Montblanc leaky nib - advice needed!

[Marcus10]

Hi all

Looking for some advice. I have a brand new MB Meisterstuk Around the World FP bought yesterday. If not kept upright all the time, it accumulates ink on the nib and in the cap. My other FP (Caran D'Ache Leman) can basically be kept horizontal all the time and I never have a similar ink accumulation issue.

I am a 'relatively' new to FPs, so appreciate your advice on whether this is normal/expected. IMG_5145.JPG

Thanks for your help,

Marcus

[Chrissy]

Go back to the boutique and ask their advise about this. It might be too full or the wrong ink but it is actually better to store your filled fountain pens nib up.

[Marcus10]

Go back to the boutique and ask their advise about this. It might be too full or the wrong ink but it is actually better to store your filled fountain pens nib up.

Thanks Chrissy. The place I bought it from basically said there's no problem, every nib is different and there is nothing wrong with it. It does leak a small amount of ink on to the inside of the cap. The research I've done so far says that FPs can go either horizontal or vertical and I leave my Caran D'Ache horizontal all the time with no equivalent leakage onto the nib.

[RobJohnson]

Go back to the boutique and ask their advise about this. It might be too full or the wrong ink but it is actually better to store your filled fountain pens nib up.

Thanks Chrissy. The place I bought it from basically said there's no problem, every nib is different and there is nothing wrong with it. It does leak a small amount of ink on to the inside of the cap. The research I've done so far says that FPs can go either horizontal or vertical and I leave my Caran D'Ache horizontal all the time with no equivalent leakage onto the nib.

The bottom line is the way that the pen works in that it leaks into the cap is not acceptable to you, it is not fit for your purposes.

Go back to the retailer, be firm, fix this or my money back.

Sorry if this sounds like I am cranky but retailers who mess around because they do not want to do the right thing are taking liberties.

[Marcus10]

Go back to the boutique and ask their advise about this. It might be too full or the wrong ink but it is actually better to store your filled fountain pens nib up.

Thanks Chrissy. The place I bought it from basically said there's no problem, every nib is different and there is nothing wrong with it. It does leak a small amount of ink on to the inside of the cap. The research I've done so far says that FPs can go either horizontal or vertical and I leave my Caran D'Ache horizontal all the time with no equivalent leakage onto the nib.

The bottom line is the way that the pen works in that it leaks into the cap is not acceptable to you, it is not fit for your purposes.

Go back to the retailer, be firm, fix this or my money back.

Sorry if this sounds like I am cranky but retailers who mess around because they do not want to do the right thing are taking liberties.

I know exactly where you're coming from Rob, to be honest the retailer made me feel a bit stupid as in why did I have a problem with it. I've emailed Montblanc about it. I had a similar issue with a skipping pen previously - was told there's nothing wrong with it, it's you. After changing ink from Graf Von Faber Castell to Pilot, the problem stopped. Surely they could have told me that it could be an ink issue.

[RobJohnson]

A pen that leaks into the cap needs sorting out, inky fingers belong in the past. Be firm, go back to the retailer, tell him that you have taken advice and you want your money back. I would expect that he will then WANT to have the pen repaired which you can accept if you wish but only on the basis that if the repair is not successful then you want your money back.

I have a pen or two and none of them, whatever their price, leaks into the cap.

There are things you can do that mitigate any potential to leak but have the pen fixed first, come back and we will give you some tips.

[Chrissy]

It's not acceptable to buy any pen then have to put up with it leaking into the cap for whatever reason. It's not fit for purpose if it always does this and every time you use it you get ink on your fingers. The boutique needs to either give you another pen or your money back. Tell the boutique if they don't sort it out you will email the CEO

[FredRydr]

Was this pen bought from a Montblanc Boutique, or an independent retailer? Was it a "brick & mortar" shop or online/mail order? Your remedy choices depend on where you are located.

[BlkWhiteFilmPix]

It could be a bad pen, or it could be what some have described as a tendency of Montblanc fountain pens to 'overfill.'

After filling the pen, do you twist the piston in the opposite direction to push out six to eight drops of ink?

The MB instructions (see attachment) suggest that, as does this guide to filling fountain pens:

"You’ll know it’s full when you can’t twist the converter anymore.

You then twist the converter clockwise to stimulate the movement of ink. Ink will drip out of your nib, so hold it over your bottle to prevent any spills. A few ink drops should be enough to regulate the ink flow, then you turn the converter clockwise to close the nib. After .... you’ll want to wipe the nib with a paper towel or lint-free cloth to remove any excess" [ink].

Jan-Patrick Schmitz, who was CEO of Montblanc North America, pushes a few drops of ink out of his 149 in this video.

When I don't follow those suggestions, I wind up with inky fingers or even worse - a MB tie-dyed shirt pocket.

As Neil DeGrasse Tyson said at about 1 minute 16 seconds into this clip: "You have to know thy pen."

Hope this helps you resolve the issue.

Enjoy thy pen !

[MarcoA64]

as far as I'm aware not even the cheap Chinese pen do this!!! At least none of the ones I've bought. New pens I've bought never have nor my vintage ones. Get a replacement or a refund. No beating around the bush!