What Methods Do You Suggest For "Hard Starting" Pens? And What Is "Baby's Bottom"? - Q&A Slices

[@natmickan]

I’d love if Brian did a “what to do when you first get a fountain pen” video. I’ve been piecing together info from tonnes of videos, but there doesn’t seem to be a video dedicated to the topic (by anyone, from what I can tell). Will probably spare a lot of newbies from some first time disappointment if things don’t go exactly to plan out of the box too. Good tip about cleaning it first; hopefully it does the trick for mine (or else it’s back to the drawing board to work out if it’s something I’m doing wrong)

[@drewtorchia]

I bought a Monteverde Regatta Sport Gunmetal and had real trouble and false starts on pulling top-down lines like in capital letters. First things first, too out the feed and nib and gave them a good wash and right away it is writing super nice. I have watched a ton of these videos and they really helped me get into the hobby and and just enjoy a more premium writing experience. Thanks

[@DoctorF1984]

The baby bottom i have it actually on two pilot nr. 5 14k medium nips. It sucks completly. They writing super smooth but needs pressure to start and after a minute of no writing the problems come again.

[@MrAndrew1953]

I use some Monteverde pen flush on the back of the feed from an eyedropper filler. Just a drop can work wonders.

[@martingutierrez2430]

I recently got an Al-Star and before seeing this video my pen would sometimes stop the ink flow so I cleaned it out and it worked

[@13noman1]

I just have to ask, Brian: does one have to make the "tweaking sounds" when fixing the nib? Just want to be sure I'm doing it right :-)

[@CECS1]

Yes.

[@victoriahopkins1270]

came for the pen advice, stayed for the nyoot nyoot

[@chantaldowling4342]

I just got a new Lamy Al Star and the darn thing skips on certain down strokes and on the curve of certain a’s and g’s so frustrating.

[@Gouletpens]

Did you flush it out before using? LAMY does test the nibs before shipping out, so there may be residual ink causing the flow problems. - Colin

[@archblossom7321]

The tines on my Pilot Namiki Falcon are splayed a little and therefore is VERY wet. It literally puts down a puddle without any pressure. How can I fix the flexible tines? I used Brian's method but it had little to no impact to the nib.

[@Gouletpens]

Using a loupe could be helpful (kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIKVapRnmNlojqM ) but with a nib like that, a nibmeister might be your best bet. - Colin

[@forjazznjava]

This. Video. Totally. Fixed. My. Pen. Damn he's good.

[@the-realized-network8312]

flush it, clean the feed, take it all apart. // then if its not writing yet, make sure the feed is even on the tines, and nib isnt slammed in there, /// otherwise, still no ink? dip it, and write until the two sections of ink connect. (what you dipped) and the converter/cartridge.

[@katie4623]

My hard start only applies to upstrokes.

[@pulakification]

Man I had baby’s bottom on my jinhao vintage for years but never realized what it was until now.

[@MiloTupy]

💕

[@jamesaritchie1]

From my experience, when many people complain that a pen has hard starts, they usually mean it dries out if you let it sit for a day or three.