Skipping Rotring Initial

[snewman]

As a new user let me first say hello to everyone on the Fountain Pen network. I have been a long time lurker and have finally decided to partake in your colorful and informative community.

 

Now down to my problem, my wife bought me a beautiful Rotring Initial while on a trip to Portugal and aesthtically it is a real joy. However, it skips quite badly on the initial stroke requiring a slightly firm hand to start the flow. I have scoured the internet, including this forum, trying to diagnose the problem with no luck. If the problem I describe below has been documented I appologize.

 

Symptoms:

• Almost always skipps on initial stroke, 100% skips if it is a down stroke.
• I have also just observed that while it skips when writing with it properly, it works 100% of the time if I write with it inverted, i.e. top of the nib towards paper, thought understandably scratchy.

Diagnostic steps:

• Initially it was cleaned in an ultrasonic as I do with all of my new pens.
• Flushed it with ink (used Waterman's Florida Blue)
• Tried different inks (fully cleaning and drying in between)
  • Waterman - Florida Blue
  • Pilot Iroshizuku - Kiri-Same
  • J. Herbin - Eclat De Saphir (Blue)
  • Sailor - Blue Black
  • Mont Blanc - Oyster Grey
• I have inspected the nib using a loupe
  • The tines appear aligned and well placed both vertically and horizontally
  • While I do not have the brass sheets for checking spacing, the gap does not appear abnormal when compared to any of my other pens. Once it does write the pen is quite wet.
  • The ball does have a flatter area towards the end of the nib

Other than the flat area on the ball, overgrinding?, I am honestly at a loss with this pen. The fact that I can write easily with the pen upside down seems to indicate it is not a general flow problem but specifically with ball on the nib. Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you

Scott

 

P.S. If pictures are required I can see how well I can do with some of my macro lenses.

Edited November 10, 2014 by snewman

[lahlahlaw]

You've tried quite a few things, The issue sounds very much like baby bottom on the nib, although the flat spot you mention is also suspicious. I would try some micromesh, just make sure the time alignment is correct. Do some figure 8s and infinity symbols on 12,000 grit, not more than 10 seconds at a time.

[snewman]

I had a sneaking suspicion that that was the case, but was uneasy with smoothing it myself purely on my diagnosis. I did not want to mention it incase it biased people to agree. I picked up some micro mesh today and smoothed it out and it writes like a dream. Thank you Iahlahlaw for helping me identify the problem.

[lahlahlaw]

I had a sneaking suspicion that that was the case, but was uneasy with smoothing it myself purely on my diagnosis. I did not want to mention it incase it biased people to agree. I picked up some micro mesh today and smoothed it out and it writes like a dream. Thank you Iahlahlaw for helping me identify the problem.

Excellent!