Jowo nib skipping

[OpinionAnthol]

Sorry, am new here so not sure if this is the right place, but hopefully someone can let me know if that is the case. Bit of a rambling question, so please bear with me...

I have a new Jowo medium steel nib that is misbehaving quite a bit. It skips on the first letter (usually a down stroke, but also sometimes cross strokes) when starting up and also every sentence or so. It seems to happen most on smooth/coated paper (e.g. Rhodia/Tomoe) but it also happens on paper with a bit more tooth (Midori MD). The pen also seems to run a lot drier after a page or so of writing (presumably once the initial priming of the feed from filling has been worked through). I've been using what I thought was a very safe/moderately wet ink - Waterman Serenity Blue.

 

Based on my limited knowledge, it sounds like it might be a 'baby's bottom' and/or ink starvation issue, but the nib was tuned and smoothed by a well respected nib mister prior to me using it for the first time, so can't imagine there is something wrong with the nib. I'm assuming it is something I'm doing wrong, but am at a loss to workout what that is.

 

I came across another post on here regarding a similar issue with a MB 146 where people suggested that sometimes nibs need to be 'broken in' over several weeks and numerous fillings. I've never had this happen with a nib before, but I don't have much experience with medium nibs (I've only really used Extra Fines or Fines up to now), so not sure if this is normal!

[BayesianPrior]

Regarding the 'ink starvation' issue, there may be residual manufacturing oils on the nib which are impeding flow.  This isn't uncommon with new nibs. Try flushing the pen with water containing a tiny bit of dish soap.  Be sure to flush again thoroughly with clean water afterwards to get rid of any residual soap.

 

Regarding the 'failure to downstroke' issue, that does sound like a touch of baby's bottom, but I'm sure someone wiser than me can comment.

[OpinionAnthol]

Thanks for the tip! I had flushed it with water, but have done it again with a bit of dish soap. Tried a new ink too, and the ink starvation thing certainly seems to have stopped - still the occasional 'hard start' on Rhodia, but it definitely seems better. Guess the ultimate test is to try it back with Waterman Serenity Blue, so fingers crossed.

[maclink]

I'll share a story here.  I just got a new pen with a steel nib.  The nib is great but after a few lines of writing, the nib would dry out.  I aggitate the pen a few times and it started again only to dry up after a few lines.  I flushed the pen and filled it with a different ink.  Same problem and this was particularly frustrating because the initial start would result in a generous ink flow which faded to complete dryness after four or so lines of text.

 

I pulled on the nib/feed, and thankfully, they popped out quite easily as they are friction fitted.  I could then inspect the feed.  It's an ebonite feed with a single groove, deepest towards its base.  With magnification, I could see crud filling half the groove at it's start.  I cleaned it out carefully, washed the feed again and inked up. Problem solved.  Never had it this bad before.

 

I've had skipping and hard starting pens respond to simple flushing.  My last two settled down with sheer use.  I just used them and the ink flow seemed to clean things up.

 

So it may not be the nib that's the problem but actually the feed that has stuff in it.  Manufacturing oils or crud if brand new, or dried ink if pre-owned or tested and your new ink mixes with the old ink leading to some precipitation in the feed channel.  

 

Flush (soaking the nib/feed may also help) and continue using would be my recommendation.