Titanium Bock Nib Adjustment

[Pen_Padawan]

Hi All,

I just received my new Kickstarter pen, Namisu Ixion Titanium with Bock titanium nib. I am having some ink flow issues and noticed the nib slit is very tight, with no light coming through so I think this is the problem (I have washed and flushed the pen out two times). I normally open up nib slits with a pen knife but never tried on a titanium nib. So before I ruin a brand new nib does anyone have any advise for working on a titanium nib?

 

Second question, is the minor flow issue. It writes well, but stops once in a while, mostly when dotting the "i" and crossing the 'T', with some dry starts. Does this sound like the nib slit being too tight?

 

Thanks,

Pen_Padawan

[jekostas]

Put your fingernails underneath the shoulders of the nib and pull apart gently. If it's still tight, repeat as necessary. Go slow and check how the pen writes continuously.

 

Also, for the love of all things holy don't use a pocketknife on a fountain pen nib. That is a truly awful idea.

[Jamerelbe]

Put your fingernails underneath the shoulders of the nib and pull apart gently. If it's still tight, repeat as necessary. Go slow and check how the pen writes continuously.

 

Also, for the love of all things holy don't use a pocketknife on a fountain pen nib. That is a truly awful idea.

 

Agreed, using a pen knife to increase separation between the tines is a truly awful idea! I'd recommend checking out the Pen Habit's video on increasing flow (which shows what Jekostas means by pulling apart the shoulders of the nib) - or purchasing a very fine brass sheet to pass between the tines.

 

The Pen Habit video:

 

For an example of brass sheets (though you probably won't want to buy them from an Australian store!), check out http://justwrite.com.au/fountain-pens/fountain-pen-tools/brass-sheet-for-cleaning-fountain-pens

[Christopher Godfrey]

Pen_Padawan, the two posters above are on the money: opening or closing the slit is not for <any> instrument other than your thumbnails! What you are trying to achieve is merely a re-definition of the overall curvature of the nib, seen from the front -- and, in your case, you are opening up the radius of curvature, right? Easy notes on this are available, too, on Richard Binder's website.

 

Brass shim material is good only for "flossing" your tine gap -- personally, I find he (The Pen Habit man in the video) puts too much store by the brass...but that's my opinion. Do go and read up Binder!

[Pen_Padawan]

Thank you for the advice everyone. I used the finger nail method and pulled apart the tines and now the pen works great, thanks!

My main concern was the material, titanium Bock nib. In the end I did not have any trouble pulling or adjusting the nib, like any other steel or gold nib, this is my first titamium nib.

[Christopher Godfrey]

Good show! And now...just make sure the two tines are aligned with each other. You really would do yourself a big favour by going into Richard Binder's site for a good read!