Nib is the problem?

[eloiseplaza]

Hi  - total newbie here so apologies if what I'm asking sounds obvious or wrong.

 

I have this Alibi pen which writes nicely sometimes but often has flow problems. I tried the tips on this page https://www.jetpens.com/blog/Help-My-Fountain-Pen-Won-t-Write/pt/569#Aligned which got it from no flow at all to mostly working, but it still is inconsistent and dries up often.

 

I noticed the nib has no breather hole (think this is the correct term) - see pic; also pic of whole pen at the bottom. This seems to be standard with this model of Alibi pen, but I wonder if it's not helping with the flow? Is it worth trying to find a new nib for the pen (is it even possible? Alibi seem hard to find.) It isn't a valuable pen, but it's nice to hold and write with when it works, and it has sentimental value (present from my parents who are no longer here.)

 

),

[A Smug Dill]

2 hours ago, eloiseplaza said:

I noticed the nib has no breather hole (think this is the correct term) - see pic; also pic of whole pen at the bottom. This seems to be standard with this model of Alibi pen, but I wonder if it's not helping with the flow?

 

It is indeed commonly known as the breather hole, although that's a misnomer (for nearly all modern fountain pens). Don't worry about the absence of one on your nib; you can safely assume that, as with most other fountain pens, the air channel in your pen's feed is elsewhere, and not where the end of the nib slit is.

 

2 hours ago, eloiseplaza said:

… mostly working, but it still is inconsistent and dries up often.

 

Specifically when, and/or in the course of doing what with your pen, do you notice it drying up?

 

If you meant the pen often hard-starts — i.e. fail to write properly on the first pen stroke or five, or the first few characters — upon being uncapped at the beginning of a writing session, then that is likely a symptom arising from the pen cap sealing the nib and feed poorly when the pen is unused. If that is the case, then generally speaking there is no easy fix, at least without replacing (or, I suppose, modifying) the inner cap. Your pen appears to have a snap-cap (which, at a guess, would be) fitted with a plastic liner/inner cap, of which the slightly elastic rim would ‘snap’ around the ridge at the end of the copper-coloured gripping section, and be held in place thus when you cap the pen.

 

On the other hand, if you meant it would write properly for a few words or a few lines, then suddenly start skipping and/or appear to dry up, but sometimes would mysteriously start writing properly again — perhaps after shaking, manually fiddling with, or cursing loudly at the pen — then that may be indicative of something hindering ink flow from the pen's reservoir into the feed's ink channel. However, until you confirm that such is the problem scenario, there is no point in our asking diagnostic questions along those lines.

 

[eloiseplaza]

32 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

It is indeed commonly known as the breather hole, although that's a misnomer (for nearly all modern fountain pens). Don't worry about the absence of one on your nib; you can safely assume that, as with most other fountain pens, the air channel in your pen's feed is elsewhere, and not where the end of the nib slit is.

Thanks for replying on this point - makes sense.

 

32 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

On the other hand, if you mean it would write properly for a few words or a few lines, then suddenly start skipping and/or appear to dry up, but sometimes would mysteriously start writing properly again — perhaps after shaking, manually fiddling with, or cursing loudly at the pen — then that may be indicative of something hindering ink flow from the pen's reservoir into the feed's ink channel. However, until you confirm that such is the problem scenario, there is no point in our asking diagnostic questions along those lines.

This is the main problem, though it does also need a little time to 'run in'. I could deal with that however if it then wrote consistently, which it doesn't - it's pretty much as you describe.

[A Smug Dill]

OK then, which do you use in your pen? Factory-filled ink cartridges? Or a converter, which you then use to draw ink from a bottle (or inkwell)?

[eloiseplaza]

5 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

OK then, which do you use in your pen? Factory-filled ink cartridges? Or a converter, which you then use to draw ink from a bottle (or inkwell)?

Factory made cartridges, currently Ryman's black generic ones. I wondered if it needs different ink - though the same cartridges are fine so far in my free Inoxcrom.

Come to think of it, my rediscovered (unused for a long time, like the Alibi) Parker Frontier is having similar problems despite  using the same tips - I use Parker branded cartridges in that. So probably could have worked out it wasn't the nib, I was just focused on the Alibi.

[A Smug Dill]

1 minute ago, eloiseplaza said:

I wondered if it needs different ink

 

There are a number of suggestions (and I don't mean a number of particular inks) I could make, for making blind stabs in the dark at trying to remedy the situation with your Alibi pen. Changing inks would be one of them. I suppose it can't hurt to try using Waterman Serenity Blue (after you have soaked and flushed your pen's nib, feed, and gripping section). I'm guessing, from what I can see here, that a ‘standard international’ cartridge will fit. (I'm not sure what Ryman's are; but, at a guess, they'll also be ‘standard international’.)

[eloiseplaza]

1 hour ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

There are a number of suggestions (and I don't mean a number of particular inks) I could make, for making blind stabs in the dark at trying to remedy the situation with your Alibi pen. Changing inks would be one of them. I suppose it can't hurt to try using Waterman Serenity Blue (after you have soaked and flushed your pen's nib, feed, and gripping section). I'm guessing, from what I can see here, that a ‘standard international’ cartridge will fit. (I'm not sure what Ryman's are; but, at a guess, they'll also be ‘standard international’.)

Yep, the Ryman's ones don't say, annoyingly, but that would make sense - however, I'll try some I know are standard international (thanks for the thread link). Or the Waterman's. Was there a particular reason you recommended blue for those? Just because I tend to use black ink for preference; I have no idea if it makes any particular difference to the pen, or if blue is just the preferred choice for most people.

[A Smug Dill]

7 minutes ago, eloiseplaza said:

Or the Waterman's. Was there a particular reason you recommended blue for those?

 

Waterman Serenity Blue has a reputation for being a ‘safe’ and smooth-flowing ink, and a lovely blue ink besides. You'd often see it recommended in online forums by experienced pen repair specialists as a baseline ink to use, on the basis of, “if a pen doesn't write with Waterman Serenity Blue, then the problem is with the pen,” for diagnostics.

 

From my perspective, an ink in a non-black colour makes it easier to see whether a pen is writing dryly or wetly, although I'd usually use a lighter blue (such as a sky blue) for that.

 

I like Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black, but it is a drier-flowing ink. You can't get Aurora Black in ‘standard international’ cartridges, as far as I'm aware. I suppose you can use Herbin Perle Noire, if you prefer.

[eloiseplaza]

28 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

Waterman Serenity Blue has a reputation for being a ‘safe’ and smooth-flowing ink, and a lovely blue ink besides. You'd often see it recommended in online forums by experienced pen repair specialists as a baseline ink to use, on the basis of, “if a pen doesn't write with Waterman Serenity Blue, then the problem is with the pen,” for diagnostics.

 

From my perspective, an ink in a non-black colour makes it easier to see whether a pen is writing dryly or wetly, although I'd usually use a lighter blue (such as a sky blue) for that.

 

I like Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black, but it is a drier-flowing ink. You can't get Aurora Black in ‘standard international’ cartridges, as far as I'm aware. I suppose you can use Herbin Perle Noire, if you prefer.

Ah - thank you for clarifying, will try that.

[miwishi63]

I have learned, through trial and error, and advice on this board, to try a different ink before assuming the problem is the pen or the nib. Definitely agree that trying a wetter ink first is a good diagnostic step.

[Karmachanic]

Dunno if this is the case, but if the pen was laid aside for an extended period, and you're now using it, I'd suggest flushing it thoroughly with a bulb syringe.

If that's not the case, or you've already done so please ignore.

[eloiseplaza]

4 hours ago, Karmachanic said:

Dunno if this is the case, but if the pen was laid aside for an extended period, and you're now using it, I'd suggest flushing it thoroughly with a bulb syringe.

If that's not the case, or you've already done so please ignore.

Thanks - I have flushed it, but not with a bulb syringe as I don't own one - maybe useful to get and try that.

[Karmachanic]

8 hours ago, eloiseplaza said:

maybe useful to get and try

 

Allows one to put a lot of water through the section/feed/nib in a short time.

[Ron Z]

Parts Express sells a desoldering bulb for under $4 plus shipping which works very well for flushing pens.    I use them all the time, and keep spares in stock.  Pull out the Teflon tip and you're good to go.  They are a snug fit over most sections, but will stretch if needed.  As the opening wears I move them from "small" pen cleaning to "big pen" cleaning.