Should a well tuned nib work with many different inks? Also dry ones

[OMASsimo]

2 hours ago, rb120134 said:

Here I have a short video of the Graf von Faber Castell nib, as you can see at around 1:54 it starts skipping, here it only skips for a couple of seconds, but sometimes it wont write for a very long time, like 20 seconds.  Using rhodia paper here

 

 

I watched your video and noticed that the skipping seems to begin after rapid up strokes. I think it isn’t the nib but more likely the feed. Since you use F-C ink in a GvFC pen, it shouldn’t be the problem of the ink. And as someone else mentioned already, GvFC pens have an excellent reputation for their writing performance and QC. I don’t know how old your pen is. Sometimes the problem with newer pens is that there are oily residues from the manufacturing and it’s recommended to flush the pen thoroughly with soapy water before first use. Did you try that? You could also use an ultrasonic cleaner if you have one. Also, fill the converter through the nib a couple of times and the squeeze out one drop of ink before cleaning up nib and section. If the problem remains over a longer time, I’d contact F-C. I Heard- wonderful things about their service, though I never needed it myself. My GvFC would write on “glass” without skipping.

[rb120134]

37 minutes ago, OMASsimo said:

I watched your video and noticed that the skipping seems to begin after rapid up strokes. I think it isn’t the nib but more likely the feed. Since you use F-C ink in a GvFC pen, it shouldn’t be the problem of the ink. And as someone else mentioned already, GvFC pens have an excellent reputation for their writing performance and QC. I don’t know how old your pen is. Sometimes the problem with newer pens is that there are oily residues from the manufacturing and it’s recommended to flush the pen thoroughly with soapy water before first use. Did you try that? You could also use an ultrasonic cleaner if you have one. Also, fill the converter through the nib a couple of times and the squeeze out one drop of ink before cleaning up nib and section. If the problem remains over a longer time, I’d contact F-C. I Heard- wonderful things about their service, though I never needed it myself. My GvFC would write on “glass” without skipping.

Which GvFC fountain pen do you have?

[rb120134]

I have done everything you guys said, I flushed the nib and feed with the converter for 10 minutes long with destilled water, I filled the converter completely and pushed 3 drops back in the bottle. I try different angles in all directions, still hard starts and skipping. I think I am cursed for some reason, dont know why, wether it is because I am left handed and push the nib more across the paper rather than pull like a right handed, or somehting else, I cant write with a fountain pen without hard starts and skipping. I also sold my GvFC Makassar and Sterling Silver because I had problems with both. I just cant make it work for some reason. Guess I have to stick with a ballpoint

 

[sandy101]

Did you change the paper?

[OMASsimo]

53 minutes ago, rb120134 said:

I have done everything you guys said, I flushed the nib and feed with the converter for 10 minutes long with destilled water, I filled the converter completely and pushed 3 drops back in the bottle. I try different angles in all directions, still hard starts and skipping. I think I am cursed for some reason, dont know why, wether it is because I am left handed and push the nib more across the paper rather than pull like a right handed, or somehting else, I cant write with a fountain pen without hard starts and skipping. I also sold my GvFC Makassar and Sterling Silver because I had problems with both. I just cant make it work for some reason. Guess I have to stick with a ballpoint

 

 

Don't give up too early. Mine is a black Guilloche with M nib and it wrote perfectly right out of the box.

 

Of course it could have something to do with writing style, especially as a leftie. But there are plenty of lefties having no trouble to write with fountain pens. But I cannot judge it from my own experience because I'm a rightie. Did you try a more absorbent paper, yet? It's probably easier to try that than getting another ink. Do you use other pens without such issues? If the problem is specific to your GvFC, I only can recommend to contact their customer service.

[rb120134]

12 minutes ago, OMASsimo said:

 

Don't give up too early. Mine is a black Guilloche with M nib and it wrote perfectly right out of the box.

 

Of course it could have something to do with writing style, especially as a leftie. But there are plenty of lefties having no trouble to write with fountain pens. But I cannot judge it from my own experience because I'm a rightie. Did you try a more absorbent paper, yet? It's probably easier to try that than getting another ink. Do you use other pens without such issues? If the problem is specific to your GvFC, I only can recommend to contact their customer service.

"Dont give up too early". I dont wanna give up, but for some reason I always have skipping problems and hard starts with GvFC, I have only used these pens because I really like the asthetic of these pens, I havent tried any other fountain pens. After days of frustration I sent the Makassar and Sterling silver back because i had similar problems with these. 

Below a video of the GvFC makassar, which I got a refund for a long time ago when I sent it back. 

 

[silverlifter]

The angle you hold the pen at means that the bottom tine is rotated under the top one: you'll not get a consistent line like that.

[rb120134]

2 minutes ago, silverlifter said:

The angle you hold the pen at means that the bottom tine is rotated under the top one: you'll not get a consistent line like that.

How do you mean, you have a picture?

[silverlifter]

The picture is just a still from the video. You rotate the pen so that one tine is sitting above the other. In order to get consistent flow, both tines should be parallel, so there is an equal amount of contact with the paper. 

[OMASsimo]

It could be that you rotate the pen but I have no indication for it form your videos. How much pressure are you using? It looks like you're writing with a very light hand (which is good).

 

[rb120134]

3 minutes ago, OMASsimo said:

It could be that you rotate the pen but I have no indication for it form your videos. How much pressure are you using? It looks like you're writing with a very light hand (which is good).

 

I use very light pressure, touching the paper.

[OMASsimo]

1 minute ago, rb120134 said:

I use very light pressure, touching the paper.

 

OK, just to analyse the problem: When you get to the point that the nib skips, try applying a little bit more pressure. Does it start writing again then? Second test would be to apply a little pressure and "roll" the nib a little bit left and right.

[rb120134]

20 minutes ago, OMASsimo said:

 

OK, just to analyse the problem: When you get to the point that the nib skips, try applying a little bit more pressure. Does it start writing again then? Second test would be to apply a little pressure and "roll" the nib a little bit left and right.

Thanks, will give that a try

[sandy101]

This may help. There are photos.

 

Help! How Do You Hold Your Fountain Pen? - Fountain & Dip Pens - First Stop - The Fountain Pen Network

[rb120134]

1 hour ago, OMASsimo said:

 

OK, just to analyse the problem: When you get to the point that the nib skips, try applying a little bit more pressure. Does it start writing again then? Second test would be to apply a little pressure and "roll" the nib a little bit left and right.

Isnt applying pressure bad for the nib and tines? A good fountain pen should write without pressure right?

[OMASsimo]

There is no “no pressure”, it’s a question of how much. I prefer a very light touch myself and all my pens are fine with that. Here it’s about to find out what might be your problem. Applying a little more pressure spreads the tines a bit and helps the capillary action to bring ink to the tip from the slit.

[rb120134]

I did some fast writing today, with just touching the paper/weight of the pen, very light touch, it didnt skip but some parts of the letters look darker while other parts look lighter, is this normal or a symptom of inconsistent ink flow?

 

 

 

 

[OMASsimo]

It’s called “shading” and one can get this nice effect with the right combination of pen, ink, and paper. It means that the ink flow is well controlled and doesn’t flood the paper. Looks like you’re getting somewhere.👍 What did you change?

[rb120134]

12 minutes ago, OMASsimo said:

It’s called “shading” and one can get this nice effect with the right combination of pen, ink, and paper. It means that the ink flow is well controlled and doesn’t flood the paper. Looks like you’re getting somewhere.👍 What did you change?

To be honest, I changed nothing. I use very very light pressure, having filled the converter fully with GvFC Cobalt Blue. It worked quite well even with fast writing this morning. Still on Rhodia paper. 

 

[rb120134]

Is it normal when you leave a fountain pen capped and unused for like a night(8-9 hours) and the next morning I start to write with it, it starts writing with the second or third stroke? Or should it write right away at the first stroke?