Sheaffer Balance Ii

[Uncial]

I'm hoping someone might be able to help me out here before I finally give up on this pen. About a year and half, possibly two years ago, I purchased a Sheaffer Balance II. I liked the faux vintage look and the nib was very pretty and the length and shape of the pen appealed to me. Before using it I flushed it out thoroughly, but when inked it would write only a few lines and stop after prolonged skipping. If I pushed very slightly on the nib the ink flow would start again. I took a look at the nib and noticed the tines were very tight. I used a very thin shim to try and broaden them. This intervention helped me get twice as much writing pleasure from it before drying up - in other words, two paragraphs.

 

I took another look at the nib again through a loop and thought it looked like it was suffering from baby's bottom. I decided that this was not something I could fix myself, so I sent it off to be fixed. In fact, I had the nib completely reground as it was just a touch too wide for my taste. Pen comes back, very good job done, lovely and smooth. Now it writes about two pages and then the ink dries up. I thought this time it must be an issue with flow. I thoroughly cleaned it again, flushed through with the converter, carefully cleaned all the nib and feed section and inked it with a wet, free-flowing ink.....same problem. Should I just give up on this thing as a lost cause, or am I missing something?

[Ron Z]

I have had cases where these feeds are flawed and need to be replaced, or contaminatedI and need to be cleaned in a strong surfactant. I have the feeds in stock and can replace yours for you. I do not sell them though. The feed can be a very tight fit and they sometimes snap trying to get them out, so the job is not for the amateur.

[mitto]

Send it to Ron Z. The pen needs gentle handling by his caring hands.