Make Targa wetter (increase ink flow)

[Townsend]

Is anyone able to tell me how I make the flow increase on my Targa? I know it is possible because I had it done professionally a few years back, but I would now like to have a go myself as one of my Targas has always been rather dry and has recently started to skip a little as well. I like pens which write very "wet", and my two other Targas certainly do that.

 

Is anyone able to help?

[Nellie]

Is anyone able to tell me how I make the flow increase on my Targa? I know it is possible because I had it done professionally a few years back, but I would now like to have a go myself as one of my Targas has always been rather dry and has recently started to skip a little as well. I like pens which write very "wet", and my two other Targas certainly do that.

 

Is anyone able to help?

• Especially as it has started skipping, I would first flush the pen and let its nib and section sit in water (possibly with two drops of washing up liquid in the glass) overnight to make sure it's not simply clogged.

• Before I would do anything to the nib to increase ink flow I'd also make sure the nib and feed were properly aligned, meaning that there shouldn't be a gap between them (you can test this by trying to put a sheet of paper between them - without any force, of course - if it fits in, the feed needs to be heated - e.g. in boiling water for 10 seconds - and pressed against the nib again)

• If all this has not helped, you can increase the flow by sliding a thin cutter blade or a piece of a (thin) transparent overhead sheet between the tines from the breather hole to the tip.

I think it's important to try the two things I mentioned first before widening the gap between the tines, because while it is quite easy to increase ink flow it is difficult to reverse this process. I hope this will help.

[Townsend]

Thank you: I'll try these ideas and let you know how I get on!

[Townsend]

sadly I have not had much joy with this. I'm beginning to wonder if a new nib is the only answer, in which case I guess it'll have to be steel....

[Akumar]

sadly I have not had much joy with this. I'm beginning to wonder if a new nib is the only answer, in which case I guess it'll have to be steel....

 

 

Is it only the ink flow or smoothness too?

[OcalaFlGuy]

sadly I have not had much joy with this. I'm beginning to wonder if a new nib is the only answer, in which case I guess it'll have to be steel....

 

I am very sure that most any reputable nibmeister(ess) can remedy that type of situation on your nib for even less than you'd spend on a steel Targa nib section.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

 

[ANDY101]

sadly I have not had much joy with this. I'm beginning to wonder if a new nib is the only answer, in which case I guess it'll have to be steel....

 

I am very sure that most any reputable nibmeister(ess) can remedy that type of situation on your nib for even less than you'd spend on a steel Targa nib section.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

 

Townsend,

I would strongly recommend John Sorowka - he has done some great work for me. He's based in Oxford.

Cheers

Andy

 

[Townsend]

Thank you very much for this helpful advice. I have emailed John Sorowka - I found his email address in another post - and hope to hear back from him soon.