Baystate Blue Alternative

[Lloyd]

Thanks for clearing that up. The rumors surrounding BSB never cease to amaze me. The other day I heard that the Middle-East conflict is due to staining and clogging from BSB.

[watch_art]

H AH AH AHAA AHAA!!! That's awesome!! I can't believe they did that. :roflmho: Very glad they got a new nib for you.

[Silvermink]

He indicated that their "new" salesperson actually tried his "own" cleaning methods to increase flow including inserting a razor blade to open the nib. In the process, he damaged the nib.

 

Oof, yeah, that's a good way to damage the edges of the slit between the tines.

[Possum Hill]

Thanks for clearing that up. The rumors surrounding BSB never cease to amaze me. The other day I heard that the Middle-East conflict is due to staining and clogging from BSB.

 

And then there's that whole blue state/red state thing.

[watch_art]

Thanks for clearing that up. The rumors surrounding BSB never cease to amaze me. The other day I heard that the Middle-East conflict is due to staining and clogging from BSB.

 

And then there's that whole blue state/red state thing.

 

NO NO NO! Don't start with the politics! My head will explode!! :roflmho:

[torstar]

I'm sorry, that's BS. Did you have other ink through the pen before the bsb? If so, then it mixed with the older ink and clogged the feed. I'm sure the nib was fine. BSB DOESN'T eat gold. How ridiculous. I think if you get the brand new nib unit, and run ONLY bsb in it, you'll be just fine. bsb doesn't mix with other inks. It turns to sludge if you do that. I'm sure that was the problem with the old nib unit.

 

 

BSB is playing with fire.

 

If it wasn't such a vibrant and intense blue, I would have ditched it 3 bottles ago.

 

There is no substitute for that colour.

[watch_art]

I'm sorry, that's BS. Did you have other ink through the pen before the bsb? If so, then it mixed with the older ink and clogged the feed. I'm sure the nib was fine. BSB DOESN'T eat gold. How ridiculous. I think if you get the brand new nib unit, and run ONLY bsb in it, you'll be just fine. bsb doesn't mix with other inks. It turns to sludge if you do that. I'm sure that was the problem with the old nib unit.

 

 

BSB is playing with fire.

 

If it wasn't such a vibrant and intense blue, I would have ditched it 3 bottles ago.

 

There is no substitute for that colour.

 

If by playing with fire, you mean that it's awesome and totally gorgeous, and rocks your socks off, and is as fun as watching the fire eaters at a burlesque show, then YES, it is in fact, playing with fire! :roflmho:

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2477/3956288091_235b677120.jpg

[79spitfire]

I'm sorry, that's BS. Did you have other ink through the pen before the bsb? If so, then it mixed with the older ink and clogged the feed. I'm sure the nib was fine. BSB DOESN'T eat gold. How ridiculous. I think if you get the brand new nib unit, and run ONLY bsb in it, you'll be just fine. bsb doesn't mix with other inks. It turns to sludge if you do that. I'm sure that was the problem with the old nib unit.

 

 

BSB is playing with fire.

 

If it wasn't such a vibrant and intense blue, I would have ditched it 3 bottles ago.

 

There is no substitute for that colour.

3 BOTTLES of fire (!)

 

I'm only on my second, but I got smart and bought the 4.5oz this time!

 

Just for giggles, I took some small plastic cups and mixed a drop of BSB with some various inks. The results? Don't. Each and everyone I tried turned to sludge within moments, various viscosity sludges, but still sludge. I can see how NOT CLEANING a pen and putting BSB in it will forever kill it. Might as well try India ink in it!

 

Moral of story, Keep the BSB pens clean and DO NOT allow it to contact other inks! I might even store it in a special drawer away from the other inks!

 

Glad to hear they made it right and you are getting your pen fixed!

[torstar]

I'm sorry, that's BS. Did you have other ink through the pen before the bsb? If so, then it mixed with the older ink and clogged the feed. I'm sure the nib was fine. BSB DOESN'T eat gold. How ridiculous. I think if you get the brand new nib unit, and run ONLY bsb in it, you'll be just fine. bsb doesn't mix with other inks. It turns to sludge if you do that. I'm sure that was the problem with the old nib unit.

 

 

BSB is playing with fire.

 

If it wasn't such a vibrant and intense blue, I would have ditched it 3 bottles ago.

 

There is no substitute for that colour.

3 BOTTLES of fire (!)

 

I'm only on my second, but I got smart and bought the 4.5oz this time!

 

Just for giggles, I took some small plastic cups and mixed a drop of BSB with some various inks. The results? Don't. Each and everyone I tried turned to sludge within moments, various viscosity sludges, but still sludge. I can see how NOT CLEANING a pen and putting BSB in it will forever kill it. Might as well try India ink in it!

 

Moral of story, Keep the BSB pens clean and DO NOT allow it to contact other inks! I might even store it in a special drawer away from the other inks!

 

Glad to hear they made it right and you are getting your pen fixed!

 

 

 

Can't help it, I'm addicted.

 

My last purchase I got a 2 minute lecture from the FP store warning me about BSB.

 

Stuff drips unexpectedly and then stains like nothing else.

 

Not sure that it "ruins" a pen, if you take optimal care in use, but it sure puts the mark on the nib and demonstrators (and hardwood floors and desks and bedsheets.)

Edited February 21, 2011 by torstar

[tonybelding]

After reading your posts, I met with the owner of the store about the situation today. He indicated that their "new" salesperson actually tried his "own" cleaning methods to increase flow including inserting a razor blade to open the nib. In the process, he damaged the nib.

 

This is a well-known trick to increase ink flow. I've done it several times using a utility knife, and I've been lucky and had good results. . . thus far. However, there is always a chance of damaging or even breaking the nib, and it simply shouldn't be done to a nib that's expensive or difficult to replace.

 

Also, I've only tried it on steel nibs. The VP's 18K gold nib is softer and more delicate. So. . . Yeah, probably not a good idea.

Edited February 21, 2011 by tonybelding

[anderl]

... their "new" salesperson actually tried his "own" cleaning methods to increase flow including inserting a razor blade to open the nib. In the process, he damaged the nib.

Ptreemover: since it was established that BSB did not, after all, "kill your pen", could you please try to adjust the subtitle of your thread accordingly?

 

I don't know how straightforward this is, perhaps the moderators can help. I think setting the record straight would be worth the trouble, because the premature assertion in the subtitle will stay highly visible and set the tone. BSB's "rehabilitation" is hidden deep inside the posts.

[Glenn-SC]

... their "new" salesperson actually tried his "own" cleaning methods to increase flow including inserting a razor blade to open the nib. In the process, he damaged the nib.

Ptreemover: since it was established that BSB did not, after all, "kill your pen", could you please try to adjust the subtitle of your thread accordingly?

There is still a high probability the BSB (on its own or after mixing with residual something) clogged the feed of this VP.

Just because the repair technique was excessive and further damaged the feed does not clear BSB.

 

And I love the advise above to "load up your new pen and do it again"!:roflmho:

[anderl]

There is still a high probability the BSB (on its own or after mixing with residual something) clogged the feed of this VP.

Just because the repair technique was excessive and further damaged the feed does not clear BSB.

Ok, let's stick to the facts then. How about

"VP barely survives assault from 'BSB -- incorrect cleaning -- razor blade -- full moon' evil axis"

for a new subtitle?

I thought it circumspect to name and shame Luna because she wasn't conclusively cleared.

[Lloyd]

... their "new" salesperson actually tried his "own" cleaning methods to increase flow including inserting a razor blade to open the nib. In the process, he damaged the nib.

Ptreemover: since it was established that BSB did not, after all, "kill your pen", could you please try to adjust the subtitle of your thread accordingly?

There is still a high probability the BSB (on its own or after mixing with residual something) clogged the feed of this VP.

Just because the repair technique was excessive and further damaged the feed does not clear BSB.

 

And I love the advise above to "load up your new pen and do it again"!:roflmho:

There is a, unknown non-zero probability; not a high nor low probability. The only fact is that the clerk lacked the skill/knowledge to perform nib surgery. Attributing likelihood to this is purely speculative (and we've seen WAAAAY too much of this behavior).

[torstar]

I don't know how straightforward this is, perhaps the moderators can help. I think setting the record straight would be worth the trouble, because the premature assertion in the subtitle will stay highly visible and set the tone. BSB's "rehabilitation" is hidden deep inside the posts.

 

 

 

+1

[Glenn-SC]

... their "new" salesperson actually tried his "own" cleaning methods to increase flow including inserting a razor blade to open the nib. In the process, he damaged the nib.

Ptreemover: since it was established that BSB did not, after all, "kill your pen", could you please try to adjust the subtitle of your thread accordingly?

There is still a high probability the BSB (on its own or after mixing with residual something) clogged the feed of this VP.

Just because the repair technique was excessive and further damaged the feed does not clear BSB.

 

And I love the advise above to "load up your new pen and do it again"!:roflmho:

There is a, unknown non-zero probability; not a high nor low probability. The only fact is that the clerk lacked the skill/knowledge to perform nib surgery. Attributing likelihood to this is purely speculative (and we've seen WAAAAY too much of this behavior).

I would assign a "higher than 50-50" probability since this behavior has been reported before, other (experienced) Restorers have reported similar behavior, and Noodlers themselves warn about "mixing" with other inks.

Or you could blame it on the moon if you wish.

[mstone]

There is still a high probability the BSB (on its own or after mixing with residual something) clogged the feed of this VP.

 

There's a big difference between "clogged" (which can be fixed, even if doing so is a PITA) and "destroyed" (which can't). Other people have reported successfully using BSB in a VP, so there's no evidence at this point that there's a significant chance of BSB "destroying" such a pen. (The clogging issue is well known, and should certainly be emphasized, but let's try to keep things rational.)

[watch_art]

There is still a high probability the BSB (on its own or after mixing with residual something) clogged the feed of this VP.

 

There's a big difference between "clogged" (which can be fixed, even if doing so is a PITA) and "destroyed" (which can't). Other people have reported successfully using BSB in a VP, so there's no evidence at this point that there's a significant chance of BSB "destroying" such a pen. (The clogging issue is well known, and should certainly be emphasized, but let's try to keep things rational.)

 

THANK YOU.

[Possum Hill]

... their "new" salesperson actually tried his "own" cleaning methods to increase flow including inserting a razor blade to open the nib. In the process, he damaged the nib.

Ptreemover: since it was established that BSB did not, after all, "kill your pen", could you please try to adjust the subtitle of your thread accordingly?

There is still a high probability the BSB (on its own or after mixing with residual something) clogged the feed of this VP.

Just because the repair technique was excessive and further damaged the feed does not clear BSB.

 

And I love the advise above to "load up your new pen and do it again"!:roflmho:

There is a, unknown non-zero probability; not a high nor low probability. The only fact is that the clerk lacked the skill/knowledge to perform nib surgery. Attributing likelihood to this is purely speculative (and we've seen WAAAAY too much of this behavior).

I would assign a "higher than 50-50" probability since this behavior has been reported before, other (experienced) Restorers have reported similar behavior, and Noodlers themselves warn about "mixing" with other inks.

Or you could blame it on the moon if you wish.

Let's just stick to a common user error that most of us have made, insufficient cleaning, as the basic problem. I expect restorers see a lot that, and it's only human to try to blame the problem on someone or something else.