Le Man 100 Briarwood? And Leaking Carene

[minjiha2]

Hello all,

 

I hope you are enjoying great holidays (or in a few days)!

 

I have two questions regarding my two most favorite waterman fountain pens.

 

A few months ago, I bought a Le Man 100 with F nib which is Briarwood version according to the seller but it seems quite different from other Briarwood Mans which I have seen in ebay or other posts. Do you think that it is made of Briarwood?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My another issue is that my Carene with M nib is leaking in the nib part. I bought this as a new from ebay and I did not have this problem for one year and half. This leaking started to occur a few weeks ago when I placed a converter with MB White Forest. First, I thought that it could be due to the converter so I placed a waterman cartridge, but still I have the same problem. It seems that the right side of the nib, closer to the grip part, is emitting inks, which dirts my fingers. Do you have these issues with Carene?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I do not worry about the Man since whatever wood it is made, it gives me a very good performance. But I am very sad with the Carene. Maybe, it is time to buy a F nib part for Carene but still I want to repair the original M nib if I can.

 

 

Thanks!!

 

Minji

[daoud62]

The Man does not seem to be briar, but macassar ebony (the Man was also made in that wood). I personally think the Macassar looks better.

[Left FPN]

I go with daoud62 on the Man 100, also from that era were Dark Briar, Briar and Olive woods.

 

Ref the Carene. A few other posters have had this issue. We must face the fact that not all pens last a lifetime.

 

I can only assume the adhesive sealent between nib and grip has failed or aged.

 

Your pen appears to be Charcoal lacquer finish which is of the later colours manufactured and so fairly new so I suspect it has just failed on that side of the nib.

 

It could be returned to NRW but I suspect they would only offer a replacement at their higher than average costs. I feel/fear they would not repair it. You could though pull the nib and reseal it yourself (search for Carene Project for help) or sent it to a competent nibsmith and have them do it.

Edited December 20, 2014 by Force

[minjiha2]

The Man does not seem to be briar, but macassar ebony (the Man was also made in that wood). I personally think the Macassar looks better.

 

Thanks for letting me know! Also, thanks more for your compliment. ;-) Macassar ebony! I do not know much about wood but now I feel that I have a clue why this Man is slightly heavier than I expected. But as you said, its look is just beautiful.

 

Thanks!!

 

 

I go with daoud62 on the Man 100, also from that era were Dark Briar, Briar and Olive woods.

 

Ref the Carene. A few other posters have had this issue. We must face the fact that not all pens last a lifetime.

 

I can only assume the adhesive sealent between nib and grip has failed or aged.

 

Your pen appears to be Charcoal lacquer finish which is of the later colours manufactured and so fairly new so I suspect it has just failed on that side of the nib.

 

It could be returned to NRW but I suspect they would only offer a replacement at their higher than average costs. I feel/fear they would not repair it. You could though pull the nib and reseal it yourself (search for Carene Project for help) or sent it to a competent nibsmith and have them do it.

 

 

Also, I appreciate your help, Force. I heard from others that Carene's barrels are sometimes fragile but I did not know that this problem can occur. I think that I will send it to a nibsmith when I go back to my country but definitely will search for Carene Project since it is always fun to read your projects! So, now I have a very good excuse to buy a Carene F nib section, which I have been thinking about for a few months.

 

Thanks all, happy holidays!

[RMN]

If it is only failing nib-glue the repair would be much cheaper than the new section.

 

If it is a broken feed, that's a different matter.

 

 

And indeed that Man is no Briar/Bruyère. Briar looks a bit like Walnut.

I like Briar, personally, but you know how it is with tastes....

 

 

D.ick

[minjiha2]

If it is only failing nib-glue the repair would be much cheaper than the new section.

 

If it is a broken feed, that's a different matter.

 

 

And indeed that Man is no Briar/Bruyère. Briar looks a bit like Walnut.

I like Briar, personally, but you know how it is with tastes....

 

 

D.ick

 

Thanks, D.ick. I just hope that it is just failing-nib issue. The nib assemble itself nearly reaches up to the price I paid for this carene as a new.

 

I thought that one wooden Le Man 100 was enough... but I found myself addicted to get more ones with different woods!

 

Minji

[RMN]

 

Thanks, D.ick. I just hope that it is just failing-nib issue. The nib assemble itself nearly reaches up to the price I paid for this carene as a new.

 

I thought that one wooden Le Man 100 was enough... but I found myself addicted to get more ones with different woods!

 

Minji

Yep, that's what FPN does to folks....

 

Enjoy those lovely wooden pens, and good luck on the Carene. The Carenes are great writers.... if they are whole...

 

 

D.ick

[Kansas Pen]

I have two Carenes'. A Sterling and a Vermeil caps. The Sterling is about 12 years old.

 

I had the leaky nib problem with that one. Ink could be seen in the area where the pen body covered the back of the nib on the top side..

 

I finally decided to try to seal it against the section by using finger pressure by carefully but firmly pushing the nib into the section itself with thumb pressure. Be careful not to bend or "spring" the nib when doing so.

 

It took three or four tries, but that nib does not leak freely anymore. Easy does it.

 

The process is a little "chancy" but if you are considering swapping the nib or sending in for correction, you may be able to make it serviceable yourself.

 

As said - just take it easy and see if that helps enough to save the nib and section.

 

Good luck.

 

If you get it corrected you will find the Carene is a pleasure to use, and a beauty to boot.

[minjiha2]

I have two Carenes'. A Sterling and a Vermeil caps. The Sterling is about 12 years old.

 

I had the leaky nib problem with that one. Ink could be seen in the area where the pen body covered the back of the nib on the top side..

 

I finally decided to try to seal it against the section by using finger pressure by carefully but firmly pushing the nib into the section itself with thumb pressure. Be careful not to bend or "spring" the nib when doing so.

 

It took three or four tries, but that nib does not leak freely anymore. Easy does it.

 

The process is a little "chancy" but if you are considering swapping the nib or sending in for correction, you may be able to make it serviceable yourself.

 

As said - just take it easy and see if that helps enough to save the nib and section.

 

Good luck.

 

If you get it corrected you will find the Carene is a pleasure to use, and a beauty to boot.

 

 

Hello Kansas Pen,

 

Thanks for your advice! It sounds so simple and safe that I will try as you suggest.

 

Happy holidays!

 

Minji