Eyedropper Problems

[Charles Skinner]

I have a nice, big Gama eyedropper pen that I like very much, but, but BUT about six months ago, I "retired" it because I just could not stop the leaking. I think that form of leaking is called "burping." I put the s. grease on the threads as I was directed. When writing with it, I often discovered small dots of ink on the floor or elsewhere, and I had no idea when and how they got there! My wife really gets upset about that! She is funny that way!

 

I really would like to learn how to use this pen safely. Soon after I got the pen ----- six or eight months ago, I guess ---- I read that heat from a person's hands can cause ink to get out of the pen at the most unexpected time. I believe that this is what they call "burping." This seems to especially true if the pen is only about one/fourth to one/half full. But, having to refill the pen so often defeats the advantage of eyedroppers, in my opinion.

 

I believe I read somewhere that wearing a rubber glove usually prevents heat from the hand from moving to the eyedropper pen, and that this stops the "burping."

 

Anyway, before I completely give up on this pen, what advice can you give me?

 

C. S. ------- (one who really hates to throw a pen away!)

 

 

[benbot517]

Eyedroppers, from what I understand usually burp when they are under half full. Refilling every so often may help.

[cattar]

The pens can also leak from the silicone seal if if's not done well.

The eyedroppered pen loaned to me did this. Stained a bag. Not a fan of eyedroppers.

[Arkanabar]

Make sure you know where the ink is leaking from. If it's the section/barrel joint, then you have a bad seal. If it's coming out of the feed/nib, then there are other possibilities.

 

One is that air is getting into the pen. This can be due to an ill-fitting or ill-made feed. Another is Charles's Law, as you've already suggested. If the pen warms up, point-up, before you start using it, this is much less of a problem. This is why I carry my Noodler's "Nikita" eyedropper in a breast pocket, or not at all.

[jar]

There is a reason almost all fountain pen companies abandoned eye dropper about a century ago.

[Sasha Royale]

I think all eyedropper pens "burp". Here's how I imagine the problem.

 

As the column of ink, in the reservoir, moves down the pen barrel, the empty space, behind the ink, develops a vacuum. The vacuum holds back the column of ink. As the nib ink supply is exhausted, air rushes into the ink reservoir and percolates upward into the space behind the ink supply, negating the vacuum, releasing the large column of ink. The mass of ink falls forcefully into the pen feed, with some ink rushing past the nib in a large drop.

 

This happens with any fountain pen. However, pens with smaller ink reservoirs, release a smaller column, that does not have the mass to rush past the nib. Perhaps, a breather tube, running deep into the pen barrel, would allow air movement into the reservoir more frequently, in smaller increments. Thus, the smaller "burps" would not force themselves past the nib.

 

Alas, fewer expensive parts, such as sacs, cartridges, and converters, is usually the motivation behind "eyedropper" systems. Breather tubes are such expensive parts. (I think a fifth century goat herder just explained a steam locomotive. )

 

Would turning the pen "nib-up", during pauses in writing, help the burping problem ? May we hear from some of the millions of "eyedropper" pen users in India ? What are some solutions ?

[mhguda]

Not one of those millions, but I have some Gamas and they do behave. Of course, I'm also in the tropics, so less temperature variations and, indeed, less burping. But. When I have a burping eyedropper, and I've used silicone grease on the threads and otherwise made sure of a good seal, one more source of ink going where I don't want it is if the nib and feed don't seal the path sufficiently. So what I do then is try to push the nib and feed assembly further into the section. This is sometimes sufficient to stop the burping. If not, it's heat-setting to the rescue. My preferred method is to dip the pen in a cup of just boiled water, dipping it up to where the section begins, and holding it steady for 30 seconds or so. Then take it out, press nib and feed together with thumb and fingers (protected, of course, since everything is HOT!). Repeat if necessary.

So far, with upwards of two dozen eyedroppers, they've all succumbed and given up their burping.

[flipper_gv]

Keep it at least half full at all times. The ebonite feeds on most Indian pens don't hold back a lot of ink, so there is more risk with them than with a Jowo nib unit let's say.

[J_MM]

I have solved the burping on my eyedroppers by replacing the ebonite feed with a Sheaffer Calligraphy pen feed. The Sheaffer feed has many more fins and can handle more ink. You can purchase a Sheaffer calligraphy pen and cut the feed out carefully.

 

You must check that the plastic Sheaffer feed forms a good seal in the section though. Many do not. In this case I wrap the feed with the nib on it with some plumbers tape before inserting into the section.

 

To see if your feed forms a good seal with the section I use a pocket flashlight and shine it in one end of the section and view the other side. If you see more than one ray of light (the channel in the feed) you have a potential leak.

[APPLEMAN]

My solution

 

http://appleman-pens.blogspot.ca/2013/09/indian-pen-mods.html

[rwilsonedn]

Let me get this right ... you found drops of ink on the floor, not on your paper? That would not be normal eyedropper behavior, even for one given to burping. Unless maybe you are in the habit of twirling your fountain pen in your fingers while you are thinking about the next line. As a previous poster said, the first step is to try to find out exactly where the ink is leaving the pen. There are several possibilities. But don't give up on your pen, or accept the old stories that all eyedroppers leak. You are having a specific problem of some sort.

ron

[pjo]

Not one of those millions, but I have some Gamas and they do behave. Of course, I'm also in the tropics, so less temperature variations and, indeed, less burping. But. When I have a burping eyedropper, and I've used silicone grease on the threads and otherwise made sure of a good seal, one more source of ink going where I don't want it is if the nib and feed don't seal the path sufficiently. So what I do then is try to push the nib and feed assembly further into the section. This is sometimes sufficient to stop the burping. If not, it's heat-setting to the rescue. My preferred method is to dip the pen in a cup of just boiled water, dipping it up to where the section begins, and holding it steady for 30 seconds or so. Then take it out, press nib and feed together with thumb and fingers (protected, of course, since everything is HOT!). Repeat if necessary.

So far, with upwards of two dozen eyedroppers, they've all succumbed and given up their burping.

 

 

This also is my solution to the problem. Generally just pushing the nib in further works well. I have also put some silicon grease around the nib and feed to prevent too much extra capillary leakage around the nib and feed section. Using less wet inks can also help.