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    Senior Member calamus's Avatar
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    Default Which inks have the least railroading?

    I recently picked up a Jinhao with a G nib, and the nib works okay except that it has a tendency to railroad. I've read about some inks that people have recommended for flex nibs, but I forget what they are. Any recommendations? Thanks.
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    Senior Member jar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    No inks railroad unless you are abusing the nib or the nib is damaged.

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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    I think it's more likely to be a nib problem than an ink problem. If it railroads, then it's likely to railroad no matter what ink you use.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    Good question, for which I don't have the answer. You want the ink that holds the most surface tension to form that triangle bubble of ink between the pair of tines and the paper. I wonder if one of the categories in all the reviews can be compared to answer this. What attribute or additive would promote this?

    I'm not much help.

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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    Maybe an ink that would form a bigger bubble from the feed?
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    Hi,

    the feed and its design must match the nib, then it needs to be set properly.
    Clogging also a reason for railroading...

    Best
    Jens
    .................................................. .................................................. .

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/136145166@N02/albums

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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    The nib is new and I'm not abusing it, and it seems to be properly seated with a feed that seems to fit it perfectly. With a full converter it doesn't railroad, but as the ink level drops it starts to. Then if I advance the converter screw until it starts to almost squeeze out a half a drop of ink, the railroading goes away until the ink level in the converter drops again. FWIW.
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    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    In that case, your problem is insufficient flow from the feed to the nib.

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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    Quote Originally Posted by calamus View Post
    The nib is new and I'm not abusing it,
    Yes. That suggestion was well meant, but it was very wrong. Ink is water plus additives. And if anyone thinks that the type and amount of additives don't make a difference then I suggest you try blowing soap bubbles without soap...

    and it seems to be properly seated with a feed that seems to fit it perfectly. With a full converter it doesn't railroad, but as the ink level drops it starts to. Then if I advance the converter screw until it starts to almost squeeze out a half a drop of ink, the railroading goes away until the ink level in the converter drops again. FWIW.
    The feed might fit perfectly but it's being asked to do a job it wasn't designed to. Feed design is a surprisingly complex topic and in this case you are asking a feed to operate outside of the parameters it was designed for. You could consider modifying the pen into a sack filler - a sack will flex to some extent to keep pressure constant. Fitting a squeeze converter might just do the trick.

    And you could try doping a small amount of ink with a drop of dish washing liquid...

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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    Quote Originally Posted by ilikenails View Post
    You could consider modifying the pen into a sack filler - a sack will flex to some extent to keep pressure constant. Fitting a squeeze converter might just do the trick.
    Interesting. that does sound like a good idea. I wonder who makes a standard international squeeze converter.
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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    Quote Originally Posted by calamus View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by ilikenails View Post
    You could consider modifying the pen into a sack filler - a sack will flex to some extent to keep pressure constant. Fitting a squeeze converter might just do the trick.
    Interesting. that does sound like a good idea. I wonder who makes a standard international squeeze converter.
    Kaweco make a tiny one for the Sport. I second the warning against messing with the feed: they're actually very carefully designed - or should be. Wider channels can mean that capillary effect will no longer stop ink from flowing under the influence of gravity. That's not to say that the feed can't be widened at all, but doing so risks destroying it. Can you buy spares?
    Last edited by ilikenails; January 22nd, 2019 at 04:14 AM.

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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    Quote Originally Posted by ilikenails View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by calamus View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by ilikenails View Post
    You could consider modifying the pen into a sack filler - a sack will flex to some extent to keep pressure constant. Fitting a squeeze converter might just do the trick.
    Interesting. that does sound like a good idea. I wonder who makes a standard international squeeze converter.
    Kaweco make a tiny one for the Sport. I second the warning against messing with the feed: they're actually very carefully designed - or should be. Wider channels can mean that capillary effect will no longer stop ink from flowing under the influence of gravity. That's not to say that the feed can't be widened at all, but doing so risks destroying it. Can you buy spares?
    No idea where I could find spares. Thanks for the info about the Kaweco squeeze converter. I may give that a try. I'll look around for a larger one first. I guess I'll try a different ink first, then a squeeze converter. Of course, the converter would probably/maybe cost less, but it's always fun to try new inks. And even if it doesn't solve the railroading problem, I can always use it in my other pens.
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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    If it were me, I'd try a slippery ink like an Aurora or maybe something from Private Reserve.

    seems like the feed may not be up to the task, but worst case, you give it a goosh from the piston when you need to.

    good luck!

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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    Quote Originally Posted by manoeuver View Post

    seems like the feed may not be up to the task, but worst case, you give it a goosh from the piston when you need to.

    good luck!
    +1 for this.
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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    Quote Originally Posted by manoeuver View Post
    If it were me, I'd try a slippery ink like an Aurora or maybe something from Private Reserve.

    seems like the feed may not be up to the task, but worst case, you give it a goosh from the piston when you need to.

    good luck!
    I tend to be leery of pigmented inks like Private Reserve, but Aurora sounds like it might be a go. Also glad to find an excuse to try a new ink!
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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    Quote Originally Posted by calamus View Post

    I tend to be leery of pigmented inks like Private Reserve, but Aurora sounds like it might be a go. Also glad to find an excuse to try a new ink!
    Come now. You don't need an excuse to try a new ink.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    Maybe enlarging the groove that runs along the top of the feed? I saw a video on how to do it. It looks pretty simple.
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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    Quote Originally Posted by calamus View Post
    Maybe enlarging the groove that runs along the top of the feed? I saw a video on how to do it. It looks pretty simple.
    I tried this with a feed for a Noodler's Konrad and overdid it. The channel is so big that the pen doesn't hold ink! It drips out as soon as you fill it and hold the pen nob down.

    I recommend trying to solve the problem with ink choice before modifying the feed. Good luck!

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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    Quote Originally Posted by manoeuver View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by calamus View Post
    Maybe enlarging the groove that runs along the top of the feed? I saw a video on how to do it. It looks pretty simple.
    I tried this with a feed for a Noodler's Konrad and overdid it. The channel is so big that the pen doesn't hold ink! It drips out as soon as you fill it and hold the pen nob down.

    I recommend trying to solve the problem with ink choice before modifying the feed. Good luck!
    Thanks for the warning! That'll be my last resort. And I'll use the less is more approach if I do try it.
    Quid rides? Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur. — Horace
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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    I wonder if the ink is hanging on the walls of the converter and not flowing freely. Some newer converters have a small bead or spring to break the surface tension of the ink. Have you tried a cartridge? You could also try washing the converter with soapy water.

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