Pilot Iroshizuku ink and Montblanc pens

[james566clugston]

Dear all,

 

I am wondering if anyone has any bad experience with Pilot Iroshizuku ink and Montblanc pens? because I have used a couple now manly Kon-Peki and Asa-Gao and I have had issues with the piston in the pens becoming very tight. This is only from two pens but the issues has happened a few times now and even with good cleaning it does not help. This often required lubrication of the piston to but I could see ink collected around the 'piston end' (the silicone seal/plunger). So I have stopped using these inks for now due to these issues and stuck with Montblanc ink that does not give me the same issues. I just love the colour of Asa-Gao! and its hard not to use it. 

 

Does anyone else have any thoughts? 

James 

[pix]

Had the same experience. Ama-Iro in a 149 pen made the piston stiff. Switched to MB Royal Blue and the problem went mostly away.

[Arcadian]

I don't recall having had such an issue, but I think that I thought that Iroshizuku had some flow issues in sometimes in Montblanc pens - which is odd, because those inks normally flow really well. 

 

My G. B. Shaw pen has a really stiff piston. Or maybe not stiff so much as resisting movement in an almost rubbery way. Maybe that's from Iroshizuku. Not sure. 

 

 

 - P. 

[a student]

I have used these inks, but very sparingly- no more than couple of days at a time, always flushing the pen afterwards, and have not experienced any problem with the piston

[empliau]

I've been using Yama-budo in my 149 for at least a decade. The only problem was when I dropped it nib first on the floor, but I can scarcely blame the ink for that.  And the piston seems fine to me, but I have an Omas - no piston knob seems tight after an Omas!

[bunnspecial]

I'm stretching to think if I've ever used Kon-Peki in one of my MBs, but have used a handful of Iroshizukus here and there including Asa-Gao(which does well in general, and is not as wet as some of the other inks in the line).

 

I've noticed the piston getting "tight" if saturated inks are allowed to thicken up a little bit-it's not something peculiar to Iroshizukus(although not all are overly saturated and Kon-Peki is probably middle of the road in the line-up) nor is it peculiar to Montblancs....

[InesF]

Have used Yama-budo for about 4 month in a MB 146 with no problem.

I observed tight piston knobs in other fountain pens (more than one) if after cleaning and storing some tap water and/or a tiny residue of ink remained in the barrel and dried there. This smallest amount of solids can already hinder the piston from free moving - maybe not at the very first occurrence, most probably after some repetitions when the residues add up. This is independent from the pen brand.

[CS388]

Haven't had any problems with Iroshizuku inks in Montblanc piston fillers. 

It's not my everyday ink, but I take a fill every now and then - and have done for many years.

(Mainly ku-jaku, for me)

 

Always difficult to diagnose from a distance, but I doubt your issue is being caused by your ink?

 

Good luck

 

[Karmachanic]

1 hour ago, CS388 said:

I doubt your issue is being caused by your ink

 

Agreed.  'Twere the ink it would do so in other pens.  Not necessarily all, but some.

[james566clugston]

thanks everyone for your responses. 

Well the particular pens in question I can just lubricate the piston as I have the tool to do it (but I would rather not do it). But I have some new Limited editions that I can not do this with, as the tool does not fit (they have newer designs). So I would not use it in these as I do not want to deal with the repair turnaround time in Australia (it is about 10 week’s minimum). 
 

I have also found the Asa-Gao to be susceptible to drying up if left uncapped for about 30 mins. Most of the Montblanc inks I use do not do this (well much less so). This is just from using the pen at a meeting meeting. 
 

I have been using a few Montblanc inks in a geometry at the moment and no problem at all with the piston being tight. This pen is with me everyday all day so it is going from warm to cool environments at the moment. But I usually clean my pens out every few weeks. 
 

I was just curious if others have this issue and if it’s just isolated with me pens. I am just in love with that Asa-GAO colour. The colours I have are below. 
 

James 
 

 

[SashK]

I have not had this exact issue using Iroshizuku and MB. It is odd as the Iroshizuku inks are quite wet and Mont Blanc inks are drier. 

 

Also I do not have Asa Gao, but have used Ama Iro, Tsukushi, Kon Peki, Both gray inks, the blue blacks and not really had the same issue. On the other hand I don't find the piston to be as lubricated as when it is done at home. 

[Karmachanic]

4 hours ago, SashK said:

I don't find the piston to be as lubricated as when it is done at home. 

 

precious grease?

[SashK]

@Karmachanic looool! 

[KAC]

I've been using various Iroshizuku inks in my 149 and a few vintage MB pens (and other vintage models from Parker) for many years without any issues. I have had serious problems though with Noodlers inks in rubber-bladder pens: they seem to destroy the bladders. I don't use those inks in my vintage MB collection and I've abandoned them altogether.

[Waltz For Zizi]

As many have already said I haven't had any problems either and I rarely use any other inks but Iroshizuku. My pens sometimes stay inked for months with the same fill with no problem.

[gerigo]

I used to think that pen manufacturers who say that their inks should be used only with their pens a bunch of hooey; until I have had much success when I use said pens with their own inks. Iroshizukus are highly alkali inks that don't play well with rubber sacs and gaskets. So now Iroshizukus are paired with Pilots, and Montblancs with their own inks.

[como]

3 hours ago, gerigo said:

I used to think that pen manufacturers who say that their inks should be used only with their pens a bunch of hooey; until I have had much success when I use said pens with their own inks. Iroshizukus are highly alkali inks that don't play well with rubber sacs and gaskets. So now Iroshizukus are paired with Pilots, and Montblancs with their own inks.

@gerigo There is definitely some truth in there. I didn't notice this problem until recently. Pilot Iroshizuku Murasaki-shikibu (bluish purple ink) made my new 146 Calligraphy piston very tight. I flushed it well and used MB Royal Blue and the problem quickly went away. I don't know which ones of the Iroshizuku line cause this problem, so I am not using them in any of my MB pens anymore, and any pen that has a true piston with rubber/silicon type of seal anymore. I'll just use the Iroshizuku inks in converters. Good topic and good points. Thanks to all for experience and knowledge sharing.

[Seney724]

2 hours ago, como said:

 Good topic and good points. Thanks to all for experience and knowledge sharing.

+1

I very much agree with the (always) wise words of @como

[james566clugston]

Thanks everyone for your feedback and comments. I have tried a few more times with the Pilot inks and I have just decided they are not worth the hassle in Montblanc pens. @gerigo it seems like the Ph is the ink is a huge factor in the performance of the pens and pistons. I do like many of the Montblanc colours. 

[como]

On 8/18/2023 at 2:55 PM, Seney724 said:

+1

I very much agree with the (always) wise words of @como

@Seney724 Thank you for your kind words. Honestly in the matter of pens, I can only pretend to be not too crazy 😀, far from wise.

This Pilot Iroshizuku ink probably makes much more sense in the Pilot pump converter, such as CON-70 where it's not affecting any moving seal seen in other converters or pistons.