Devil Pen

[derekcohen]

Some months back I won a Vacumatic on eBay ... flexible medium nib and clear barrel ...

 

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Pens/Devil%20Pen/pena_zps6e27lxef.jpeg

 

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Pens/Devil%20Pen/penb_zpsawtfcdwc.jpeg

 

When it arrived it turned out to be very scratchy, which I saw due to the tines being poorly aligned, but I thought to send it off to an expert to check it out completely since this promised to be a special pen.

 

I am not new to fountain pens, having used them for much of my life. I have a few Parker Vacumatics, one with a very flexible nib, as well as other Parkers - 51, 75 - and several Montblancs, such as 342/4, and a couple of 146s. All these are in daily use, where I take patient notes.

 

The pen returned and it was scratchy as before, from the get go. I had seen the photos after the renibbing, and I knew that the pen had been working well. Instead of returning the pen, which would be long and expensive as it would go from Australia to the USA, I decided to straighten the tines myself. I did so, and the pen was much smoother. But then this stopped, and it became scratchy again. It also started off as a wonderfully wet writer and, after a few minutes of writing, became dry and hesitant to start.

 

So back to straightening the tines again, which have moved back to their early position, and again the pen writes well. And then, once again, the scratchiness starts and the pen becomes a poor starter. The tines have returned yet again.

 

Here is an example of writing. At the end it is becoming hesitant ..

 

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Pens/Devil%20Pen/1_zpsd1nw4ltk.jpg

 

Here is the nib after I straightened the tines ...

 

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Pens/Devil%20Pen/2_zpszulltueh.jpg

 

This is a short while later ..

 

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Pens/Devil%20Pen/3_zpssgk1xh89.jpg

 

From the side - you can make out that one tine is higher than the other ...

 

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Pens/Devil%20Pen/5_zpscyykrvuo.jpg

 

The gap between the tines ...

 

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Pens/Devil%20Pen/2a_zpspbj74ntf.jpg

 

So, what could be going on? Any thoughts what is needed to make this pen a reliable writer?

 

Regards from Perth

 

Derek

[FarmBoy]

I suspect the nib is not as flexible as it appears to be.

[derekcohen]

Hi Farm Boy

 

It is "very" flexible - only a little less than one that I have that is "super" flexible. My other Canadian nibs are "moderately" flexible.

 

What puzzles me is why the tines return to their former shape?

 

Regards from Perth

 

Derek

Edited September 9, 2015 by derekcohen

[Martinsroom]

Is the feed position slightly off centre and pushing one time up?

[Arieut]

Is the feed position slightly off centre and pushing one time up?

 

Agree with that, the nib looks off centre to the feed, which may be causing the problem. Beautiful pen you have there!

 

Arieut

[derekcohen]

Thanks. The feed is slightly askew.

 

Can it be adjusted without removing the nib?

 

Regards from Perth

 

Derek

[Arieut]

Thanks. The feed is slightly askew.

 

Can it be adjusted without removing the nib?

 

Regards from Perth

 

Derek

 

For me, I gently nudge the nib until it is aligned, without removing the nib. Don't overdo it though, and a loupe may help. Also, be careful not to damage the tines!

 

Arieut

Edited September 9, 2015 by Arieut

[ThomasB]

It would seem that the nib is moving about on top of the feed pursuant to use/pressure after realignment...My first guess would be is the nib and feed properly set, i.e., deep enough in the section? Is there wiggle when you put pressure from the side on the nib?

[PAKMAN]

I had a Vacumatic that exhibited similar behavior and removing the nib and feed, cleaning the feed really good, making sure the tines were aligned while out of the pen and then properly setting the feed and nib back in the pen cleared it up.

[DerTiefster]

Removing and remounting Vacumatic nibs is not without hazard. I read this statement and considered myself adequately handy that it didn't apply to me. Then I proceeded to bend a nib trying to remount it without knowledge and fixturing. So be careful.

[ac12]

 

Hi Farm Boy

 

It is "very" flexible - only a little less than one that I have that is "super" flexible. My other Canadian nibs are "moderately" flexible.

 

What puzzles me is why the tines return to their former shape?

 

Regards from Perth

 

Derek

 

The nib may NOT be as flexible as you think it is.

I say this because I have tried so called flexible nibs, only to feel that they are barely flexible, in my hand.

What I am saying is that you may have flexed the nib beyond what it was designed for.

 

You may need to straighten the nib in a nib block, not on the pen. And that is an art that I am a novice in doing.

[Florida Blue]

 

The pen returned and it was scratchy as before, from the get go. I had seen the photos after the renibbing, and I knew that the pen had been working well.

 

When you said "renibbing" what do you mean by that? Was type of services were performed on the nib? Were the tines re-tipped, smoothed, straightened etc.?

 

I would still contact the person who worked on your nib and explain why it is still writing scratchy. Include the description that you wrote here and the pictures you posted. I'm sure if the person guarantees their work they will try to make it right.

[derekcohen]

 

When you said "renibbing" what do you mean by that? Was type of services were performed on the nib? Were the tines re-tipped, smoothed, straightened etc.?

 

I would still contact the person who worked on your nib and explain why it is still writing scratchy. Include the description that you wrote here and the pictures you posted. I'm sure if the person guarantees their work they will try to make it right.

 

 

The pen went to a specialist I have used several times (with good results) in the USA. The service included re-tipping and straightening tines, etc. The photo send showed the usual excellent work. The fee was significant but I believed in line with the work done. I did contact this person seeking advice before posting to the forum, and discussed the situation as I posted here at the start. It was not terribly helpful.

 

On a brighter note, the pen is writing much better. I have straightened the tines again, and sent the pen through several cycles of the ultrasonic cleaner. The feed is not going to move and I am not going to force it.

 

I think Farm Boy and ac12 are correct in that the nib is not as flexible as I thought it to be (although I would still classify it as a moderately flexible nib), and working with slightly lighter strokes and attention to keeping the nib square creates less scratchiness. The tines have not moved with a day of writing.

 

Regards from Perth

 

Derek

Edited September 10, 2015 by derekcohen