Namiki Vanishing Point: How to keep ink from drying out so fast?

[FountainPenCollectorToBe]

It takes 2-3 days max for my Vanishing Point to dry out. I assume that this is because of the retractable nib rather than a cap. The problem is that every time it dries out, I not only have to change the ink but "rinse out" the dried out ink beforehand. I've tried slower drying inks like the Herbin but it hasn't helped much.

 

Has anyone found a "hack" that will allow us more time between re-inkings?

 

Thanks,

Rachel

[hari317]

Maybe the small trap door in the nose cone area is not closing properly. This can happen if the converter is not seated fully in the nib unit making the overall length slightly longer.

[mfwebb]

Maybe the small trap door in the nose cone area is not closing properly. This can happen if the converter is not seated fully in the nib unit making the overall length slightly longer.

 

I would second that. I have 4 Pilot Capless pens inked permanently and only 2 in DAILY use. Drying out has never been a problem.

[lovemy51]

Maybe the small trap door in the nose cone area is not closing properly. This can happen if the converter is not seated fully in the nib unit making the overall length slightly longer.

 

I would second that. I have 4 Pilot Capless pens inked permanently and only 2 in DAILY use. Drying out has never been a problem.

have only one... but never that problem!

[PinarelloOnly]

4 VP's in my household and all of them will write even after weeks of laying dormant, even if left nib up. Ink definitely plays

a part with a pen that can get going again after drying out like Sheaffer Skrip and Aurora inks. It sounds like your pen has

way too much air getting to the nib not just a small leak through the spring loaded door or you have air entering in through

the "clicker" at the back of the pen. Is the rubber "o" ring missing?

[jgrasty]

The longest my Decimo has sat without writing was a week and a half, and it started right up.

[treborefir]

Ditto for me. Neither of my capless pen ever dry out. I suspect a defect or possibly something holding the flap open.

[mirko]

Only had the problem with Waterman Havana Brown (such a splendid combination with my Black Carbonesque, though....). Now it is filled up with Parker Blue-Black and no issues. My Yellow Capless/VP is filled with Lamy Black, and no issues either.

[A1979]

It takes 2-3 days max for my Vanishing Point to dry out. I assume that this is because of the retractable nib rather than a cap. The problem is that every time it dries out, I not only have to change the ink but "rinse out" the dried out ink beforehand. I've tried slower drying inks like the Herbin but it hasn't helped much.

 

Has anyone found a "hack" that will allow us more time between re-inkings?

 

Thanks,

Rachel

 

Good question - I have exactly the same problem (Matte Black Version which I bought ten months ago, F nib, filled with Pelikan Brillant Brown).

[WilsonCQB1911]

I went on vacation for a month - literally four weeks - and left my broad nib VP inked up with a Pilot blue cartridge in it. I came home and used it. It started up right away with no problems. The only indication that it had been left for that long was that the ink was more black than blue, like the water had dried up some. Writing with it for a bit turned the ink blue again (probably just replacing the older dried ink).

What I'm saying is that my wet, broad VP nib can go a month without any trouble. You have a problem with yours and should send it to Pilot for repair.

 

Edited to add: Oh, I also leave my other VPs inked up without use for longer than 2 or 3 days all the time. One of them has Private Reserve American Blue FAST DRY in it. Never had any trouble.

Edited January 16, 2014 by WilsonCQB1911

[holgalee]

I don't mean to be rude, but I wonder if you've accidentally used the metal "sleeve" (that comes with the VP) with a converter instead of the Pilot cartridge? I have done so myself in the past, and had the same problem of the nib "door" not closing fully. Either that or the converter or cartridge is not properly seated. Let us know if you solve the mystery!

[Orthostylos]

I had the exact same problem 2 years ago, on a vintage Namiki faceted VP, that I had not used for a while.

I had cleaned it up well and bought a new Con 50 converter. It would dry up every 2 days. I washed and rinsed and cleaned over and over, still the same problem.

Then I had read on Richard Binder's site that the Con 50 was not compatible with the vintage VP's. Somehow the door does not shut completely when the nib is retracted.

 

I swapped it for a Con 20 converter, and the problem was solved!!!

I can now leave the pen dormant for a couple of weeks, and it starts right up.

[JemC]

One of my VP's started having this problem after a year of being awesome. I used some a Calcium/Lime/Rust cleaner on the trap door, then thoroughly rinsed and dried it. Now it's back to an air-tight seal with my inks staying fresh and happy.

[pbhat]

Does the trap door of VP requires any kind of maintanence as there is possibility that some amount of ink smeared on the nib can accumulate there. If so what needs to be done?

pbhat

[Brian1]

I don't know about required maintenance but I clean the trapdoor by filling the inside of the front part of the pen with water then putting it to soak in a partially full glass of water with the pen standing up at an angle. Periodically, I change the water in the glass for clean water and at that time I will shake out the water inside the barrel and put clean water back in the barrel and set it to soaking again. Repeat until no more ink shows in either the water in the glass or the water shaken out from inside the barrel. I then let the pen air dry before inking the nib unit and reassembling the pen.

[Tas]

Mine was fussy about it's ink but now loaded with Pilot Black, it has never given a dodgy start.

Sorry.

[Angry__Panda]

Hmmm not sure if my problem is the same thing...But mine doesn't seem to want to work for longer than signing my first name (using noodler's elyssium). Trap door looks good, clean regularly, I shake it and hear the little ball shaking in the converter and if I shake it hard enough a drop of ink comes out. Using a black extra fine nib.

[Chthulhu]

I've been having the same issue with a matte black F nib bought a few years ago from Richard Binder, with a cartridge of Pilot black. It would stop writing after 24-48 hours of non-use. After reading this thread, I flushed a surprising amount of old ink out of the cap, got the thing flowing again, and we'll see what happens.

[MadAmos]

Hmmm not sure if my problem is the same thing...But mine doesn't seem to want to work for longer than signing my first name (using noodler's elyssium). Trap door looks good, clean regularly, I shake it and hear the little ball shaking in the converter and if I shake it hard enough a drop of ink comes out. Using a black extra fine nib.

Assuming the pen has been flushed and the problem still remains, I would let the nib unit soak in water an hour or two then flush again with a ear bulb or at least the converter.

 

Still acting up...I would try it with another ink preferably one that is less saturated I suggest a original Pilot cartridge. Some of the heavily saturated inks like Noodler's and Private Reserve can be troublesome.

 

I use saturated inks regularly in both vintage and modern pens and have found adding 20% distilled water often helps with getting a particular ink/pen combo to be happy. In most cases 20% is not enough to change the color significantly and can help with flow, in an extreme case a toothpick died in a surfactant like Photo flow or what I use dishwasher rinse aid can also improve flow. Just use a small bottle to experiment in so the entire bottle is not changed this will minimize the loss if you go to far with the dilution or surfactant.

 

Paul

.

Edited May 14, 2015 by MadAmos

[Chthulhu]

I've been having the same issue with a matte black F nib bought a few years ago from Richard Binder, with a cartridge of Pilot black. It would stop writing after 24-48 hours of non-use. After reading this thread, I flushed a surprising amount of old ink out of the cap, got the thing flowing again, and we'll see what happens.

Well, it dried up again after a couple of days of intermittent use. I soaked the nib unit and the barrel for about six hours *and* gave them a run through the ultrasonic cleaner. Refilled with Sailor Jentle Epniard and working fine so far.