Ink splatter when capping and posting

[sagavera]

I recently bought a Waterman Expert pen, and the cap snaps on both sides of the pen. Whenever I post the cap, a few drops of ink splatter out of the nib. Not too big of a problem, just a few dots on the page.

 

But when I put the cap on normally, ink splatters inside the cap, which then transfers to the barrel when I post the cap, and eventually works its way all over my hands.

 

Anyone else have this problem? Seems like a design flaw to me. Maybe I should just go for a pen with a screw-on cap. . .

[ZeissIkon]

I recently bought a Waterman Expert pen, and the cap snaps on both sides of the pen. Whenever I post the cap, a few drops of ink splatter out of the nib. Not too big of a problem, just a few dots on the page.

 

But when I put the cap on normally, ink splatters inside the cap, which then transfers to the barrel when I post the cap, and eventually works its way all over my hands.

 

Anyone else have this problem? Seems like a design flaw to me. Maybe I should just go for a pen with a screw-on cap. . .

 

If your pen is spattering that readily, there's something not quite right. Normally, ink movement inside the pen should be buffered by a collector of some kind, a sort of "final reservoir" for ink before it enters the slit. This is there to allow for air pressure changes, movement of the pen, and so forth to force ink from the main reservoir without making a mess as soon as the slit is full. Given the Expert is a current production pen, it ought to have a collector with enough capacity to allow for capping and uncapping without problems, though it is recommended to hold the pen nib upward when capping and uncapping (this is just a little help).

 

What I suspect is happening in your case is that the collector is already saturated (possibly due to filling?), so when the sharp movement of capping or uncapping occurs, the ink has nowhere to go but off into space, to land on the page or in the cap (or potentially directly on your shirt, pants, etc.). Try blotting the underside of the feed to remove excess ink and see if this solves the problem, or if not, how long it takes to come back.

[langere]

Another thing - try capping and uncapping the pen with the nib up. That might help too.

 

Erick

[someonesdad]

This is one of the hazards of using a fountain pen. Some of my pens, immediately after being filled, will flip out some ink when I uncap them and post the cap. It comes from the rotation given the pen about an axis that is perpendicular to the long axis. My daughter got caught by this when I had her try a freshly inked pen with North Sea Blue and she got a drop on her shoulder and arm. I usually get it on the paper I'm about to write on. With my rolling-pin-toting wife, it's a self-correcting problem.

 

<wife> It's a problem with all boys. If there's no danger associated with it, they won't do it.

<me> Aw, honey, that's not true.

<wife> <pointing with rolling pin> Then why are you talking back to me?!!

<me> mmmmfffff...

[Kabe]

Same happens with my Scheaffer Agio. I'm aware of it, and since the drops were microscopic, it is not an issue. It also helps that Scheaffer ink is very washable. A little saliva on a piece of paper makes the trick.

[Banana]

That will often happen if you put the pen into the cap nib down. If you hold the pen, nib up and put the cap onto the pen it shouldn't happen.