Mb149 - Ink On The Nib

[NibAndInc]

Hello Everybody

 

 

I have a problem with ink building up in one of the engraved lines of my 149's nib (see attachments).

This was never an issue until I sent the pen in for maintenance. The nib used to stay clean no matter what.

 

Not sure what happened, the MB service pointed out that they have no idea what might cause this.

 

 

 

In general, when I clean the nib it stays clean until I start writing.

 

After having written a few lines, I put the cap back on.

 

No matter how I store the pen, how I position it or what ink I use ... when taking the cap off again (let's say after 30 minutes), one can already see that the engraved line on the left side either started to build up ink or is already showing an ugly ink spot that grows out of the engraved line.

 

Call me disturbed, but a clean nib is very important to me.

Does anyone know or have an idea what might cause this problem?

 

I do not think that it is the nib, as the nib has been replaced and the problem was not resolved (the ink only started to build up in a slightly different area).

 

 

 

 

Another question I have:

 

My 149 shows very intense scratch marks where the cap touches the pen-body. None of my 146 models have this kind of scratching. According to Mont Blanc Service, some 149s have this problem, others don't.

 

Can anyone tell me how to deal with these scratch marks?

Does anyone know whether there's a pattern as to which 149s will get scratched and which won't?

 

Kind Regards

[MB AL97]

Unfortunately I am unable to help with your first query, however I have noticed with my Meisterstuck Diamond Roller- ball the same problem when it is capped. When I unscrew the cap it exposes the 'odd' scratch mark. I have found that a mircofiber cloth helps to remove a lot of the scratching although you may need to apply a little more pressure to remove the 'very intense scratch marks'. Other members may have another solution

I do not yet own a 149 but I believe that this may occur on any pen, however I am not an expert :embarrassed_smile: .

Oh and

Edited April 17, 2012 by MB AL97

[NibAndInc]

Unfortunately I am unable to help with your first query, however I have noticed with my Meisterstuck Diamond Roller- ball the same problem when it is capped. When I unscrew the cap it exposes the 'odd' scratch mark. I have found that a mircofiber cloth helps to remove a lot of the scratching although you may need to apply a little more pressure to remove the 'very intense scratch marks'. Other members may have another solution

I do not yet own a 149 but I believe that this may occur on any pen, however I am not an expert :embarrassed_smile: .

Oh and

 

Thank you for your response.

 

I hope someone will be able to address my ink-stain problem, as it really drives me nuts. The 149 nib is (in my opinion) one of the most beautifully designed nibs out there ...and having this annoying ink spot on it just completely screws it for me.

 

Thank you for your advice regarding the microfiber cloth. I read something about "Cape Cod cloths" in another post ... does anyone have further info about those? Especially what they are, what they do to a pen and where to get them?

 

Regards

[Chrissy]

That is odd. I have never seen this on any of my Montblanc nibs.

 

It would seem to me that in order for this to happen ink must be wicking out of the feed into that low point where the engraved design starts. Either it's positioned in very slightly the wrong point on the feed, or that part of the feed is touching the nib when it should have clearance.

 

I'm sure that it is a problem that can only be solved by Montblanc

[Keyser]

weird. have you tried cleaning the nib with a q-tip after fill-up?

Edited April 17, 2012 by Keyser

[jar]

Looks like perfectly normal "nib creep".

 

Often found on pens of all makes and all types of nibs.

 

Changing inks may change the nature of "nib creep" but it is nothing to worry about.

[georges zaslavsky]

never has this problem as well

[Sblakers]

I've had 3 mb's with the scuff marks you are referring to on the barrel. My guess is the barrel or cap is not completely uniform and when it is screwed on all the way rubs creating a scuff. Doesn't really bother me. What I have also noticed, at least for me, has only happened on older vintage pens. The ink spot on the nib sounds like nib creep to me. Pretty standard fare. My 50's mb 149 performs very different with every ink I use- which nib creep is a part of performance

[NibAndInc]

Thank you all for your responses.

 

What I do not understand though is why this ink issue suddenly occured with a nib I have had for a while. Never before.

 

The pen came back from service and it showed this behaviour. And even after the nib was exchanged during the next maintenance, this ink-leaking onto the nib still occurs.

 

Also, the ink only starts to build up when I put the cap on. When I take the cap off, sometimes the ink even moves back into the heartline (may take serveral minutes).

 

And no matter how well I clean the nib after a refill. It just happens.

 

Is this a reason to send the pen back? None of my other Mont Blancs (146 Le Grande models) show this problem. After all, a lot of people say that this is caused by faulty/unfinished/imperfect nib production?

Edited April 17, 2012 by NibAndInc

[jar]

I would say no. It's perfectly normal. If it bothers you then try changing inks. Sometimes that helps.

[logantrky]

I would say no. It's perfectly normal. If it bothers you then try changing inks. Sometimes that helps.

 

 

+1

 

There are some inks that have these properties. Inks behave differently, causing you this issue. I don't mind a little nib creep, because I think it adds a little character to your pen

 

However, it is not something to be worried about. Read some reviews on here about some inks that do not behave like the one you have filled in your 149.

 

 

Also- This might seem like a no brainer, but there may be some ink that has leaked in your cap, causing it to be transferred to your nib. You may want to flush out the cap...

Edited April 18, 2012 by logantrky

[NibAndInc]

I would say no. It's perfectly normal. If it bothers you then try changing inks. Sometimes that helps.

 

 

+1

 

There are some inks that have these properties. Inks behave differently, causing you this issue. I don't mind a little nib creep, because I think it adds a little character to your pen

 

However, it is not something to be worried about. Read some reviews on here about some inks that do not behave like the one you have filled in your 149.

 

 

Also- This might seem like a no brainer, but there may be some ink that has leaked in your cap, causing it to be transferred to your nib. You may want to flush out the cap...

 

 

I only use MB ink for all my MB pens.

No matter which of them I chose, it's always been the same problem since that one service/maintenance. Any suggestions of what ink (black) might be better than the MB ink (trying to avoid ink getting on the nib).

 

Still ... I'm rather annoyed, as the pen never had this issue before. Not sure what happened during that service ... just as a response to this occuring as a result of their own MB service I feel like sending it back until the pen is living up to what one expects from a MB.

 

And yes, I ensured that the cap is clean. That is unfortunately not the solution to my problem

[jar]

[

Still ... I'm rather annoyed, as the pen never had this issue before. Not sure what happened during that service ... just as a response to this occuring as a result of their own MB service I feel like sending it back until the pen is living up to what one expects from a MB.

 

 

I really, really, really, really doubt that it has anything to do with them servicing the pen or that there is anything that can be done to keep nib creep from happening.

[logantrky]

[

Still ... I'm rather annoyed, as the pen never had this issue before. Not sure what happened during that service ... just as a response to this occuring as a result of their own MB service I feel like sending it back until the pen is living up to what one expects from a MB.

 

 

I really, really, really, really doubt that it has anything to do with them servicing the pen or that there is anything that can be done to keep nib creep from happening.

 

I have a little MB Mozart and several 144s that are apt to nib creep, so I don't think it's necessarily a pen defect per se. I am unsure whether MB would be able to fix it for you, due to the nature of a fountain pen. You could certainly send it back if you are not satisfied, because you are ultimately the one who must be satisfied with your pen. However, I agree with jar in that it is doubtful whether you can prevent this from happening. I would recommend that you sample various inks, other than MB inks perhaps, that do not have strong nib creep properties. The Inky Thoughts forum might be of some help to you in that area. I am skeptical, however, that there is anything that can be mechanically done to your pen to fix the nib creep problem.

[rockspyder]

I don't like nib creep either, it is annoying. I find carnauba wax to be very useful, carefully applied under illuminated magnification.

[NibAndInc]

I don't like nib creep either, it is annoying. I find carnauba wax to be very useful, carefully applied under illuminated magnification.

 

Another perfectionist?

 

I don't think I fully understand the concept here.

Can you be a bit more specific about what you do exactly to get rid of nib creeps?

[Chrissy]

I don't like nib creep either, it is annoying. I find carnauba wax to be very useful, carefully applied under illuminated magnification.

 

Another perfectionist?

 

I don't think I fully understand the concept here.

Can you be a bit more specific about what you do exactly to get rid of nib creeps?

I don't know where in the world you are but if you happen to be in the UK I may be able to point you in the direction of someone who you could chat to about it. PM me if you wish

[NibAndInc]

I don't like nib creep either, it is annoying. I find carnauba wax to be very useful, carefully applied under illuminated magnification.

 

Another perfectionist?

 

I don't think I fully understand the concept here.

Can you be a bit more specific about what you do exactly to get rid of nib creeps?

I don't know where in the world you are but if you happen to be in the UK I may be able to point you in the direction of someone who you could chat to about it. PM me if you wish

 

Very kind, but I'm too far away. Any good contacts around Australia (Sydney)?

[tanalasta]

Looks like ink is going by capillary refill from the slit in the nib to the engraving.

 

To be honest, I've never looked for it! Some inks (noodler's black comes to mind) do tend to nib creep. I'm afraid I cannot explain this one but imagine you've tried to flush out the pen and try a different ink. MB black for instance doesn't nib creep.

[Kalessin]

By the way, Cape Cod polishing cloths are flannel-type cloths (sold under other names too) that were designed to lightly polish jewelry, silverware and holloware.

 

They usually have an outer, untreated cloth, and an inner treated cloth with a bit of jeweler's rouge, which is a mild abrasive.

 

This abrasive polishes metal, but it does that by rubbing away some of the surface. The plating that gives the different colored areas to MB nibs is fairly thin, and it may possible to polish it away. I'm not sure if using one of these cloths will do it, as I haven't had a chance to test.