How To Reduce Flow?

[nealc]

Hi

 

I was wondering how, in general, you can increase or decrease the flow? I'd like to try changing the flow on some cheap pens.

 

Thanks

-Neal

[opus7600]

Use a drier ink, in particular an iron-gall ink.

[Ursus]

There are different kinds of solutions.

 

Ink: Use for example Quink for enhanced flow and Pelikan 4001 for a slow flow.

Nib: Taking the tines a little longer apart would increase the flow, bringing them together would decrease it.

Feed: If you have a ebonite feed (like in the Noodler's ink pens) you could re-cut it to increase the flow (by enlarging the channel or opening it up).

Edited February 25, 2014 by Ursus

[nealc]

 

Nib: Taking the tines a little longer apart would increase the flow, bringing them together would decrease it.

 

Thanks for this tip. What is a good way to bring them together? Can I just press them together with my fingers, or some other way?

[TimGirdler]

To decrease the flow, from the top of the nib at the shoulder and over the feed, force one tine UNDER the other and then repeat with the other side. Now, you'll need a loupe so that you can check and adjust the tine alignment.

 

By the way, it is never a good thing to cut feed channels to increase flow (unless you've turned your nib into a flex nib). Widening the tines works better--and is reversible.

 

Blessings,

 

Tim

[Ursus]

 

To decrease the flow, from the top of the nib at the shoulder and over the feed, force one tine UNDER the other and then repeat with the other side. Now, you'll need a loupe so that you can check and adjust the tine alignment.

I agree on that. What you have to check with the loupe is the tip of the nib, where the tines should be perfectly alligned (at least when you have finished the job). If you don't want to use the loupe all the time, it's usually possible to feel with the nail which of the tines is higest (and then you press it medially down, and so you continue with both tines until the ink flow is just right) - but when you are done you should really check with a loupe to make sure that they are perfectly aligned.

[Mister Mont Blanc]

I agree on that. What you have to check with the loupe is the tip of the nib, where the tines should be perfectly alligned (at least when you have finished the job). If you don't want to use the loupe all the time, it's usually possible to feel with the nail which of the tines is higest (and then you press it medially down, and so you continue with both tines until the ink flow is just right) - but when you are done you should really check with a loupe to make sure that they are perfectly aligned.

I was thinking of trying this on my wet Medium Montblanc Classique. Is there any reason one can't do this with both tines at the same time in order to keep them in alignment?

[kidde]

To decrease the flow, from the top of the nib at the shoulder and over the feed, force one tine UNDER the other and then repeat with the other side.

You can't push both tines UNDER each other at the same time. Alternate tines to keep the adjustment equal side to side. Go easy, better to creep in to this than try to jump. We are talking a very small amount to get a noticeable change.

Enjoy your inky fingers!

 

Paul

[Lemur]

Another way to change the flow is to adjust the relative position between the nib and feed.

By moving the feed towards the tip of the nib feed is increased and vice versa.

 

This is achieved by removing the nib and feed and "replace them" into the new position.

 

On some pens there is a "stop" on the feed which is the upper limit for the nib position, but on

many pens there is no such "stop" and you can experiment until you find and ideal position.

 

As stated in other responses the ink is of great importance for the flow.

If you adjust the pen for one ink, then you may need to do a new positioning when changing ink.

 

Only disassemble the nib/feed only if you are sure how to do this, and after soaking/flushing the pen.

[Mister Mont Blanc]

You can't push both tines UNDER each other at the same time. Alternate tines to keep the adjustment equal side to side. Go easy, better to creep in to this than try to jump. We are talking a very small amount to get a noticeable change.

Enjoy your inky fingers!

 

Paul

I'm sorry. I was referring to the method of pushing the tines down closer towards the feed, not the method of pushing the tines closer to each other. But I tested my method out last night and it worked quite well! Never got out of alignment