Temperamental Auroras?

[mafoofan]

I recently tried out two new Aurora Optimas (medium nib) from Worldlux. Both had problems.

 

The first they sent me would barely write at all--it seemed to be alright when dipped, but didn't want to lay down much of a line at all when filled. I figured something was wrong with the feed. I tried flushing it several times, but with no improvement. Most of the time the pen just scratches the paper.

 

The second pen they sent me was somewhat of an improvement. When filled it would write for a while but start skipping after a couple of words. It couldn't lay a straight line across the paper without skipping. I tried multiple kinds of paper with the same result. Again, the pen worked much better when merely dipped and not filled.

 

I'm really disappointed; when I tried out an Aurora Optima at the store it was wonderful, though it turns out that the model I tried was from last year while these from WorldLux are from this year's production (you can tell by the design on the gold band around the cap).

 

Is anyone aware of feed problems in these pens or if Aurora's newer production pens (the most recent) have been particularly termperamental? Should I just expect the second pen to get better with time or assume this is as good as it gets. I have the option to return both pens for refund or keep one.

 

The salesperson I spoke to at WorldLux tells me they've been having problems with Auroras and other Italian makers lately.

 

Any help or insight would be helpful--thanks!

[Mike S.]

Just today I bought an Aurora Optima at a local store and had the same problem. If I dipped it, it would write OK, but when I filled it normally, it started hard and exhibited a lot of skipping. I flushed it with soapy water first and did what I could to flush the feed and "floss" the nib to no avail.

 

Fortunately, my dealer was willing to exchange the nib unit for another and the second one seems to be flowing somewhat better (though it is still somewhat temperamental).

 

My other Aurora is an 88 that I bought about a year ago. I have had no such problems with it.

[mafoofan]

Strange. Perhaps then there is something going on with newer Auroras. Stupid question: how do I unscrew the nib section?

[Mike S.]

An update and an answer to mafoofan's question:

 

I wrote with my new Optima (with the replacement nib) for two days at work and it just didn't flow right, even with the second nib unit. It was overly dry, making the already scratchy Aurora nib even scratchier and making the normally very saturated Aurora blue I favor come out washed out and thin. It also skipped and railroaded a lot. I tried flushing the nib and even blew through it and could hardly get any air to move through the feed. I think there must be something clogging the feed, but I didn't want to risk damaging it by poking anything inside it.

 

I am very fortunate that my dealer -- Barry Rubin at his new store, Ink, here in Minneapolis -- stood behind the pen and sent it back to the distributor as defective. He got a full credit, as did I.

 

On my second try, I opted for a pen I've had my eye on for a long time -- the Delta Dolce Vita, medium size. This is a wonderful pen and a fabulous writer straight out of the box. I couldn't be happier.

 

Too bad, though -- I've always had a lot of fondness for Aurora as a brand, as they are one of the few pen companies that make their own nibs rather than buying them from Bock. I hope this was just an unfortunate coincidence, but based on the post by mfafoofan, it may not be.

 

To answer mafoofan's question: to unscrew an Aurora nib, you grasp the nib with your thumb on the top of the nib and your index finger on the feed, hold it firmly, and rotate the pen body counter-clockwise to back the nib unit out of the section (it is threaded, much like a Pelikan or Bexley nib unit). It's important not to grasp the nib from the sides -- squeezing the nib at the shoulders can deform the nib and cause real performance problems. It's not hard, if you're careful.

[mafoofan]

Mike, I sympathize. I also really wanted this pen to work out.

 

I wound up returning both Optimas (the second wa sent because the first was defective) for a refund. I am not going to try another Aurora. I was lucky that the dealer this time was amenable to returns and did not make me stick with an exchange. The dealer confirms that newer Auroras (those manufactured in the past year) have consistently had problems with ink flow, akipping, etc.

 

I hope this doesn't keep happening to others. I recommend that anyone buying a new Optima secure a favorable return policy if the feed should prove defective. However, Aurora has already lost my business.

[Mike S.]

Mike, I sympathize. I also really wanted this pen to work out. . . .

 

I am not going to try another Aurora.

I don't think I will either, unless it's used and I know it works before I buy it.

[PinarelloOnly]

I have also ran into a problem with my brand new 88 which is why I have not posted any

kind of review. I am sending to Kenro for repair and not back to the vendor. I love the

pen and I know Kenro will fix it. I'm just guessing here but I think it is the baby bottom

effect on my nib with hard starting and skipping on the down stroke. Aurora might have

turned out a bad batch of nibs and it really could happen to anyone. So, I am not

swearing them off just yet.

 

Scott.

 

 

This pic was next to my M605, Talentum and Van Gogh Maxi right before I packed the

88 back up to send out for repair.

Edited January 13, 2007 by PinarelloOnly

[mafoofan]

PinarelloOnly, you're most probably correct that Aurora's simply put out a bad 'batch' of sorts. I have no doubt that the company is capable of making reliable, working pens, but I've already been burned. A less gracious dealer might make me stick with the purchase and I abhor the idea of purchasing a new product expecting that it will immediately need repair.

[Hennypenny]

I have recently experienced the same problem with the nib on an Aurora Ipsilon -- it was so fine it felt like writing with a needle, and the ink would barely flow through it. My dealer said Aurora would not allow me to return the pen -- only a nib exchange. The new nib arrived today and, while it feels a lot smoother and more acceptable, it has one glaring problem -- it's a silver nib with silver trim, and my pen had a gold nib and gold trim!!!! ARGGHHHH!!!!! I've notified the dealer and will see what they offer, but soon I'll have spent as much on return postage as the whole durn pen cost!!

 

This is SO discouraging... I'm as mad as a wet ... well... Hennypenny!!