Occasional Skipping When Writing

[kavanagh]

Dear Colleagues,

 

I bought a new fountain pen from the WHSmith Messenger Range ( Made in Germany ).

I did not soak it in warm water to ensure any manufacturing glues, particles are washed away.

I have inked it up, and sometimes it skips if I write quickly. I wanted to ask if 'skipping' cures itself overtime ( due to nib wear and regular usage )?.

I don't really want to carry out any adjustment or surgery.

 

Thanks,

 

kavanagh

[jar]

There is absolutely no answer to your question without far more information. Sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes maybe. Until the cause of the skipping is determined there is no way to know how it can be cured.

[Bluey]

I did not soak it in warm water to ensure any manufacturing glues, particles are washed away.

Then you need to flush it with dish soap and water, then rinse with water.

[cattar]

Flushing the pen may be useful.

Since you've been around a while, you're probably aware that the problem is often rolling the wrist or rolling the pen in the hand so both tines aren't gliding on the pool of ink. Even longtime fountain pen writers often do this.

[wingwiper]

Try seating your feed

 

[Drone]

I did not soak it in warm water to ensure any manufacturing glues, particles are washed away.

 

Kavanagh,

 

Did you at-least flush the new pen thoroughly with soapy water before inking it? Try a known good flowing ink and a regular piece of office-bond paper first to eliminate any ink and paper issues.

[rwilsonedn]

+1. Flushing the pen with mild dishwashing soap solution (a drop in a 150 ml of water, say) and then flushing again with clean water is always the first step for a new pen. By flushing, folks mean:

 

prepare the liquid soap solution

use the converter or a squeeze bulb from the pharmacy to suck up some of the solution through the nib, and then force it out through the nib again

repeat about ten times.

repeat the whole process with clean pure water.

Let the pen dry for an hour or two, then fill it with ink and try writing. Chances are it will work great (except maybe for a little water left in the pen that will make the ink write lighter, but will work its way out quickly.)

If you still have problems, then we can get into further diagnosis.

Most important: be patient: your pen will soon be writing well and making you happy!

ron

[jekostas]

Try seating your feed

 

 

Do NOT give this advice unless you are absolutely certain that the pen in question has an ebonite feed! This will absolutely ruin plastic feeds that are most prevalent on modern fountain pens.

Edited August 30, 2017 by jekostas

[Honeybadgers]

 

Do NOT give this advice unless you are absolutely certain that the pen in question has an ebonite feed! This will absolutely ruin plastic feeds that are most prevalent on modern fountain pens.

 

It actually won't. What really breaks them is when people use flame, heat gun, or anything hotter than 212F/100C water, or try to bend the feed outside of the pen (a-la overset and then reset again in the pen for particularly stubborn nibs) Those are all absolute no-no's and will absolutely risk destroying the feed. Plastic feeds are thermoset plastics with good tensile strength and melting points around 350-450F. They shouldn't lose significant structural strength in boiling water.

 

I've heat set many plastic feeds this way and never broken one. Your results are nowhere near as dramatic as what ebonite can do (and I really wish every pen over $40 had an ebonite feed, clearly nathan and several other companies can do it on pens under $30) but if you're just a little off, It can make the difference.

Edited August 30, 2017 by Honeybadgers

[wingwiper]

Maybe try running a brass sheet like Goulet sells to open the tines a tad. I just use a double edge razer blade