ink's surface. That's why the water/soap solution works - the soap acts as a surfactant which decreases the surface tension and allows the ink to flow down the converter. I think that's why some cartridges work better in some pens - bigger bore - less surface tension.

At least that's my opinion - I can't back it up scientifically. One cure for a really recalcitrant pen was to convert it to a squeeze filler. Cut off a cart with aprox. 1/4 inch of material beyond the section threads. Rough the surface of the 1/4 inch, shellac an appropriately sized ink sac to the cart "nipple" and let it dry. Now you have a squeeze filler that should not have any issues with surface tension. You might create some additional problems, but hey, you're only out a cart and sac.

[Gloria]

I had a Taccia Staccato that leaked inside the barrel, apparently from the top of the converter. I sent it to Taccia customer service months ago. When I followed up with an e-mail asking where my pen was, they said they were training a new repair person and I would get it soon. Nothing yet. No more Taccias.

[Songwind]

Found that link. It was at Richard Binder's site.

Cleaning converters

[PAKMAN]

I've been giving my Taccia Staccato a workout this week and kept having the same issues. I got out my loupe and found that my new pen had one nib tine with the tip missing!! No wonder! Well I have a turned pen that I bought a couple of years that looked to have the same IPG nib and swapped them out. Much better but after a long writing session I was getting dry out again. The converter is plastic and you can look at the ink in it when you tilt it back and forth and see the bubble sticking up at the opening. OK tried the Ammonia/Water trick and the bubble still seemed to stay at the opening even with water, so I tried the dishwashing soap / water trick and it seems to be much better. I have been writing so far with no skipping. Anyone have the same problem with the nib tine on their Staccato? I wonder if Taccia would send me a new one? What other nib units will screw into a Staccato??

[Rufus]

I took delivery of a Taccia Imperial Portugese on April 15 and I am now experiencing the same ink flow problems as described above. Initially there was no problem with the ink flow, but today the pen stop writing, without warning, altogether. After gently shaking the pen it started to write again, but soon dried out. I fiddled with the converter, flushed it out and refilled it and was soon writing again..then it dried out. I contacted my local penmeister who tells me he too has seen this problem with Taccias and has corrected it successfully by using an Xacto knife to widen the ink channels in the feed, which allows air to get to the converter. This would seem to be a manufacturing flaw in the feed resulting in the converter being starved for air so creating a vacuum and thus preventing ink from flowing into the feed and to the nib. In consequence, my Imperial Portugese will be off to my penmeister and I'll be contacting Taccia.

Edited by Rufus, 19 April 2008 - 21:08.