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Thread: Which inks have the least railroading?

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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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    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?

    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.
    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.
    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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    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?

    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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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    I've never found doping a small amount of ink with OS Cuddles Flo-Plus or dishwashing liquid to be particularly successful. For me it has rendered the ink unusable: much too wet with loads of feathering as well as loads of show-through and bleed-through. I had one ink that wouldn't stop dripping out of the nib following treatment.

    Before I started enlarging the feed groove I would try washing the inside of the converter with soapy water to see if that would help, but I would also try lubricating the inside of the converter with a tiny dot of silicone grease on the point of a cocktail stick. Maybe that might make it more slippery for the ink?
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    I've never found doping a small amount of ink with OS Cuddles Flo-Plus
    I have no idea what this is, but I imagine it comes in pink bottles with Hello Kitty packaging...

    (The classic ink additive is Kodak Photo Flo - which is sadly lacking in container cuteness.)

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    Default Re: Which inks have the least railroading?

    Quote Originally Posted by ilikenails View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    I've never found doping a small amount of ink with OS Cuddles Flo-Plus
    I have no idea what this is, but I imagine it comes in pink bottles with Hello Kitty packaging...

    (The classic ink additive is Kodak Photo Flo - which is sadly lacking in container cuteness.)
    Nothing to do with Hello Kitty: Organics Studio Cuddles Flo-plus is an ink additive specifically made by Organics Studio for inks. Whereas Kodak Photo Flo is, and always was, made for photographs.

    Mine is the original version.

    Flo-Plus_0001.JPG
    Last edited by Chrissy; January 21st, 2019 at 08:41 AM.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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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
    (What are you laughing at? Just change the name and the joke’s on you.)

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    Senior Member calamus's Avatar
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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.
    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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    Senior Member calamus's Avatar
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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!
    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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