Pens With Ink Shutoff - Performance Issues?

[markh]

I have a few pens with ink shutoffs. A Pilot Custom 823 (vacuum fill), Dani-Trio (ED fill), and now a TWSBI 700 (vac fill.)

 

I have noticed a common problem. If the valve is left shut when the pen isn't being used, the ink in the feed can dry out. Restarting after the break in the flow can take some effort - maybe shaking the pen, or opening the valve "wide open" a few times.

 

When the pen is writing, after a good flow is established there is is no problem.

 

Of course, most pens don't have a shutoff valve, which means that the feed is always in contact with the ink reservoir, keeping the feed wet.

 

so.. Do other people notice this?? Any technique to fix the issue??

 

One solution could be to use very wet ink instead of my normal Quink black. Haven't tried that yet.

 

Another idea is to always leave the shutoff open - then the ink reservoir keeps the feed wet. This actually seems to work, but of course the pen is designed to be shut when not used.

 

Just curious if other people see the same problem, and maybe have a solution.

 

 

.

[hari317]

Yes, i get very vexed by this problem. I defeat the shutoff valve. I don't like this shutoff concept.

[enricof]

Yes, i get very vexed by this problem. I defeat the shutoff valve. I don't like this shutoff concept.

 

Hari, I can understand why you do not like it from the operating point of view (for instance I would prefer the knob to be flush with barrel in writing condition), but are you aware of PERFORMANCE issues?

 

Never had dryouts problems with my DTs or 823s (multiple pens for both).

[ehemem]

Yes, i get very vexed by this problem. I defeat the shutoff valve. I don't like this shutoff concept.

 

Hari, I can understand why you do not like it from the operating point of view (for instance I would prefer the knob to be flush with barrel in writing condition), but are you aware of PERFORMANCE issues?

 

Never had dryouts problems with my DTs or 823s (multiple pens for both).

 

And I have not had any problems with my Pilot 823, TWSBI 700, or any of my Japanese EDs either.

[hari317]

Yes, i get very vexed by this problem. I defeat the shutoff valve. I don't like this shutoff concept.

 

Hari, I can understand why you do not like it from the operating point of view (for instance I would prefer the knob to be flush with barrel in writing condition), but are you aware of PERFORMANCE issues?

 

Never had dryouts problems with my DTs or 823s (multiple pens for both).

Hi Enrico,

 

I face following problems. YMMV. Consider tropical weather conditions in Mumbai as well:

 

823:

 

No dry out at all, but air locking around the seal even with shutoff valve wide open, bad design of parking position of seal IMO. No problems with Pilot ink however.

 

DT Mikado:

 

Cap is vented, the nib dries out if not used for extended period like 1 week. Shutoff valve defeated(reversible operation), problem solved.

 

Ban-ei:

 

Cap is vented, dryout within just 2-3 days of non use. Cannot defeat shutoff valve in a reversible fashion. so I have to keep the valve open always.

 

Sho Genkai:

 

Superb writing pen. Nib dries out after a week of disuse, but starts after I open the valve fully and keep nib down for 15-20 seconds. I will not be defeating the valve on this one. i just start the pen at home before starting for work, then it works fine.

 

Yes, I would love to have them design the knob closed for valve open position and knob open for shutoff position.

Edited March 10, 2013 by hari317

[betsypreston]

Editted to add: "D'oh! This doesn't address shut off valves - I've never seen one. But I have been frustrated lately with dry and skippy pens."

 

 

I have a lot of problems with dry and/or skippy pens. I've tried using Private Reserve Tanzanite, which is supposed to be a very wet ink. I have a lot of pens, so it stands to reason that I am likely to run into some problems.

 

My dry skippy pens include Visconti Homo Sapiens Steel Age, Duhill Sentryman, TWSBI 530 with a 1.1mm stub (it is fine with my regular non-stub nibs), an inexpensive Chinese Baoer, both of my Mabie Todds, Kaweco Sport Aluminum, Ohto Tasche, some Platinum Preppies, and more.

 

But some are wonderful: Pilot Fermo, all of my Pilot Vanishing Points, all 3 Mont Blancs, all of my colored plastic Kaweco Sports, Platinum Modern Maki-e, Jinhao Dreadnought, Sheaffer Imperial Sterling, Pilot Varsities (they are amazingly reliable), Rotring Core, and many more.

 

It is a big let-down to get a new pen and find that it is dry and skippy, even after flushing with soap and water. After a coupla decades of delight and disappointment, I guess it's just part of the game. Some day I hope to find the courage and the energy to deal with my problem pens. I'm not sure which ones to send out, or if there are relatively safe adjustments I could tackle myself. I didn't get into fountain pens to be a mechanic, so I'm not all that eager. But when I pick up one of my reliable favorites like my orange Kaweco sport or a smooth writing miracle like the Fermo, I can't help but wonder what could be done to fix the temperamental pens.

Edited March 10, 2013 by betsypreston