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Uncle Erik's suggestion is very good and can work wonders for a rough nib--but always verify that the tines are properly aligned before attempting to smooth a nib.
here is a post from Richard Binder on the topic of flow but it contains an image showing the proper way to check alignment: Flow problems - The Fountain Pen Network
Something else you can try as an alternative to the sandpaper is brown paper bag. It is very abrasive and can do wonders to a scratchy nib. Follow Uncle Erik's directions but leave the brown paper bag dry.
I just got my new Lamy Safari in Charcoal. I really like this pen. I used to have a retro 51 rollerball but some how I misplaced it... So this is its replacement. I "auditioned" a retro 51 fountain and loved it but the Safari won, the cap on the retro was horrible. I hate the lamy black cartridges... I think I'm going to go out tomorrow and get some Noodlers Polar black.
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Headphones: UE Triple.fi 10 Pro's, Sennheiser HD650's
Amps: RSA Tomahawk, Little Dot MKIVse (on its way)
Sources: Portable: 30GB iPod video, iPhone 3G, original iPhone, 2G iPod shuffle Home: Marantz CD5001
Cables: Barqy made silver on copper iPod LOD
Current Home setup: Marantz CD5001 -> Little Dot MKIVse (On its way) -> Sennheiser HD650's
Current Portable setup: 30GB iPod video -> Apple Lossless -> UE Triple.fi 10 Pro's
Optimal setup: 80GB iPod classic -> Apple Lossless -> Undecided LOD -> RSA Predator -> UE 11's
The PFM's seals are due for replacement - filling is hit-or-miss these days. Cleaned it out last night and will drop it off today. Probably should pick up more ink, Amodex and probably another pen!
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UNCLE ERIK Vinyl, Tubes & Grado
Orbe SE -> SME IV -> Fi Yph -> Zana Deux/Si2A3
RS-1, HP-2, HF-1, K-1000, K-701, K-501, K-340, K-240DF, HD-650, HD-600, HD-414, DT48, DT880, MDR-SA5000, ATH-6, Aperio Alpha
It should hold more ink than that. I used a Snorkel through many classes and got 12-15 pages from a single fill.
There are a couple of things that might be going on. First, you should only have to pump it once, just one downstroke, to fill it. You should see a stream of air bubbles come up and it'll make a chuffing sound at the bottom of the stroke. But don't pull it out, leave the Snorkel in the ink for another 5-10 seconds. If you pull it out immediately, you'll hear it make a sucking sound while it pulls in air. Do it a few times to get the hang of it. Fill it, then squirt the ink out by pulling up then pushing in. You should see a stream of ink shoot out of the Snorkel.
If you're doing it right and it doesn't get a complete fill, it might need a new point seal. Some restorers only replace the O-ring, but you need both the O-ring and a point seal for proper suction.
As for smoothing the nib, go to an automotive paint supply store and get a sheet of 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper. Should be $2-$3 or so and you can reuse it. Wet a few inch section of the sandpaper, put in on a flat surface (a kitchen counter is good) then write seven or eight words on the sandpaper. Use the same pressure you write with - do not push. Write normally, do not make circles or swirls. Then wipe off the nib and try it on paper. If it's still not where you like, try it again once or twice. That should get the nib where you like it. This speeds up the normal break in you get from writing with a pen for a few months. That's why you want to write as you normally do, not draw figure-eights and that sort of thing. It won't hurt the iridium as long as you don't push and the sandpaper is wet.
After that, you can rinse off the sandpaper, let it dry, and use it again and again for new pens.
Thanks so much for the advice.
After one downstroke, I pull it out and push it back in expecting a stream of ink to be squirted back into my ink bottle, but instead, I sort of get a rather large drop of ink forming at the end of the tube which falls into the bottle after a second or two. Is this indicative of a point seal that needs to be restored?
After one downstroke, I pull it out and push it back in expecting a stream of ink to be squirted back into my ink bottle, but instead, I sort of get a rather large drop of ink forming at the end of the tube which falls into the bottle after a second or two. Is this indicative of a point seal that needs to be restored?
Most likely, yes. Is is making any sound when you push down to fill? There should be a noticeable "chuff" sound from the vent hole just below the blind cap. Not terribly loud, but you can hear the air go out to expand and fill the sac.
My PFM was doing the same thing, so Fred replaced both seals yesterday. Works great again.
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UNCLE ERIK Vinyl, Tubes & Grado
Orbe SE -> SME IV -> Fi Yph -> Zana Deux/Si2A3
RS-1, HP-2, HF-1, K-1000, K-701, K-501, K-340, K-240DF, HD-650, HD-600, HD-414, DT48, DT880, MDR-SA5000, ATH-6, Aperio Alpha
Most likely, yes. Is is making any sound when you push down to fill? There should be a noticeable "chuff" sound from the vent hole just below the blind cap. Not terribly loud, but you can hear the air go out to expand and fill the sac.
My PFM was doing the same thing, so Fred replaced both seals yesterday. Works great again.
Yeah, I can hear the chuff sound when I push down. What does that mean, exactly?
Just read on Fountain Pen Network that Private Reserve has issued a recall for its Tanzanite. Warning about we who use this in vintage pens. Don't know anymore about it than what I read there, but it's an interesting "heads up". Have contacted Pear Tree Pens, since I just bought a bottle from them. so we'll see what happens
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