Don't Make Me Shoot It!

[VertOlive]

So. I'm no pen/nib meister and I need a few basic suggestions. I have this pen that is terribly epic but doesn't write for squat. I have tried every ink and it still is dry, scratchy, and skippy to write with, so it must be the nib, right? I really like the pen and am willing to try something to remedy this. It's a Montegrappa Fortuna Skull with fine nib like this:

https://i.imgur.com/TyHIbc0.jpg?1

Where do I start?

[junglejim]

Drop a message to Gena at Custom Nib Studios. She answers her messages very promptly and can fix your problems. She can adjust for angle of writing, how juicy or dry you want your nib, and lots of other things. Her current turn-around time is about 2 weeks. I highly recommend her. She did an architect, a sharp italic, and a plain smooth and adjust for 3 of my pens.

https://www.customnibstudio.com/about-1

All the Best.

[usk15]

I would tried to spread the tines a bit.

Go to number 5: https://www.nibs.com/blog/nibster-writes/smoothing-scratchy-nibs

[Marsilius]

Maybe an undertaker could help. Uh, never mind.

[Sandy]

Have you tried flushing it out? There might be some gunk in it. I usually start with water - and if that doesn't work - use washing up liquid. I had that problem with a S T Dupont - it took three weeks of flushing and constant use to establish consistent inkflow. now, it is a consistent writer.

If it's new - return it. Part of the cost of buying a new pen is the guarantee. Montegrappa pens have a 2 year guarantee - so maybe send it back?

[Driften]

I agree starting with a good flush would be the starting point. Then if it's new I would bring up the problems to the seller before doing anything more. That way you can keep the warranty intact.

[ethernautrix]

Oh wow, I just mentioned Shawn Newton as a source for pen repair advice, referring to this video:
https://youtu.be/sN--tBxA9u0.

This increases the main feed channel, which increases ink flow.

I did this about nine years ago and have used his advice a few times since. I haven't ruined a pen (this way) (hahaha), cos I super-concentrate on going very slowly and carefully.

If you attempt this hack, take a deep breath and start the cut at the beginning of the exhale. You should be good to go.

Good luck!

[Deb]

It's not something I have ever done, or would do. Perhaps it's necessary with modern pens. I mostly deal with vintage and I'm not big-headed enough to think that I know better than the old masters.

[Chrissy]

It's not something I have ever done, or would do. Perhaps it's necessary with modern pens. I mostly deal with vintage and I'm not big-headed enough to think that I know better than the old masters.
I once removed a small dot of extra, unnecessary, plastic from the end edge of a feed channel using a piece of brass shim. But going down a feed channel with a razor blade isn't something I would attempt either. :blink:

[ethernautrix]

I've done it only with modern pens.

And only when I was at the point of "I'm going to fix this or screw it up and then pay someone to fix it." It's the penultimate resort, the last frustrated shot before giving up and either throwing the pen at the wall (nope!) or paying a professional. So far so good.

Also, deepening the channel is something I've done less than a handful of times since I used Shawn's advice nine years ago.

[Chrissy]

I've done it only with modern pens.

And only when I was at the point of "I'm going to fix this or screw it up and then pay someone to fix it." It's the penultimate resort, the last frustrated shot before giving up and either throwing the pen at the wall (nope!) or paying a professional. So far so good.

Also, deepening the channel is something I've done less than a handful of times since I used Shawn's advice nine years ago.
I'm just not good with razor blades, and wouldn't use them anywhere near to my pens. Maybe a piece of dental floss if it was required. I would love to get hold of a very fine violin string.....

[dneal]

Scratchy and skippy tells me it’s the nib, not the feed. John Mottishaw’s tutorial is good, and so is Richard Binder’s.

http://www.richardspens.com/pdf/workshop_notes.pdf

So where to start? Is it scratchy in one direction predominately? That indicated the tines are out of balance. If it’s just scratchy, it usually means the inside of the tines needs smoothed. Skippy can be a lot of things, depending on the skip. After writing 1/2 a page or so? Blockage in the feed or more likely the ink is getting “stuck” (surface tension is holding the ink in the top of the cartridge or converter). Random skips, or on the upstroke? Nib isn’t wet enough, has baby bottom (which doesn’t seem to be the case if it’s scratchy).

I’ve had two pens that needed work on the feeds. It’s not common. If you do choose that route, start by using the back side of the point instead of the sharp side.

Pulling at the wings to spread the tines often causes the “inverted Grand Canyon” shown in Richard’s notes. Be sure to check for that as you go.

If you want, and since I’m retired now and stuck at home with everything going on; I’ll take a look at it for you if you want to send me the nib. Just shoot me a PM.

[VertOlive]

Well, that's a lot of useful advice, thank you! The pen is secondhand, and I have used my ultrasonic cleaner on it. I don't think clean is the problem. And we have an undertaker in-house; I originally bought the pen for him but he never touched it, finding it to be too "Goth".

dneal's and usk15's links ( ethernautrix's link is beyond my skills!) were incredibly informative but I've discovered I really can't see well enough (yes, I have new lenses in the old cat's eye frames, to no avail in this case) to even try the suggestions there. And the nib and feed are black on black which doesn't help. There is zero daylight at all between the tines even when I pull gently on the wings.

I'm giving it a stay of execution and shipping it out to Danny Fudge. Will report back.

[Driften]

Good Luck! Having a pro tune it will get it fixed for you.

[VertOlive]

The Skull has been returned to me much chastened and now seems willing to do its job. The Write Pen only charged $10, so it probably was something quite minor. Probably good I didn’t take a straight razor to it!

Thanks to all for pitching in with advice!

[amk]

Fantastic result!

Do you know I think the pen heard the threat that you were going to shoot it, too, so between that and the tinkering, it's surely going to behave itself impeccably now.

This has been a great thread. Ought to be pinned!

[Driften]

Happy things worked out for you!