Starting Issues, Nib Creep, And My Cross Pen

[swright007]

I have noticed that with my good Cross Penatia that I have some starting issues. Also, just recently a tad of nib creep... While this is annoying, it doesn't seem to harm anything. I was wondering if I should pick up another new pen, inexpensive, say a Lamy Safari and see if I get better or worse performance from it with the same ink. What are your thoughts?

 

Scott

 

P.S. It occured to me that it could also be the quality of the paper as I am currently writing on single sheet printer paper. I contacted a friend who was raised in France and she is trying to get me some Clairefontaine French rule paper to check that with.

Edited January 22, 2013 by swright007

[swright007]

UPDATE: The fancier paper seems to help the ink flow "start and stop" issue. However, if I let my pen sit for a while it still takes a stroke or two to get the ink initially flowing. Any thoughts or ideas?

[JDiver]

You could be suffering from 'baby bottom' (http://dirck.delint.ca/beta/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drawbaby.jpg)

 

How smooth is the pen? Have you done any grinding/smoothing work on it?

[swright007]

You could be suffering from 'baby bottom' (http://dirck.delint.ca/beta/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drawbaby.jpg)

 

How smooth is the pen? Have you done any grinding/smoothing work on it?

 

 

No, I haven't done anything to it. I got it New In Box. It was a discontinued line of their pens. It is really smooth when the ink starts flowing. On less absorbant paper it writes like a champ but, again, once the ink starts flowing.

Edited January 22, 2013 by swright007

[JohnZ]

How long is "awhile". I am not an expert, but nib creep is typically the ink's fault. Having issues writing after a long pause is normally due to the ink drying. If this is a new ink and an old pen, I would say that it is the ink.

 

Again, this is just knowledge I get from this site. I cannot back it up with experience.

[Mike 59]

Hi, It's worth trying a different brand ink to the one you have been using, it can make a big difference to starting issues, although it's worth giving the pen a good flush through, especially as you say about this happening only recently.

Some paper types can leave paper fibres in the nib tines and the pen can only be improved by flushing it through, with water, and leaving it to dry out overnight

If the pen is always slow to write, then the problem could be a slight feeder blockage, or could be a too narrow or too wide tine gap. But I own several Cross fountain pens, and I find they are very reliable, but the ink can make a big difference to how they write.

A good 'standard' blue ink is Waterman 'Florida Blue', now known as 'Serenity',(exactly the same ink), or Waterman 'Intense Black', obviously if you prefer a black ink. There are many other colours in their range.

You will have to use a Cross converter to use these bottled inks, the Waterman cartridges will not fit Cross pens.

I find these two to be 'thinner' inks, than some, and flow is never a problem when using them.

In my Century 2, Aventura & Bailey pens, I use Cross Blue ink from a bottle and find it absolutely fine, no 'issues' at all.

As a bonus, it's the cheapest bottled ink I know of.

Edited January 23, 2013 by Mike 59

[swright007]

Worthy of note, when last I used my pen I was using Noodler's Blue Black ink. I lost that bottle and replaced it with Noodler's "54th Massachusetts". That could very well be the problem. I will see what I can do about aquiring a thinner ink. As Sherlock Holmes is fond of saying "when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." I will keep you upated.

 

Update: It took no less that 20 good flushes of water to get that ink out of the pen. I have never seen an ink that stubborn!!! I have the "section" drying now. I'll give it a couple or 3 hours and then refill it and see how it does. If I get the same results I will reclean and try new ink.

[swright007]

Worthy of note, when last I used my pen I was using Noodler's Blue Black ink. I lost that bottle and replaced it with Noodler's "54th Massachusetts". That could very well be the problem. I will see what I can do about aquiring a thinner ink. As Sherlock Holmes is fond of saying "when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." I will keep you upated.

 

Update: It took no less that 20 good flushes of water to get that ink out of the pen. I have never seen an ink that stubborn!!! I have the "section" drying now. I'll give it a couple or 3 hours and then refill it and see how it does. If I get the same results I will reclean and try new ink.

 

 

Update 2... I filled the pen by-the-book and it seemed to right better right straight off. I have eliminated the possibilities of bubbles in the vacuum chamber and a clogged nib. I put the pen nib-up, in a cup and waited 10 min and, as expected, got a little bit of "start" issue but again once it was flowing things were OK. Will pick up another type of ink... Cross black... and try that for the next test.

 

Scott

[JDiver]

Worthy of note, when last I used my pen I was using Noodler's Blue Black ink. I lost that bottle and replaced it with Noodler's "54th Massachusetts". That could very well be the problem. I will see what I can do about aquiring a thinner ink. As Sherlock Holmes is fond of saying "when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." I will keep you upated.

 

Update: It took no less that 20 good flushes of water to get that ink out of the pen. I have never seen an ink that stubborn!!! I have the "section" drying now. I'll give it a couple or 3 hours and then refill it and see how it does. If I get the same results I will reclean and try new ink.

 

Do this to rinse out your pen quickly: http://www.inknouveau.com/2012/08/fp101-fast-pen-flushing.html

[swright007]

Thank you Jdiver!... Noted for future reference. Since the refill it seems to be doing better. If it gives me any more fit, I will just have to take it to the pen show this year and ask someone to take a look at it for me. Thanks again for all the responses and help

 

Scott