Pelikan Epoch P360

[Rankie]

I'm completely new to fountain pens! Something inspired me to start to look into fountain pens, and I'm afraid now I'm hooked.

 

I got my daughter and myself each our own Lamy Safari, which we are enjoying.

 

I also got a Pelikan Epoch P360 (medium point; jade green), which I'm rather enthralled with. I bought a Pelikan converter and three bottles of ink, two Noodlers (Squeteague and Blue-black) and Pelikan Brilliant black. I mostly use the Noodlers blue-black lately.

 

I kept finding ink all over my fingers and finally figured out what was happening. When I'd pull the cap off, I would be looking at the pen and thinking about writing. I'd put the cap on the top of the pen while using it. (What do you call the end of the pen away from the nib, where you might stash the cap?) At the moment when it's time to re-cap the pen, my mind is on the next task and I fail to notice ink on the rounded end where the inner cap had deposited a ring of liquid ink. Only later do I notice ink all over my fingers. Is this common? I carry the Pelikan around in my pocket all day long; maybe the jostling and/or temperature variation makes ink ooze out? There is generally little or no noticeable ink on the nib; it's not leaking in any obvious way.

 

Any ideas? Thanks!

[Paladin]

I'm speculating but this could be the cause.

 

After one fills up the pen, it's important to let 5 drops back into the bottle. To do this, twist the converter in the opposite direction such that the plunger heads back towards the nib. Then twist it back up completely such that the plunger moves further away from the nib. Then wipe away all the excess ink from the nib.

 

I've found that by doing this, there's no problem with ink in the cap.

 

I recommend that you flush out your existing pen cap and wipe it clean with a tissue.

 

You should have no problem posting (fitting you pen at the end of the barrel) your pen cap and be ink free

 

Most of my pens are Pelikans and never had any problems with ink leaks. This also applies to my Pelikano Junior which I carry in my pants pocket. It goes with me almost everywhere.

 

 

[PAKMAN]

Are you saying that you are using a converter in a Epoch? How??

[Paladin]

It is a good idea to post your pen cap for the following reasons:

 

1. If you put your pen on the table, it won't roll off, fall and possibly damage your precious pen nib

2. You won't forget where you put your pen cap

3. It can help with writing, in terms of balance. I find this is true for all my Pelikans. However this does NOT seem to be true for my Lamy Safaris. Anyway, to each his own

 

Enjoy your pens

[Glenn-SC]

I NEVER post my pen caps.

 

It stresses plastic caps from the inside and leads to cracks at the cap lip and it causes scratches on the barrel end from friction from the cap and any dirt inside the cap.

 

It will also transfer ink from the inside of the cap to the barrel end.

 

There are many pens that "balance" in my hand just fine without posting.

 

I own no pens, nor will I buy any pens, that have to be posted in order to balance (or be long enough) for writing.

 

[ZeleniLav]

The Epoch is meant to be used with long cartridges (or two short ones). If you're putting a filled converter into it instead of a cartridge, it's possible that the converter doesn't fit perfectly into the feed - and that might be the cause of your leak. Is there any ink on the cartridge tray when you pull it out?

[O'Hare]

Sometimes it's common to rinse a bit of ink when cleaning out the cap, but (NORMALLY) not enough to stain your fingers because you posted the cap.

 

Try what Paladin suggested. Also make sure the nib unit is tightly screwed in and that you're using the Pelikan converter (or cartridge). And I've been told that heat can draw ink out of the nib.

 

[Rankie]

Thank you to everyone who responded! It's gratifying to realize how many people here are interested in helping.

 

I have more information since writing my original post -- the leak has gotten a lot worse. I consider this is a good thing, because now I know it's a real and fixable problem and I'll know when it's solved (as opposed to some subtle mysterious problem). I carefully cleaned out the pen, cap, and converter, refilled, let 5 drops out, cleaned everything off, and it started leaking again within minutes. This time there was even ink around the threads when I opened it up, as well as around the base of the nib. I can't figure out yet exactly where the leak is coming from. Maybe be the converter (it is a Pelikan, so it should ) is leaking.

 

At this point I think it's beyond me. Maybe I can return the pen and converter to where I got them from and see what they say. Thanks again everyone!

 

[O'Hare]

That happened to my P360. If you can't exchange it or return it where you bought it, call ChartPak about repair. Mine has been perfect since they fixed it.

[Steven]

Your pen is not broken. The Epoch is designed to only use the long European cartridges. If you want to stop the leaks then use a cartridge. If you want to use your bottles of ink with a fountain pen then get one of the Pelikan Souverans, or a Lamy 2000, or any other pen made to be used with a cartridge converter.

[Rankie]

Hi Steven,

 

I understand you are trying to help, but the page on the Pelikan converter on Pelikan's website reads "For all Pelikan cartridge fountain pens and many other brands." So they certainly clearly intend for the cartridge that they manufacture to work in the Epoch. And really, for a few weeks it worked just fine. I would think either that the cartridge is broken or something in the pen has broken.

 

http://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US.....963./converter

[Paladin]

Once again I'm speculating

 

1. you did not push the converter in tightly enough

2. the converter is faulty

3. your pen is faulty

 

I would recommend taking your pen back to the shop to see what they can do. I use converters with my:

 

1. Pelikano Juniors (including my wife and children)

2. Pelikano Style

3. Pelikan Twist

4. Rotring 600

 

I've never had any problems with leakage. In general, I dislike converters. I find them too fiddly. My preference is for piston filler. Hence my love of Pelikans Actually my whole family loves them and my children learned how to write with them.

 

Hope your problem gets sorted out so you can really enjoy you Epoch.

[Rankie]

Ahh, good news!

 

I originally bought my Epoch from "Marketfair Stationary" (yes, they misspelled it) through Amazon, who is actually Goldspot. Shortly after, I bought the Pelikan converter directly through http://www.goldspot.com

 

Goldspot were very gracious with me on the phone and immediately offered to exchange both the pen and the converter. Now the new pen and converter are working beautifully. I've run through a few refillings of the converter with no leak or mess.

 

I am very happy with the pen and with the service I received through Goldspot and am very likely to buy my next pen through them.

 

I also bought some cartridges and may try them later on, but for now I really enjoy working with the converter. Working directly with the ink, filling the converter, is really fun and it makes me feel much closer to the process and tradition. I enjoy having the option to do both.

 

Thanks to everyone who posted. Cheers!

[coco]

Glad your problem was resolved. When I first got into fountain pens, I bought several from Goldspot and found them to be very professional & easy to deal with.

 

My husband's favorite fountain pen is an Epoch, btw.

[Garageboy]

I used a converter in the Pelikan Future- wouldn't stay on the nipple