Ink Flow Adjustment

[Rockape]

Hi. Sorry if this has been answered elsewhere but I have a Sheaffer Balance which I've recently restored and have fallen in love with. I have found however that the ink flow is a little bit higher than I would like and wondered whether it is possible to reduce it? I am using Parker Quink and not sure if this is the right choice for a pen of this type. Thanks

[siamackz]

I think you will need to close the gap between the nib tines a little. Youll want to watch videos and read a few articles on it before trying, because its a delicate procedure (not difficult or anything to be afraid of though). Essentially, you push one tine at a time downwards, very carefully, till you achieve the desired closure between the tines ie you want the nib slit to be such that when you pass a .002 mm brass shim it goes through but with just a little resistance. Look at Richard Binders article on adjusting ink flow as a start.

[Rockape]

Thanks very much. There is no discernible gap between the tines so I don't think I can close it up any more than it is. Any other ideas?

[siamackz]

With regard to flow, I can only think of the following common variables:

1. Nib width - is it a bold nib? Bold will give you a thicker line which you might be misinterpreting as too wet? If you share a pic we will know the nib better

2. Ink - Switch to drier ink (you can google or FPn search for recos)

3. Nib slit - Reduce the slit between tines. Did you run a brass shim through? If you share a pic of the tines against some light it will help.

 

Since the pen is not leaking out of its nib (and so there is no air leak in the sac or elsewhere causing excess ink flow), I cannot think of any variables apart from the three above that can be manipulated to reduce flow. But, maybe someone with more expertise can step in...

Edited October 2, 2017 by siamackz

[Rockape]

Hi. I think the nib is a medium but not entirely sure. I'll certainly check out a drier ink to see if that makes a difference. I've attached a couple of photos of the nib as requested but I can't see any visible gap between the tines - even under a magnifying glass.

[cattar]

There was a photo that showed the pen writing well at first and writing at about nib width.

How much flow is too much? What's happening with the pen? And when is this happening?
Is ink dripping off the nib? Is there ink in the cap when you uncap the pen? Is the pen burping ink when you've been writing a while or when you've been out in the cold and come inside to write? Are you changing elevation or flying? Is the pen writing wetter or wider than you prefer?

 

some pen info...
The balance came about before the larger finned modern feeds that regulate the sometimes unexpected release of ink. The pen can burp ink.
A change in temperature or pressure or even warm hands can expand air in the sac and expel ink.
A tiny hole in the sac can make ink flow to quickly.
The ink could be too wet for this pen.
You may prefer a finer nib width.

 

some pen ideas...
Hold the pen nib up when capping and uncapping.
Keep the pen nib up when at rest and don't jostle about when in transit.
Warm the pen nib up in hand before writing, and rest the pen nib up every few pages to let the air burp.
When changing elevation or flying, empty or completely fill the pen.
Check the sac for a tiny hole and try shellac as a temporary fix while awaiting a new sac.
Try a dry ink like a Pelikan 4001. Consider sticking with blues, greens, blacks in inks. Some blueblacks are iron gall and don't know how that reacts with celluloid. Some red inks (and orange and purple) stain pens. Also reds tend to be more alkaline and alkalines eat celluloid.
Consider a second pen with a finer nib.

 

 

eta. Had suggested dry Robert Oster inks from the island to your west, but don't know if they're alkaline. Someday, try them in a wet modern pen.

Edited October 3, 2017 by cattar

[Rockape]

How much is too much? That's an interesting question. Typically, the ink flow in the pan is generally fairly reasonable when I start writing however the longer I write with it, the heavier the flow seems to become. The ink isn't dripping off the nib, it's just flowing onto the paper rather faster than I would like. I have noticed that sometimes when I take the cap of the pen, there is a little ink on the top of the nib at one side, however this in itself does not necessarily bother me.

Having read your reply, it is possible then that as I'm holding the pen and it's becoming warmer, the ink is flowing faster which would be an explanation as to why this occurs. I have not taken the pen in an aircraft so it is unlikely then that variances in altitude would be a contributing factor. I will try to seek out one of the alternative "dryer" inks that you suggest and see if that improves the situation. I still enjoy writing with a pen very much, and the issues around ink flow are not significant enough to prevent me using the pen which I do on a daily basis in my work. Thanks very much for taking the time to reply.