Kung Te Cheng...or Equivalents

[wallylynn]

I bought KTC earlier this year on a whim. Yup, that color was love at first sight. Ironically, it's mostly black to me as my pen is somewhat wet. But there's this hint, this aura that lets you know its not.

I used it in a Noodlers Ahab, with the eyedropper cartridges. My first fill completely sludged up. I had to dig it out of the cartridge with a toothpick. It would not redissolve.

My second fill, I also filled the barrel with water, like a jacket, an evaporation sacrifice. That worked wonders. It flowed for 3 months. I had to clean it out at the end because it kept burping into the cap and making a mess. But it didn't dry. A few times I had hard starts, but a barrel full of water meant I could spare a few drops to wet the nib.

[jmccarty3]

 

And the Sheaffer school pens are the cheap plastic pens that kids used in school from the 60's (?) to 80's. They're great for inks you want to have at the ready at all times but don't want to vouch for what a Noodlers ink would do to a pen (like KTC). It is a perfect match, in my opinion.

 

The Sheaffer student pens first came out in the '50s. My first fountain pen was one of these early models, with the rounded ends and a clear barrel. I started writing with it in about '58. I recently bought a couple of these for nostalgia, and they write just fine.

[elippman]

So I guess we may have gotten a bit off topic, but is this then the Sheaffer School pen that has been used successfully with KTC?

[eharriett]

Yes. But mine is a slightly older one with the rounded back. I can try and get you a pic later this evening if you want. But thats it. Lots of grease on the threads. I use a fine nib for it, but that's personal preference.

[elippman]

I usually tend toward fine nibs as well, but was worried that this ink might clog them more easily than it would a medium nib. Come to think of it, though, I was planning on trying it first in a Kaweco Sport EF nib. Kaweco nibs are about the wettest nibs I own (the BB that came with that sport all but shoots ink), so I thought they might be ideal for a finicky ink.

[eharriett]

Add in that lubricant that we all mentioned first and try with the nib of your choice. Works for me, but your mileage may vary. Am carrying mine around today in fact. Used it twice with no issues. Barrel still 2/3 full

[elippman]

OS Cuddles' Flo-plus is out of stock at Vanness. Anyone know where else to get it? I'm not seeing much availability.

[ENewton]

In over twenty years, I have never used pen flush, but I'm trying to get the stain out of the pen in which I tried my sample of KTC. How long should I leave the pen with the pen flush in it?

 

For example, would it be okay to leave the pen with pen flush in it all day, refresh the pen flush, and leave the pen all night, then rinse with distilled water?

[eharriett]

In over twenty years, I have never used pen flush, but I'm trying to get the stain out of the pen in which I tried my sample of KTC. How long should I leave the pen with the pen flush in it?

 

For example, would it be okay to leave the pen with pen flush in it all day, refresh the pen flush, and leave the pen all night, then rinse with distilled water?

I haven't had this problem with KTC. But in most (not all others) that leave stains, a cotton swap is enough to remove the residue.

[eharriett]

[elippman]

Very nice! The pen looks just like mine.What a color!

[ENewton]

I haven't had this problem with KTC. But in most (not all others) that leave stains, a cotton swap is enough to remove the residue.

 

After a day of pen flush, a rinse, and then a night of pen flush, the pen isn't clean, but it does look much better.

[elippman]

I have read here or elsewhere that a bit of ammonia goes a long way toward cleaning KTC out.

[ENewton]

I have read here or elsewhere that a bit of ammonia goes a long way toward cleaning KTC out.

 

That's why I tried the pen flush, and it does have some effect, although 24 hours wasn't enough to remove the staining completely.

[displacermoose]

 

That's why I tried the pen flush, and it does have some effect, although 24 hours wasn't enough to remove the staining completely.

I've found that a tiny bit of friction (as in twisted paper towel or a cotton swab) with diluted ammonia does the trick.

[waterside]

I always use this ink in my Platinum 3776 Chartres Blue. Never cleaned the pen since last year and Never had an issue.

[eharriett]

As a followup to a previous comment: I was at the Michigan pen Show this past Weekend and I noticed they had the Organics Studio Cuddles Flo. BUT, it was in a different bottle. Not sure if that indicates a different formula or just different packaging.

[elippman]

Hmmm, thanks for the info. That means it is being made and exists somewhere. Not sure how to get my hands on it, but it's out there.... Maybe I will bug the people at Vanness to re-up their order. I've done that before successfully.

[jmccarty3]

Yes, the packaging for Cuddles Flo has changed, but it is the same product. The amount needed for Kung Te Cheng should not change the color at all.

[fiberdrunk]

I have been using Kung Te Cheng in a Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen for quite some time. I devote one just to this ink (a purple one), with the Con-50 ink converter. It works very well. I'm very happy with this ink, especially for journal writing where I want absolute permanence.

 

I also recently put Kung Te Cheng into a Jinhao 993 Shark... as long as I write with it every day, it does pretty well. But if it gets neglected for a couple of days, then there are start-up issues. So I think I'll just stick with the Pilot Metropolitan. Before that, I kept trying it in Platinum Preppys, and it permanently clogged those-- not even an ultrasonic cleaner could unclog them. But I know Pilot ink feeds are very well made and are easy to take apart for cleaning. You would probably do well with any of the Pilot pens with this particular ink. It's well worth putting up with a little fussiness for this ink.