kaweco sport cleaning

[jor412]

Hi all.

Using an ear bulb, I flushed my Kaweco demonstrator which I use as an eyedropper. I let it dry overnight, nib down on tissue paper in a cup. The nib section area seems to still have trapped moisture/ink. I can't pull the nib. It twists both ways but it refuses to pop out. Is there any way to get that moisture dried up or to get that nib out so I can properly dry the whole thing? I'm asking because I plan on changing the ink I used.

[Pinkys.Brain]

I've cleaned my Kaweco eyedropper yesterday and encountered the same problem. I also could not get the ink out of the grip section - but I only use one ink for the pen, so it's no real problem for me.


What I haven't tried was putting the grip section into a small bowl of rice. Rice should work like silicate and suck out the moisture. Maybe you can try that and tell us, whether it works or not.

[jor412]

Hi - Oh thank you. That's a great idea. I'll try that and post my results tomorrow.

[KrazyIvan]

I save all the silicate packets I get from work. the stuff is reusable. Just pop in the oven for 15 minutes at 175 degrees.

[klpeabody]

To try and clean the rest of the ink out of the nib section, just fill a blunt syringe with water and push it right up against that nib section. The water will get right inside there and push the ink out. But, of course, you will still have the issue of water being trapped in there to deal with. So, after that, I would try the rice suggestion, above.

[jor412]

Thanks everyone.

@kp288908 - The nib runs clear when I flush with water so I guess it's really just water trapped in there.

@Pinkys.brain - It worked. I buried the nib in rice last night and checked this afternoon. Just a tiny bit of moisture left

@KrazyIvan - About the silicate packets: I didn't know they were reusable. That's great! I'll start keeping them when I run into them. I used to just throw them out when they no longer seemed effective.

[Pinkys.Brain]

Another more drastic way of getting out the ink that seeped into the grip section is pushin out the inner part of the grip section - it worked on two of my pen so far:

1) Remove the feed and the nib (normal friction-fit, easy to remove)

2) Insert a cartridge into the grip section, place it on a hard surface and then press the grip section downward. Like with the feed the enclosure of the feed will pop out.


a) Don't use a converter as they will get stuck! Don't use anything else but an empty cartridge, otherwise the connection cartridges will be damaged. Normal cartridges are soft enough not to damage the pen.
b) Might not work on every Kaweco. In some the feed enclosure and the grip jacket just fit too tight.


I have yet to test whether there will be a proper seal after re-assembling the whole shebang or not. But my guess is it should work. If not applying some silicon grease should suffice. I think there is enough room to put in an o-ring to seal the deal.


p.s.: I am refering to this problem: kaweco.jpg

[manoeuver]

Hi all.

Using an ear bulb, I flushed my Kaweco demonstrator which I use as an eyedropper. I let it dry overnight, nib down on tissue paper in a cup. The nib section area seems to still have trapped moisture/ink. I can't pull the nib. It twists both ways but it refuses to pop out. Is there any way to get that moisture dried up or to get that nib out so I can properly dry the whole thing? I'm asking because I plan on changing the ink I used.

I'd just ink it at this point. the leftovers in the feed should be overpowered by the fresh ink.

[Pinkys.Brain]

@jor412: It is strange that you cannot get out all the ink using an ear bulb. I use a normal piston (international size) converter and that works just fine for flushing the pen.

Pulling out the nib together with the feed should be rather easy: Index finger on the top of the nib, thumb under the feed and then you just pull. If you have problems you can also use a piece of thicker cloth (like denim) and a pair of flat pliers. The Kaweco is cheap enough so it might be worth a try. After you have done it once it should be easier the next time. If you damage a nib you can still buy a new grip section + feed + nib for about 8,50€.

[jor412]

Another more drastic way of getting out the ink that seeped into the grip section is pushin out the inner part of the grip section - it worked on two of my pen so far:

1) Remove the feed and the nib (normal friction-fit, easy to remove)

2) Insert a cartridge into the grip section, place it on a hard surface and then press the grip section downward. Like with the feed the enclosure of the feed will pop out.


a) Don't use a converter as they will get stuck! Don't use anything else but an empty cartridge, otherwise the connection cartridges will be damaged. Normal cartridges are soft enough not to damage the pen.
b) Might not work on every Kaweco. In some the feed enclosure and the grip jacket just fit too tight.


I have yet to test whether there will be a proper seal after re-assembling the whole shebang or not. But my guess is it should work. If not applying some silicon grease should suffice. I think there is enough room to put in an o-ring to seal the deal.


p.s.: I am refering to this problem: kaweco.jpg

I think I can manage this, although I'm a bit wary about attempting to disassemble the whole thing since the fit seems pretty tight.

[jor412]

I'd just ink it at this point. the leftovers in the feed should be overpowered by the fresh ink.

Actually, yes this makes sense, too, and I was considering it. It's just that I'm somewhat OC about cleaning and also, about solving issues.

@jor412: It is strange that you cannot get out all the ink using an ear bulb. I use a normal piston (international size) converter and that works just fine for flushing the pen.

Pulling out the nib together with the feed should be rather easy: Index finger on the top of the nib, thumb under the feed and then you just pull. If you have problems you can also use a piece of thicker cloth (like denim) and a pair of flat pliers. The Kaweco is cheap enough so it might be worth a try. After you have done it once it should be easier the next time. If you damage a nib you can still buy a new grip section + feed + nib for about 8,50€.

After the flushing, I'm sure what was left in the section was water because the pen ran clear. For the pulling out of the nib, I tried bare-handed and later on, with a piece of thick cloth but I couldn't get it out. Rather than force the issue, I thought it better to dry up the whole thing.

[jor412]

Here I am again. I used Diamine Syrah in my Kaweco and it seeped into the nib section.

Now I'm having a heck of a time getting out the red stain. I've gotten rid of most of it but there's still a hint of red inside which I can see when I hold the section up to sunlight. Here's what I've done so far:
1) flushing with a bulb
2) giving it several baths in an ultrasonic cleaner.

Last night I filled the barrel with soapy water, put the pen together and let it rest, nib down, in a cup with tissue paper. After checking this morning, I saw that the paper had a somewhat pink hue. I'll keep it this way until I no longer see that pink color. It'll probably take a while.

I was eventually able to pull out the nib and feed but not the "collar" or whatever that piece is that keeps them in the clear section. It seems a pretty tight fit and I'm wary of forcing the issue. I tried a bit of tapping it out with a knockout block but it didn't give, so I stopped before I did any damage.

[manoeuver]

Consider a pen with an opaque body and section. The transparent pen seems to stress you out. Pens should be fun.

[jor412]

haha. Actually, my cleaning solution worked and Diamine syrah is apparently easy to clean out.

[auto winder]

Oh no, it happened to me too
Seems I have got some dried up ink between some places where it should not be in my kaweco sport transparent section.
I have tried soaking in pure water, soaking in detergentified water, I also tried to dry it out with rice.
I am seriously reevaluating the attraction of demonstrators; I thought they were supposed to be fun, not frustrating...
I now have a two-part plan.
1. Fix it by removing first the feed/nib, and then the inner stuff from the outer stuff using the empty cartridge trick. Or buy a new section if I break it during the attempt.
2. Make sure that it does not happen again.

---

3. Reluctantly admit that there is no way to guarantee that if I want to actually use it.
4. *Facepalm*