Ink takes a long time to start flowing.

[prth8machine]

I recently purchased a Pilot Knight and I've had a lot of problems with it. At first the writing experience was really really rough, but after hours and hours of honing the nib, I think I have that worked out. But this seems to have lead to another problem. Whenever I set the pen down for more then just a few minutes, it takes a lot of work to get the ink to start flowing again. Is there an issue I should be looking at to try and resolve this? I'm still pretty new to the whole fountain pen thing, but this is the only one I have that does it. Thanks as always for the help you all provide

[bardharlock]

This doesn't sound normal. Have you flushed the pen thoroughly? Most recommend 1 part non-sudsy ammonia to 10 parts water. Soak the section in that for a while then rinse with cold water repeatedly. Was this pen bought new or used and how old is it?

[prth8machine]

I've had the pen a few weeks now and it was new when I bought it. I haven't cleaned it other then when I've changed the ink (though I didn't use any kind of cleaning solution then, just water and thorough rinsing). I was also wondering if the ink could be playing a roll in this? Right now I have Parker Quink (black) in it. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll give that a shot.

[D.C. in PA]

I don't know the Pilot Knight, but since the pen was purchased new there is likely something to what bardharlock has suggested. If the feed is plastic, it probably was injection molded and may well have some mold-release agent clinging to it. You might want to consider a drop or two of dish washing liquid in the ammonia and water mix to cut the release agent. Keep the presence of the dish liquid low so it doesn't suds up. At any rate, this approach should not harm your pen (I've used it many times on all sorts of pens) and it may help overcome the flow reluctance of the Knight.

D.C.

[Kelly G]

but after hours and hours of honing the nib, I think I have that worked out.

 

First, changing ink is always a good test, but if the pen isn't clean, that may not tell you everything you want to know. If a cleaning is in order and I suspect that might be the case then, in order of ease:

 

1. A good flushing the section/feed/nib with cool water

2. A good flushing with a 1/10 mix of household ammonia to water and then a good rinse.

3. Flossing the nib with a thin (.002") brass shim. Depending on how you've "honed" you might have some build-up in the nib slit.

 

A "good flushing" means that you are using something like a rubber bulb syringe to provide additional force to the liquid.

 

Give those a try and then check back.

[prth8machine]

Well, I emptied out the pen and gave it a really good cleaning. I should mention that this problem has only recently appeared. Anyways, after cleaning it really well with just water (I didn't find any ammonia in the house) I decided to refill it with a different ink. I chose Noodler's Air-Corp Blue-Black. I've let the pen set just like I have been and both times I've picked it up after a good 20 minutes of non-use and it's started right up. So either the Parker Quink was the issue or the cleaning got rid of something that was the problem. I think I may try going back to the Quink just to see if the problem reappears. That way I know if I can use it or not. Thanks for all the suggestions, I really appreciate it.

[rwilsonedn]

Well, I emptied out the pen and gave it a really good cleaning. I should mention that this problem has only recently appeared. Anyways, after cleaning it really well with just water (I didn't find any ammonia in the house) I decided to refill it with a different ink. I chose Noodler's Air-Corp Blue-Black. I've let the pen set just like I have been and both times I've picked it up after a good 20 minutes of non-use and it's started right up. So either the Parker Quink was the issue or the cleaning got rid of something that was the problem. I think I may try going back to the Quink just to see if the problem reappears. That way I know if I can use it or not. Thanks for all the suggestions, I really appreciate it.

Do I remember correctly that Quink's big feature was that it was super-fast-drying, and that Parker introduced it after they had started making hooded pens that minimize evaporation from the nib and feed?

ron

[prth8machine]

Do I remember correctly that Quink's big feature was that it was super-fast-drying, and that Parker introduced it after they had started making hooded pens that minimize evaporation from the nib and feed?

ron

I'm not sure about it's features really, I just wanted a black, and amazon had some, so I picked it up from them to add onto another purchase. It's an ok black for the most part. Other then this hard starting, I like it quite a bit. It does seem to dry pretty fast, so maybe you are onto something.

[ZeissIkon]

Do I remember correctly that Quink's big feature was that it was super-fast-drying, and that Parker introduced it after they had started making hooded pens that minimize evaporation from the nib and feed?

 

When I used Quink (in college, 1980 give or take a couple years) it wasn't particularly fast drying; no faster than Skrip, anyway -- and this was most of forty years after the 51 hit the scene. OTOH, I do recall Quink of that era being good ink and it worked well in my Osmiroid 65 and my Sheaffer Imperial.

 

One thing to keep in mind, different pens seem to like different inks. I'd suggest trying something else, just to eliminate or confirm the ink as the cause of a problem. If the pen still doesn't work well with, say, Waterman's (which generally seems to be the "works in everything" brand), then there's a problem with the pen. If that fixes it, the you need another pen to use up the Quink... :roflmho: