Hard Starts And Skips With Vanishing Point

[Jflorek]

I have run into some issues with my Pilot Vanishing Point recently. It is a medium nib and I have only run Namiki blue/black cartridges through it. It will often (like 3/4 times) skip when I begin writing. Other times it will skip mid-writing. I have cleaned it a few times, most recently I flushed it, ran some "perfect pen flush" through it and then flushed again with clean water. I continue to run into the same issues.

 

Is there anything else I can/should do before I contact Pilot for some service?

[Ron Z]

Sometimes these pens need a little more care than other pens, and some inks play better with them and don't dry out quite as easily. For instance I can have a one filled with ink for quite a while and it won't do this, but Parker blue will give problems in a matter of a few days. You might try a different ink in the pen. In the mean time soak it, or run it through an ultrasonic cleaner, then flush with water.

[tguk911]

I own a Fermo with a medium nib and it hasn't skipped on me once but it does squeak a little not as much as it did when I first got it but it is still noticeable in a quiet room. I've only used Iroshizuku inks with it. It could be a problem with the trapdoor sealing but you say that it skips midway through as well as the hard starting so I doubt it could be that. I would try some other inks first. I just had to send my Custom 92 down to Pilot. the Pilot rep who emailed me was named Holly and very nice but it takes a little while for them to get back to you so heres some info she sent to me in an email hope it helps.

 

Thank you for your reply. Please wrap your pen well and send it to us in a manner that will allow you to track it. Use the address provided below.

 

 

• Please enclose a note describing the problem
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Should there be a charge or question, we will contact you prior to proceeding with the repair.

 

 

Please feel free to contact us should you have any further questions.

 

 

Best regards,

 

Holly Houser

 

Consumer Advisor

 

 

PILOT PEN CORPORATION OF AMERICA

Attn: Namiki Repair

 

3855 Regent Blvd.

 

Jacksonville, FL 32224

 

 

[Jflorek]

Still having some skipping issues. I soaked the nib overnight then thoroughly flushed it out. I switched from Namiki cartridges to Noodlers Blue/Black then Iroshizuku kon-pecki. I just out reached to Pilot customer service. Thanks for the suggestions.

[dspeers58]

I found, especially when I first started using fountain pens that I was a bit heavy handed with my VP and some other softer nibs. I have since learned to be a bit more gentle. If you are too heavy handed, you can bend the tines slightly away from the feed. That can create a lack of ink flow. You can check this by seeing how easy it is to slip a single sheet of paper between the nib and feed. If it goes right in without ANY resistance, you may be slightly bent the tines up. This can be repaired pretty easily. The thing to remember is that these gold nibs can and do bend.

 

The nib could be the victim of what is called baby bottom, which also causes hard starts. Also make sure that the cartridge or converter is seated well, otherwise air will cause a problem. i=

[rolo305]

I have hard starts as well on my vanishing point with the medium nib. On copy paper I don't seem to have this issue but on Rhodia I do. I did do some research and I've read many have as well, on Rhodia that is. Though that is not shopping me from using it though.

[OCArt]

Just another thought, could you be trying to write over part of the page that has ben soiled by the oils from your hand? That's why many use a protective slip sheet. Second though is to try another brand of paper before sending it off. Good luck!

[Tas]

Oh Jflorek, I do hope you sort it.

Mine was a diva for a very long time. It would only play with certain inks and then, after a while, have a blazing row with them and dry start.

I've put all kinds of inks through it, and it has calmed down now. The last fill or so of my Diamine Denim is residing now and seems to be behaving.

 

No advice here apart from to keep persevering.

Best of luck.