Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

  1. #1
    Senior Member VertOlive's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Gulf of Mexico
    Posts
    3,886
    Thanks
    4,128
    Thanked 3,788 Times in 1,642 Posts
    Rep Power
    14

    Default Don't Make Me Shoot It!

    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:



    Where do I start?
    "Nolo esse salus sine vobis ...” —St. Augustine

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    California Central Coast
    Posts
    651
    Thanks
    2,370
    Thanked 1,123 Times in 427 Posts
    Rep Power
    9

    Default Re: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

    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.
    Bucket list - walk the Camino de Santiago again

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to junglejim For This Useful Post:

    VertOlive (April 13th, 2020)

  4. #3
    Senior Member usk15's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    St Helier, Jersey
    Posts
    489
    Thanks
    1,769
    Thanked 874 Times in 244 Posts
    Rep Power
    11

    Default Re: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

    I would tried to spread the tines a bit.

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

  5. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to usk15 For This Useful Post:

    sospiro (April 5th, 2020), VertOlive (April 4th, 2020)

  6. #4
    Senior Member Marsilius's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    800
    Thanks
    3,134
    Thanked 611 Times in 323 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

    Maybe an undertaker could help. Uh, never mind.
    Fortibus es in ero

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to Marsilius For This Useful Post:

    VertOlive (April 4th, 2020)

  8. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Posts
    256
    Thanks
    51
    Thanked 244 Times in 116 Posts
    Rep Power
    6

    Default Re: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

    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?

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to Sandy For This Useful Post:

    VertOlive (April 4th, 2020)

  10. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Woodinville, WA
    Posts
    168
    Thanks
    11
    Thanked 79 Times in 44 Posts
    Rep Power
    7

    Default Re: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

    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.

  11. The Following User Says Thank You to Driften For This Useful Post:

    VertOlive (April 4th, 2020)

  12. #7
    Senior Member ethernautrix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Land of Po
    Posts
    1,064
    Thanks
    1,661
    Thanked 1,282 Times in 556 Posts
    Rep Power
    13

    Default Re: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

    Oh wow, I just mentioned Shawn Newton as a source for pen repair advice, referring to this video: .

    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!
    _____________
    To Miasto

  13. The Following User Says Thank You to ethernautrix For This Useful Post:

    amk (May 4th, 2020)

  14. #8
    Senior Member Deb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Highlands of Scotland
    Posts
    1,747
    Thanks
    2,347
    Thanked 1,927 Times in 842 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

    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.
    Regards,
    Deb
    My Blog

  15. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Deb For This Useful Post:

    Chrissy (April 5th, 2020), Chuck Naill (April 5th, 2020)

  16. #9
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,400
    Thanks
    6,872
    Thanked 10,361 Times in 3,977 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

    Quote Originally Posted by Deb View Post
    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.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  17. #10
    Senior Member ethernautrix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Land of Po
    Posts
    1,064
    Thanks
    1,661
    Thanked 1,282 Times in 556 Posts
    Rep Power
    13

    Default Re: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

    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.
    Last edited by ethernautrix; April 5th, 2020 at 04:31 AM.
    _____________
    To Miasto

  18. The Following User Says Thank You to ethernautrix For This Useful Post:

    VertOlive (April 13th, 2020)

  19. #11
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,400
    Thanks
    6,872
    Thanked 10,361 Times in 3,977 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

    Quote Originally Posted by ethernautrix View Post
    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.....
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  20. The Following User Says Thank You to Chrissy For This Useful Post:

    VertOlive (April 13th, 2020)

  21. #12
    Senior Member dneal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    6,000
    Thanks
    2,402
    Thanked 2,281 Times in 1,306 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

    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.

  22. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to dneal For This Useful Post:

    amk (May 4th, 2020), Chrissy (April 5th, 2020), ethernautrix (April 6th, 2020), VertOlive (April 13th, 2020)

  23. #13
    Senior Member VertOlive's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Gulf of Mexico
    Posts
    3,886
    Thanks
    4,128
    Thanked 3,788 Times in 1,642 Posts
    Rep Power
    14

    Default Re: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

    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.
    "Nolo esse salus sine vobis ...” —St. Augustine

  24. #14
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Woodinville, WA
    Posts
    168
    Thanks
    11
    Thanked 79 Times in 44 Posts
    Rep Power
    7

    Default Re: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

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

  25. The Following User Says Thank You to Driften For This Useful Post:

    VertOlive (May 3rd, 2020)

  26. #15
    Senior Member VertOlive's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Gulf of Mexico
    Posts
    3,886
    Thanks
    4,128
    Thanked 3,788 Times in 1,642 Posts
    Rep Power
    14

    Default Re: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

    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!
    Last edited by VertOlive; May 3rd, 2020 at 07:54 PM.
    "Nolo esse salus sine vobis ...” —St. Augustine

  27. The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to VertOlive For This Useful Post:

    amk (May 4th, 2020), Chrissy (May 4th, 2020), Lady Onogaro (May 3rd, 2020), manoeuver (May 4th, 2020), Marsilius (May 4th, 2020), Sailor Kenshin (May 4th, 2020)

  28. #16
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Chartres, France
    Posts
    1,137
    Thanks
    2,610
    Thanked 825 Times in 446 Posts
    Rep Power
    13

    Default Re: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

    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!

  29. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to amk For This Useful Post:

    Sailor Kenshin (May 4th, 2020), VertOlive (May 4th, 2020)

  30. #17
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Woodinville, WA
    Posts
    168
    Thanks
    11
    Thanked 79 Times in 44 Posts
    Rep Power
    7

    Default Re: Don't Make Me Shoot It!

    Happy things worked out for you!

  31. The Following User Says Thank You to Driften For This Useful Post:

    VertOlive (May 4th, 2020)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •