leak problem

[vitix]

Hey guys, i need help again, i have a Montblanc 146 and i everytime i open the cap i find the nib very full of ink, like if is leaking... how can i fix this?

[JBat]

I wish I could help you on this one, Victor, but it's beyond my level of expertise. Hopefully one of the more knowledgeable members can help you out.

[vitix]

Originally Posted by JBat

I wish I could help you on this one, Victor, but it's beyond my level of expertise. Hopefully one of the more knowledgeable members can help you out.

thanks anyway John!

[Chrisxx]

Have you recently changed the ink you use?
Chris

[Bisquitlips]

Nib creep is VERY normal. Don't worry about it. Just wipe it off if it bothers you and enjoy your pen.

Changing ink may help, but it is such a minor issue I would not consider it.

All my pens suffer this to an extent. It has to do with ink viscosity and atmospheric conditions.

Again, ignore it and enjoy!

[Lion]

Richard, Thanx for the information.....BTW how long have you been using fountain pens???

[vitix]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

Nib creep is VERY normal. Don't worry about it. Just wipe it off if it bothers you and enjoy your pen.

Changing ink may help, but it is such a minor issue I would not consider it.

All my pens suffer this to an extent. It has to do with ink viscosity and atmospheric conditions.

Again, ignore it and enjoy!

thank you Richard, though i order a new ink cause the one i have is almost over... so, i guess i would have to change it anyway, i will clean the whole pen also...

and i'm ignoring as you say this Nib creep.

[vitix]

Originally Posted by Chrisxx

Have you recently changed the ink you use?
Chris

not yet... but i have an order of a new one.

[JBat]

Nib creep. I learned a new term!

[Shangas]

That's not leaking, it's a condition called NIB CREEP. It's caused by minor imperfections in the nib and sometimes, by various brands of fountain pen inks. It does NOT mean that your pen is broken, it's just being a naughty little boy and not blowing its nib into a tissue paper like they taught it to do at the factory.

Changing to a different ink may solve the problem, but otherwise...grin and bear it. It does not mean you can't use the pen - use it by all means...just be careful not to get ink on your hands.

A real leak is where the ink full-on drips or dribbles out of the pen without you doing anything. This is just nib-creep. It's a very common fountain pen condition and nothing to be worried about. Believe me, I've had REAL fountain pen leaks before - they're nothing like this. If you had a real leak, you'd be getting ink all over your desk.

[Lion]

Wow, what a great education I'm receiving.....and it's free. Thanx to all!!!

[vitix]

Originally Posted by Shangas

That's not leaking, it's a condition called NIB CREEP. It's caused by minor imperfections in the nib and sometimes, by various brands of fountain pen inks. It does NOT mean that your pen is broken, it's just being a naughty little boy and not blowing its nib into a tissue paper like they taught it to do at the factory.

Changing to a different ink may solve the problem, but otherwise...grin and bear it. It does not mean you can't use the pen - use it by all means...just be careful not to get ink on your hands.

A real leak is where the ink full-on drips or dribbles out of the pen without you doing anything. This is just nib-creep. It's a very common fountain pen condition and nothing to be worried about. Believe me, I've had REAL fountain pen leaks before - they're nothing like this. If you had a real leak, you'd be getting ink all over your desk.

i just found out that the ink i was using is about 15 years old... do you think is because of that? this is so old cause my dad gave me the Pen together with the ink bottle and he has not use that pen ever...

[Shangas]

The age of the ink should not be a factor. I've known people who regularly use ink that's up to seventy years old in their fountain pens. It's just a minor defect of the pen and/or ink, but it doesn't mean you can't use your pen, so don't waste the ink and throw it out. Just use it.

[vitix]

I just found out what was the problem guys, I just received the new ink and I saw the filling information and I was skipping one step... I will scan it and will post it...

[Lol-x]

So you had your pen too full after filling it???

[vitix]

Well steve, I was skipping one of the steps, in the deawing shows the pen and droping 6-8 drops and the turn the pen side up and turn the back again, I don't know how to explain it in english, but I will post the picture of the steps pointing the one I was skipping

[Shangas]

If I recall correctly, the 146 is a piston-fill fountain pen. Insert the pen into the ink-bottle, screw one way to lower the piston and eject air from the pen. Then screw the piston the other way to draw up the piston and fill the pen. Then, remove the pen from the ink-bottle, wipe it down and you're ready to write with it. It's easy.

[vitix]

Well Shangas, I thought the same, there's one step missing there... Wait a few, I will post the steps that the ink has in the instructions

[Shangas]

If it's that stuff about "emptying three drops of ink before you write" stuff, you can ignore it, that doesn't affect the function of the pen. Frankly I don't know anyone who follows it. I certainly don't.

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by Lion

Richard, Thanx for the information.....BTW how long have you been using fountain pens???

Since 1978.

[Bisquitlips]

Guys,

Writing with an FP should be a joy, not an exercise in science.

Don't use 15 year old ink. Throw it out. Other than that, enjoy them and ignore nib creep and anything else outside a major leak somewhere.

[Shangas]

Sorry Bisquitlips, but I have to disagree.

There's no reason why Vitix should have to throw out his fountain pen ink, unless it's obviously unusable.

Unusable fountain pen is either...

Contaminated with fungus (throw out IMMEDIATELY).

Dried up (this can be reconstituted with sufficient water and thus, reused).

Excessively gritty (it has dust or other crap in it). Gritty ink is best thrown out, although some people do try and strain it through a T-shirt or stuff like that.

Unless the ink has any of those three problems, I say it's still safe to use it.

B/lips is right that using a fountain pen should be a pleasure. It is to me, or I would not be using them for as long as I have been. There really isn't much you can do about nib-creep apart from grin and bear it, or try different brands of ink.

[vitix]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

Guys,

Writing with an FP should be a joy, not an exercise in science.

Don't use 15 year old ink. Throw it out. Other than that, enjoy them and ignore nib creep and anything else outside a major leak somewhere.

thats true Richard!!
thank you

[vitix]

here is the how to fill a FP
i have never done teh Step #3

[Shangas]

1. Correct.
2. Correct.
3. IGNOORE THAT*.
4. Correct.
5. Correct.
6. VERY important.

*Instruction number three is just telling you how many drops of ink you should be able to get into the fountain pen. Nothing more, nothing less. You do NOT have to do it. In fact if you did do it, you've just wasted your time, because that just empties all the ink back out of the pen.

Nib-creep is, unfortunately, there to stay. You can't get rid of it, unless you try a different ink, and even then, it may not work. Just grin and bear it.

[vitix]

Originally Posted by Shangas

1. Correct.
2. Correct.
3. IGNOORE THAT*.
4. Correct.
5. Correct.
6. VERY important.

*Instruction number three is just telling you how many drops of ink you should be able to get into the fountain pen. Nothing more, nothing less. You do NOT have to do it. In fact if you did do it, you've just wasted your time, because that just empties all the ink back out of the pen.

Nib-creep is, unfortunately, there to stay. You can't get rid of it, unless you try a different ink, and even then, it may not work. Just grin and bear it.

thank you
i'm loving and living with it!!

[Lion]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

Since 1978.

Seeing how much I enjoy using fountain pens I wish I had started 45 years ago.....but I'm now glad I found the way and will use them from now on!!!

[JimC]

While I cringe at "inky fingers", it's all part of the experience. Sure, you don't want a mess, but with care writing with a fountain pen is more relaxed and for me, takes me back in time.

[vitix]

is this Normal? i was cleaning my FP for the ink change and i put this Q-tip to clean a bit the cap and i got lots of ink there...

[Shangas]

You wash your pen-caps with a cotton-bud tip? I just dunk the thing in a glass of water...

That isn't normal, but such things can happen if the pen has been bumped or jolted violently. It's also what might happen when the pen is subject to nib-creep.