Platinum Plaisir - Cleaning Tips?

[Esterfella]

I recently acquired a new, Platinum Plaisir, as a "value pen." It's a nice "cheap" pen, with a colored nib that matches the barrell color. The grip section is clear, revealing the nib housing underneath it. For my first fill, I inserted the proper Platinum converter and then dipped the pen into a bottle of Visconti blue, nib first, and filled the pen. It works, but in doing so, I noticed that some of the ink creeped between the nib housing and the clear grip section, thus ruining the clear effect. I realize this result should not be shocking, and it is only a $13.00 pen, but I am wondering if anyone has had any experience separating the nib and grip housings on this pen, so as to facilitate a proper cleaning; any recommended cleaning tips would be appreciated. I don't know that conventional cleaning of nib, by repeatedly inhaling and exhaling water through it, will actually clean the area of the pen that I am referring to.

 

Thanks.

[TSS4LSU]

Mine did this also. I took the converter out and ran water thru it the way you describe. I pushed the nib in a little firmer and it sealed better. I filled the converter by itself and reinserted the filld converter in the pen and had less (but not zero) ink go back in the same place.

 

Likely a cheap pen effect becasue my Bic FPs do this and does the Platinum Preppy (all 3 of these write really well in my opinion)

[liverman]

The photo below shows a Plaisir on top and a Preppy below. The Plaisir is uninked and the Preppy is inked. Both have exactly the same nib, section, feed and accumulator mechanism. You might say the Plaisir is a Preppy with an aluminum skin.

 

Do you see ink in area "B" (like my Preppy) or in area "A"? Ink in Area B is normal. Ink in Area "A" probably means the nib and ink channel tube are not properly seated or you've had a pressure event that has overwhelmed the feed and leaked ink through the forward vent hole

http://www.pbase.com/liverman/image/141447107/original.jpg

 

In the uninked Plaisir section, above, you can clearly see the grey feed. Note the fins. These are equivalent to and serve the same purpose as the fins on the black feeds we are used to in other pens:

http://www.pbase.com/liverman/image/141447688/original.jpg

On the usual black feeds, most of the fins are hidden inside the black nib assembly housing. If that housing were clear, we would see a lot of ink accumulating on the fins at the cartridge end of the feed. We try to keep our fingers from touching the exposed fins, too, because they are inky.

 

This is by design. The fins hold ink by capillary force - providing a ready accumulation to feed the nib when needed for writing. And to buffer against changes in inkflow out of the reservoir (cartridge, converter, piston, sac, etc.) due to pen angle or air pressure changes due to temperature changes or elevation changes.

 

The plastic tube attached to the nib on the Preppy/Plaisir serves to deliver the ink to the nib and is separate from the feed. In the design we are more familiar with (top), the ink channel is integrated with the feed.

 

Also, seeing the two side by side really illustrates what a big honkin' feed the Preppy/Plaisir has compared to the usual feed. The feed above is a #6 (6 mm in diameter) that is typically found on pens with nibs that extend beyond the pen by 23 mm (almost an inch). The Preppy/Plaisir feed has got to be at least 8 mm. That's Danitrio Densho territory! Evenb though the regular feed is 1.5 times as long as the Preppy/Plaisir feed, the Preppy/Plaisir feed still has a larger volume (14% more).

 

Greg

Edited February 11, 2012 by liverman

[liverman]

I am wondering if anyone has had any experience separating the nib and grip housings on this pen, so as to facilitate a proper cleaning; any recommended cleaning tips would be appreciated. I don't know that conventional cleaning of nib, by repeatedly inhaling and exhaling water through it, will actually clean the area of the pen that I am referring to.

 

What I do:

1. take the section off the pen, take the converter or cartridge off the section.
2. Take the nib and feed tube out of the feed (pulls straight out the front, use a paper towel to keep from getting too inky).
3. Hold the section under running cool to lukewarm (not hot) water. The flow of the water through the section will typically rinse all the ink out. You can leave it in a glass of water that has a little ammonia in it for a few hours to soak if needed.
4. Hold nib under running water to wash ink off. Soak with the section if needed.
5. Clean the converter first separately (in/out, in/out, repeat, repeat). Soak with section if needed.
6. Assemble nib, section and converter, pull/push water through the assembly a couple of times. Should be all clear.
7. I then take it all apart again and shake the water out of the section by holding it and snapping my wrist. This also gets water out of the onverster very nicely. If you are not re-inking immediately, leave dissassembled overnight or until all the parts are dry. Re-assemble and store.

Greg

[achenm]

The photo below shows a Plaisir on top and a Preppy below. The Plaisir is uninked and the Preppy is inked. Both have exactly the same nib, section, feed and accumulator mechanism. You might say the Plaisir is a Preppy with an aluminum skin.

 

Do you see ink in area "B" (like my Preppy) or in area "A"? Ink in Area B is normal. Ink in Area "A" probably means the nib and ink channel tube are not properly seated or you've had a pressure event that has overwhelmed the feed and leaked ink through the forward vent hole

http://www.pbase.com/liverman/image/141447107/original.jpg

 

In the uninked Plaisir section, above, you can clearly see the grey feed. Note the fins. These are equivalent to and serve the same purpose as the fins on the black feeds we are used to in other pens:

http://www.pbase.com/liverman/image/141447688/original.jpg

On the usual black feeds, most of the fins are hidden inside the black nib assembly housing. If that housing were clear, we would see a lot of ink accumulating on the fins at the cartridge end of the feed. We try to keep our fingers from touching the exposed fins, too, because they are inky.

 

This is by design. The fins hold ink by capillary force - providing a ready accumulation to feed the nib when needed for writing. And to buffer against changes in inkflow out of the reservoir (cartridge, converter, piston, sac, etc.) due to pen angle or air pressure changes due to temperature changes or elevation changes.

 

The plastic tube attached to the nib on the Preppy/Plaisir serves to deliver the ink to the nib and is separate from the feed. In the design we are more familiar with (top), the ink channel is integrated with the feed.

 

Also, seeing the two side by side really illustrates what a big honkin' feed the Preppy/Plaisir has compared to the usual feed. The feed above is a #6 (6 mm in diameter) that is typically found on pens with nibs that extend beyond the pen by 23 mm (almost an inch). The Preppy/Plaisir feed has got to be at least 8 mm. That's Danitrio Densho territory! Evenb though the regular feed is 1.5 times as long as the Preppy/Plaisir feed, the Preppy/Plaisir feed still has a larger volume (14% more).

 

Greg

 

 

Really useful diagram and explanation--thanks!

[rdh]

I would also add that the ink used could be important. Inks that use a lot of surfactants (detergents), will diffuse further into the feed. Although Visconti ink probably does not use a lot of surfactants, you might try one of the Waterman or Quink inks and compare their behavior to what you are seeing with the Visconti. At any rate, as Greg (liverman) so nicely illustrated, all inks are going to diffuse into the feed. It is how a fountain pen works. If you have a section that is a demonstrator, you will see it.

 

Dave

[btocher]

Do you see ink in area "B" (like my Preppy) or in area "A"? Ink in Area B is normal.

This is fabulous, thanks. I just bought half a dozen Preppys in a mix of colours, and wondered why there was ink in the Area B as in your photograph. Now I know it needs to be there!

[Esterfella]

Greg: Thanks for your in-depth reply. Upon examination, I am pleased to report that my "issue" is akin to your Area B shot. So, I am relieved that this is normal. Your diagrams were really informative.

 

Thanks to everyone else's posts, too, all very useful. Glad that my Platinum is operating normally.

 

For a cheap pen, this pen is growing on me, and is a good knock around pen. I can feel the paper with the nib, but while I detest toothiness, with the Platinum this sensation is not at all "scratchy", per se, but rather engaged with the paper.

 

Thanks to all for their kind replies.

 

 

The photo below shows a Plaisir on top and a Preppy below. The Plaisir is uninked and the Preppy is inked. Both have exactly the same nib, section, feed and accumulator mechanism. You might say the Plaisir is a Preppy with an aluminum skin.

 

Do you see ink in area "B" (like my Preppy) or in area "A"? Ink in Area B is normal. Ink in Area "A" probably means the nib and ink channel tube are not properly seated or you've had a pressure event that has overwhelmed the feed and leaked ink through the forward vent hole

http://www.pbase.com/liverman/image/141447107/original.jpg

 

In the uninked Plaisir section, above, you can clearly see the grey feed. Note the fins. These are equivalent to and serve the same purpose as the fins on the black feeds we are used to in other pens:

http://www.pbase.com/liverman/image/141447688/original.jpg

On the usual black feeds, most of the fins are hidden inside the black nib assembly housing. If that housing were clear, we would see a lot of ink accumulating on the fins at the cartridge end of the feed. We try to keep our fingers from touching the exposed fins, too, because they are inky.

 

This is by design. The fins hold ink by capillary force - providing a ready accumulation to feed the nib when needed for writing. And to buffer against changes in inkflow out of the reservoir (cartridge, converter, piston, sac, etc.) due to pen angle or air pressure changes due to temperature changes or elevation changes.

 

The plastic tube attached to the nib on the Preppy/Plaisir serves to deliver the ink to the nib and is separate from the feed. In the design we are more familiar with (top), the ink channel is integrated with the feed.

 

Also, seeing the two side by side really illustrates what a big honkin' feed the Preppy/Plaisir has compared to the usual feed. The feed above is a #6 (6 mm in diameter) that is typically found on pens with nibs that extend beyond the pen by 23 mm (almost an inch). The Preppy/Plaisir feed has got to be at least 8 mm. That's Danitrio Densho territory! Evenb though the regular feed is 1.5 times as long as the Preppy/Plaisir feed, the Preppy/Plaisir feed still has a larger volume (14% more).

 

Greg

[inkstainedruth]

Thanks for the information -- it's very timely since i was considering ordering a Plasir in the next week.

A lot of the threads I've been reading this morning seem to be hitting the synchronicity button for me, and this was one of them.

Or is it that I've just been paying more attention to threads that would be useful when I scan for new content?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Esterfella]

1333294113[/url]' post='2299559']

Thanks for the information -- it's very timely since i was considering ordering a Plasir in the next week.

A lot of the threads I've been reading this morning seem to be hitting the synchronicity button for me, and this was one of them.

Or is it that I've just been paying more attention to threads that would be useful when I scan for new content?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Ruth: good luck with your new pen purchase. It looks particularly nice in blue or red. I own the blue, and my friend owns the red. I'd be curious as to your ultimate pick.

[inkstainedruth]

1333294113[/url]' post='2299559']

Thanks for the information -- it's very timely since i was considering ordering a Plasir in the next week.

A lot of the threads I've been reading this morning seem to be hitting the synchronicity button for me, and this was one of them.

Or is it that I've just been paying more attention to threads that would be useful when I scan for new content?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Ruth: good luck with your new pen purchase. It looks particularly nice in blue or red. I own the blue, and my friend owns the red. I'd be curious as to your ultimate pick.

 

Thought about the blue, but I wound up ordering it in violet. I may totally hate the barrel and cap color (it might turn out to be too light a color for my tastes), but the violet nib amused the heck out of me; the other pens on order are a Noodler's flex piston (King Phillip Purple demonstrator) -- and the clear body Guanleming (if I like the way it behaves well enough, I may go back and order the "Accountant" pen later on, because I like the look of it).

At some point I suspect that I will really need *something* red, but I'll wait and see how I do with these pens first (the two Parkers are, respectively, blue and matte black).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[P.A.R.]

If it behaves like my Platinum Preppy, which I believe has the same section, the ink will eventually work into the feed fins and have a fairly uniform dispersion of ink separated at each fin (similar to the middle fins in liverman's Preppy photo.)

[BergerDM]

Necromancing the thread:

According to the diagram there, mine goes up to between A and B, as in the ring between the two is also stained with ink.

 

This is the only thing I don't like in the pen, honestly. I wish the section wasn't clear. Would make for a much better visual effect.

If you use the cartridge, however, as I did before using the converter, it goes in the fins in the feed only, apart from the closer section, with looks much, much nicer. I might try that, in fact - filling the converter separate from the nib unit and then putting it on the pen.

Edited May 17, 2019 by BergerDM

[Brianm_14]

Thanks for the information -- it's very timely since i was considering ordering a Plasir in the next week.

A lot of the threads I've been reading this morning seem to be hitting the synchronicity button for me, and this was one of them.

Or is it that I've just been paying more attention to threads that would be useful when I scan for new content?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Oh this is a great mystery, Ruth. The great physician Sir William Osler, actually published a paper documenting his experience with seeing one case of a rare disease and then seeing two more cases in the next month or two -this concerning diseases a physician might never see in a lifetime in a busy practice. He had repeatedly experienced this phenomenon, and could neither deny nor explain it as a scientist.

 

Most of us have experienced this with an unusual word or phrase. Undoubtedly in those instances, sometimes it might simply mean we have had our brains "attuned" to see the word; but one does wonder if experience doesn't involve little whirlpools where certain things or events are concentrated.

 

The British biologist JBS Haldane once remarked, "[t]he universe is not only queerer than we know; it is queerer than we CAN know." Sort of puts it in a nutshell, does it not?

Edited May 26, 2019 by Brianm_14

[Pensei]

"Coincidence" is generally seen by intellectuals as meaningless, just an artifact of an endless number of events, but Jung, using the term synchronicity as inkstainedruth does above, was very interested.
https://www.carl-jung.net/synchronicity.html

Edited June 1, 2019 by Pensei