Pilot 14K Nibs Singing And Squeaking?

[beboy]

I wonder if i am the only one with this issue; I own three Pilot pens with standard 14k nibs (2 #3 and 1 #5 nibs) and all three sing/squeak when I write too fast, sometimes going along with spraying of little droplets of ink. Note that this doesn't happen with my Pilot Custom "no name" with a flat top. I think it has a lot to do with the tines configuration, wider on the Custom "no name".

 

That's not a huge annoyance, but enough for keeping me distant from modern Pilot pens.

 

Do others experience the same with Pilot or other brands nibs?

[nmcnick]

I can only say from my personal experience with my own Custom 74, but i dont have this issue at all. Mine is a soft medium and is my softest, most smooth nib. Besides of course feeling a tiny bit of semi springy feedback, I haven't heard it make almost any noise and if it does make noise, I realize I'm pressing too hard! (I move from pencils to fountain pens and vice versa, so sometimes i get too used to the writing of one instrument)

 

But to answer your question- i havent personally experienced this issue.

[chad.trent]

I have three Pilots. A Custom 74, a Custom 92, and a Custom 91. No problem with any of them. I have noticed another pen I have does that when I use thinner, wetter ink.

 

Have you tried a different ink in it to see if that makes a difference?

[Water Ouzel]

None of my Pilot 14K nibs squeak or sing, but they're all #15's.

 

Did I get a defective batch?

[carlos.q]

I wonder if i am the only one with this issue; I own three Pilot pens with standard 14k nibs (2 #3 and 1 #5 nibs) and all three sing/squeak when I write too fast, sometimes going along with spraying of little droplets of ink....

 

Could it be that you are pressing down too much when writing? Maybe try a lighter touch?

[ajlmarques]

Could it be that you're writing at a too steep angle? Just suggesting it as the mention of spraying droplets of ink suggests the tines are catching on the paper.

Does it happen with all paper types you write on?

[I.M.]

I have two Preras and two Custom 74s, and none of them sing or splatter ink when I use them. In fact their nibs are among the best I have in my collection to date.

 

Perhaps it might be an idea to get your singers and splatterers looked at by a nibmeister?

[jar]

Singing and squeaking particularly if you get spraying is a fairly common sign of a poorly adjusted nib. It's caused by sympathetic vibrations as you write.

 

Fortunately it can usually be cured fairly easily. Here is a link to a post where RonZ talks about it.

 

My favorite solution though is to find three others and form a Barbershop Quartet.

 

The first thing I suggest is that you try a variety of different papers to see if it might just be related to one type of paper.

[beboy]

None of my Pilot 14K nibs squeak or sing, but they're all #15's.

 

Did I get a defective batch?

 

I realized the tines on my #5 (CH 92) were not perfectly aligned and after some tines adjustment, it doesn't squeak anymore.

 

I have more trouble with my 2 #3, but they are still very usable and one of the two, a Grance, is one of my favorite pen. I just noticed this issue was more frequent with Pilot nibs, but i might just be unlucky.

[beboy]

Could it be that you are pressing down too much when writing? Maybe try a lighter touch?

You might be right, but 30+ conditionning years of ballpoints are difficult to remove, even after some years using fountain pens...

[beboy]

Could it be that you're writing at a too steep angle? Just suggesting it as the mention of spraying droplets of ink suggests the tines are catching on the paper.

Does it happen with all paper types you write on?

I know i rotate my nib too much when I write and because of that, I have some issue writing with rigid nibs (which is the case with many modern nib, apart from some exception). Pilot 14k fortunately don't have this rigidity, but they are more prone to catching paper when one doesn't write wight a proper angle I guess.

[jar]

You might be right, but 30+ conditionning years of ballpoints are difficult to remove, even after some years using fountain pens...

Well, don't do that any more.

 

I know i rotate my nib too much when I write and because of that, I have some issue writing with rigid nibs (which is the case with many modern nib, apart from some exception). Pilot 14k fortunately don't have this rigidity, but they are more prone to catching paper when one doesn't write wight a proper angle I guess.

Actually, if you rotate your nib you will almost always cause such problems. That will very quickly get the tines miss-aligned and faster with softer more flexible nibs than with stiff nibs.

 

Man went to the doctor; said "Doctor it hurts when I do this." The Doctor said ...

[beboy]

Well, don't do that any more.

 

Actually, if you rotate your nib you will almost always cause such problems. That will very quickly get the tines miss-aligned and faster with softer more flexible nibs than with stiff nibs.

 

Man went to the doctor; said "Doctor it hurts when I do this." The Doctor said ...

 

Yes, you are right, but I realized that some nibs are more forgiving than others (the latest model of Parker Sonnet 18k, the one with the slit not reaching the breather hole, and the Pilot "Custom" FK-700R-B have been my two most common workhorse for more than a year - they are crutch to my poor writing I guess...)

 

"Doctor, it hurts when I do this, but it feels better when I drink a Whisky..."