Inconsistent ink flow Waterman Le man 200

[Ivan Schinkarew]

HI everyone!

 

Recently I bought a new (unused) Waterman Le Man 200 from a pen shop, and after using it I realized  that the nib was too dry to be normal. Even screwing the converter to force the ink ito the nib, the skiping continues.

 

I tried several inks, first montegrappa black, then moved to pilot iroshizuku Kon Peki, and finally Graf Von Faber Castell Midnight blue. Same problem didn´t change anything.

 

I disassembled the pen and let the nib and feed section rest in a cup of water overnight. Nothing changed.

 

Finally I decided to further disassemble the nib section and separated the nib and the feeder.  After washing the feeder with regular water, I assembled the nib and feed together! And suddenly it starts to work properly, the dry nib became a juicy nib.

 

Well, a juicy nib with ink blot problems, because from time to time the nib just simply drop a huge amount of ink on the paper.

 

This is just a marvelous pen, but the inconsistency on the ink flow is really getting on my nerves.

 

Any idea how to solve this issue?

 

Thanks,

 

Ivan

 

 

[MidSouthern-Dad]

The dry writing initially may have been from dried ink in the feed channels.  Even though the pen is "new", I've noticed that some pens (Parker comes to mind), have some residual blue ink as they test write the pens before boxing.  An alternative theory is that the release compound for the plastic feed from the manufacturing may still be in the ink channels, impeding ink flow.  The release compound is a form of oil.  I often have a new converter pen take in and expel pen flush, just to get rid of any manufacturing oils.  Some of the Chinese and Indian pens that I've seen are almost soaked in oil underneath the nib.  If I have to take the nib and feed apart, I usually use dishwashing detergent and a toothbrush to degrease both feed and nib, fully.

 

As for the current situation with the pen gushing or blobbing, there are two things to check.  First, make sure that the ink slit between the tines of the nib taper towards the point.  That is, the slit should be narrowest at the point.  If you distorted the nib during removal, the slit width may have been affected.  Secondly, check to be sure that the feed conforms to the underside of the nib.  If there's a gap between the end of the feed and the nib undersurface, then ink can pool in the gap and then be released in a blob.  You may have to heat set the feed to the nib.

[manolo]

If you disassembled and assembled again, you might have modified the relative position between nib and feed. If there is excess ink going out, there must be excess aire coming in somewhere. Check pictures in the internet and reposition them (advises given in the previous post are also good). 

Another possibility is a tiny crack somewhere, but I doubt it.

[senzen]

I would simply clean it with a drop of dishwashing liquid in a cup of water, works for my Man100 and 95% of my pens.