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Thread: Pilot Metropolitan dry start

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    Default Pilot Metropolitan dry start

    Hi,
    I bought a Pilot Metropolitan Leopard on Amazon recently. It’s a no-nonsense pen with its medium nib being a finer medium. It came with a squeeze converter (CON 20) which is not transparent and holds negligible ink, compared to the Ahab, the Lamy Safari and the TWSBI Eco I have.
    The problem I am facing is the constant dry start. To address this, I have started to keep the pen upside down for a bit to write with adequate ink, otherwise it ends up dry. Am now trying out cartridges since a reddit post suggested it holds more ink than the converter.
    Should I enlarge the feed channel with a razor to solve the dry starts (like in the Ahab) or are there other solutions?
    Thank you,
    Vikram

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    Senior Member carlos.q's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pilot Metropolitan dry start

    What ink are you using?

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    Default Re: Pilot Metropolitan dry start

    Am using a Pilot cartridge right now but the drystart was there when using Quink in converter too.

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    Senior Member azkid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pilot Metropolitan dry start

    Hold off on altering with the feed as that is unlikely to cause what you describe.

    Do you think the nib is drying out from sitting? So only starts hard after sitting overnight, for example?

    Or are you experiencing hard starts where nothing comes out when you start a new stroke (lifting pen from paper and putting down to start again)?

    If if is the latter, the nib may be misaligned or suffer from baby's bottom.

    Does it hard start more often on up strokes or downstrokes?

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    Default Re: Pilot Metropolitan dry start

    Yes, the hard start happens when using the first time after sitting. If i keep it upright after some writing, the nib is dry again. If I keep the pen upside down, it works fine.

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    Default Re: Pilot Metropolitan dry start

    I wish I could help you, but I have had the same problem with the last Metro I bought. From my limited experience I think the suggestion of misaligned tines in the nib is one possible explanation.

    Sent from my LG-H910 using Tapatalk

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    vikramwa (September 25th, 2019)

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    Default Re: Pilot Metropolitan dry start

    Maybe store horizontally instead? I never noticed the problem with mine but maybe that is because I didn't try storing them point up. Hm. I guess the ink is draining back down into the cartridge (or whatever). Maybe some pens are more prone drying out in this position than others.

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    vikramwa (September 25th, 2019)

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    Default Re: Pilot Metropolitan dry start

    I have fixed the problem after letting the nib and feed sit in a soapy solution for a few hours. Yes, it writes like a dream now. Thank you, folks.

  11. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to vikramwa For This Useful Post:

    Ahriman4891 (September 25th, 2019), azkid (September 25th, 2019)

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    Default Re: Pilot Metropolitan dry start

    Great to hear! I was having similar issues with a couple of pens that dried out but which I had re-inked within a short time. Next time that happens I will clean the nib more thoroughly.

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    Default Re: Pilot Metropolitan dry start

    I bought a couple of Platinum Preppies, and one of them had the same problem. I ran the nib and section through an ultrasonic, and it took care of the problem. Apparently there is residue from the manufacturing process that sometimes interferes with the functioning of the feed.
    Quid rides? Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur. — Horace
    (What are you laughing at? Just change the name and the joke’s on you.)

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    Ahriman4891 (September 25th, 2019), vikramwa (September 26th, 2019)

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    Default Re: Pilot Metropolitan dry start

    I have the same problem with my green Metropolitan with a M nib, but only with certain inks, like Quink and one of the Noodler inks. One thing I discovered was that after flushing the pen with a pen cleaning solution that I no longer had much of a problem with any ink. I tried a Colorado Pen Sapphire Ink with ITF and it writes superbly now. This forum is great for ideas.

    I have been using a pre-made pen cleaning solution, but there are many people here that have different formulas which are less expensive that I am thinking of trying too!


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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    vikramwa (September 26th, 2019)

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