tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post4544416509017523299..comments2024-03-04T04:14:25.797-06:00Comments on Artists' Journal Workshop: Fountain pen tweaks and maintenance...Kate (Cathy Johnson)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-2945253889232147252012-05-30T07:07:41.812-05:002012-05-30T07:07:41.812-05:00I had a cheap Sailor, and it didn't do it for ...I had a cheap Sailor, and it didn't do it for me, either. I'm liking the Hero calligraphy pen, but the cheaper models of that pen are kind of temperamental, too...so the search continues, doesn't it!<br /><br />And yep, I had Rapidographs, too!Kate (Cathy Johnson)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-74329805937957448892012-05-30T06:54:35.690-05:002012-05-30T06:54:35.690-05:00Just read this post and comments. (all of it) lol ...Just read this post and comments. (all of it) lol ! <br /> I have tried various pens and recently 2 Noodler Ahab pens . I do like them, thanks for the advice on the cleaning.. <br /> I also have a fairly expensive Sailor pen.. as you say someone who 'loved' it convinced me to try .. <br /> No I don't care for it all that much.. so it sits there. Looks good , but not a working pen for me. I went through the Rapidographs years ago also,. Yes, I'm older than dirt. !!! BJ <br /> Thanks Kate for all the info ..Barbra Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08263982645593300365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-20861038504843164442012-03-20T15:44:28.373-05:002012-03-20T15:44:28.373-05:00Well, Kate, I'm doing my pen and ink Hokey Pok...Well, Kate, I'm doing my pen and ink Hokey Pokey again.... trying to find an alternative to Platinum Black.... but there doesn't seem to be one that's quite as reliable and "stubborn" under washes. <br /><br />I'll be trying a Lamy, Rapidograph or, I guess if I can't find something, a dip pen / brush. <br /><br />Does the search for the perfect combination ever end?Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04662012896400332441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-50481588875084985872012-02-09T18:14:28.332-06:002012-02-09T18:14:28.332-06:00They are indeed, Shannon, I've had mine for ye...They are indeed, Shannon, I've had mine for years! Because I prefer a bit of flex, I don't find myself reaching for it as much as I used to...Kate (Cathy Johnson)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-53601426864571423512012-02-09T18:08:14.150-06:002012-02-09T18:08:14.150-06:00I love Rotring sketch pens. They are fountain pens...I love Rotring sketch pens. They are fountain pens as well.shannonstoneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03732140813186253428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-2042257290271856062012-01-26T10:28:28.649-06:002012-01-26T10:28:28.649-06:00Hooray! I'm cleaning my original little Noodl...Hooray! I'm cleaning my original little Noodler's, too...Kate (Cathy Johnson)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-87815673613431436142012-01-26T00:31:07.483-06:002012-01-26T00:31:07.483-06:00you hit the gold mine here, Kate!
I am cleaning my...you hit the gold mine here, Kate!<br />I am cleaning my shortened rotring art pen right now ;)Nina Khashchina aka Apple-Pinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509455443525588628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-46016801590361635102012-01-24T08:36:59.391-06:002012-01-24T08:36:59.391-06:00Of course, Peggy, but I'd definitely suggest c...Of course, Peggy, but I'd definitely suggest contacting Brian at http://gouletpens.com, who is MUCH more knowledegable than I am about them. I'm just messing about with them!Kate (Cathy Johnson)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-71389847006772975652012-01-23T23:28:14.100-06:002012-01-23T23:28:14.100-06:00Fountain pen look really wonderful.This pen is rea...Fountain pen look really wonderful.This pen is really great and smooth.This is the ink pen.I really enjoy this blog.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.baylar.com/" rel="nofollow">Promosyon</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-35438012912629845922012-01-23T22:05:59.448-06:002012-01-23T22:05:59.448-06:00thanks for all the posts. Hard to believe after a...thanks for all the posts. Hard to believe after almost 50 years of "doing art," I am just NOW discovering how wonderful a dip pen is with my watercolors!! So, of course I want an artist's fountain pen, for portability, and now I'm faced with WHICH ONE? and I want to go "cheap" as you call them, as opposed to the ones that cost $200. SO I'm reading all your posts and I think I'll try the Ahab. Can I contact you if I have questions with it?Peggynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-83462280081943713652012-01-23T19:04:00.987-06:002012-01-23T19:04:00.987-06:00Thanks, Larry...it WAS a weak solution, only about...Thanks, Larry...it WAS a weak solution, only about a tablespoon, if that, it a jar of warm water, so I wasn't very worried. I might not do it with my Namiki Falcon, but I'm not that nervous about a Noodler's...I DO rinse thoroughly! And really, I don't do it unless they're well and truly clogged, not for a routine cleaning.Kate (Cathy Johnson)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-22314447811405016672012-01-23T18:57:03.070-06:002012-01-23T18:57:03.070-06:00Thank you, Pam! That was my grandfather's mag...Thank you, Pam! That was my grandfather's magnifying glass...is yours a family treasure too?Kate (Cathy Johnson)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-33508162273720390782012-01-23T18:47:24.648-06:002012-01-23T18:47:24.648-06:00Great post and comments! I must say we have match...Great post and comments! I must say we have matching magnifying glasses! Wonderful :)Pam Johnson Brickellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07927455773097702525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-55844639105793555722012-01-22T21:44:29.740-06:002012-01-22T21:44:29.740-06:00Ah, I hadn't heard that! I did wonder if the ...Ah, I hadn't heard that! I did wonder if the new O-rings are really an improvement and considered ordering one. I don't have the same problem with the original flex pen, though it does need some tapping sometimes to get it going. Not always, and not usually with the newer ones--I've got one of the original ones that does take some tapping.Kate (Cathy Johnson)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-88366858492867494742012-01-22T21:42:35.362-06:002012-01-22T21:42:35.362-06:00Thanks for the links, Cheryl! Yes, it's not j...Thanks for the links, Cheryl! Yes, it's not just the Noodler's pens that do that. I have a Japanese Platinum Pocket Pen that surprises me that way once in a while.Kate (Cathy Johnson)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-66740492125266349502012-01-22T20:58:49.161-06:002012-01-22T20:58:49.161-06:00Kate, vinegar is 3% acetic acid. Any acid eats me...Kate, vinegar is 3% acetic acid. Any acid eats metal as GS suggests. Because it's so dilute, however, you'd have to leave the pen in vinegar a signifcant amount of time. If you're just cleaning with it, and thoroughly rinsing all the parts afterward, it shouldn't be a problem in my view.larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499637631503513759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-52175284488804994032012-01-22T20:54:16.746-06:002012-01-22T20:54:16.746-06:00Laure and Cathy,
My second Ahab has worked pretty...Laure and Cathy, <br />My second Ahab has worked pretty well for me. It's belched only once, which ruined a drawing but otherwise it's been ok. It's the only fountain pen on my desk, though, that I must tap repeatedly on the paper to get the ink flowing. <br />There's definitely some subtle (or maybe not so subtle) problem with the feed on these pens. I've heard rumor that Nathan is working hard to release an improved version but, for myself, it'll have to get more than rave reviews before I buy one.larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499637631503513759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-68965269703611381012012-01-22T08:51:34.426-06:002012-01-22T08:51:34.426-06:00I did use silicone grease, but unfortunately it wa...I did use silicone grease, but unfortunately it was leaking around the nib and feed...Kate (Cathy Johnson)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-37666750123758204702012-01-22T07:00:34.965-06:002012-01-22T07:00:34.965-06:00The leaking might have been prevented if you use a...The leaking might have been prevented if you use a little bit of sillicone grease on the threads. It's something I learned while browsing eyedropper pens online, and so far, touch wood, it seems to work.Evelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13022820658897225045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-11223926604150049502012-01-22T01:07:29.867-06:002012-01-22T01:07:29.867-06:00Knock on wood, but my Pelikan fountain pens have n...Knock on wood, but my Pelikan fountain pens have never belched. And I only recently learned about emptying a drop so I've never done that. I do take care to keep them upright when I change altitude (often by 4 or 5000 feet in a day). Spendy, but I love them!Elva Paulsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642197019054496596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-50261427078079173262012-01-21T19:32:38.868-06:002012-01-21T19:32:38.868-06:00Hi Kate,
I've never heard of vinegar as a rec...Hi Kate,<br /><br />I've never heard of vinegar as a recommended way to clean fountain pens, however, myself and others use a mild ammonia solution for cleaning some pens. Here's one recipe for a cleaning solution that is safe for many fountain pens:<br />http://blog.shopwritersbloc.com/fountain_pens/fountain_pen_cleaning_solution.html<br /><br />I've also tried using some eyedropper fill pens for artwork and had a similar experience to yours - I always end up with a big drip of ink on my picture. I use them occasionally for writing when a blob of ink doesn't matter. I wrote about my experience here:<br />http://blog.shopwritersbloc.com/fountain_pens/eyedropper_fountain_pen_pros_a.html<br /><br />Happy to have found your blog. Love the picture of the fountain pen with the magnifier over the nib!Cherylhttp://www.shopwritersbloc.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-18163284950863726632012-01-21T08:29:01.069-06:002012-01-21T08:29:01.069-06:00I'm definitely finding the Lamys work more smo...I'm definitely finding the Lamys work more smoothly once they're broken in and used to my hand. I'll have to do a line-width post!Kate (Cathy Johnson)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-67194064534307095052012-01-21T08:27:04.917-06:002012-01-21T08:27:04.917-06:00Chris, you may want to read all the comments...I&#...Chris, you may want to read all the comments...I'm told vinegar's not such a great idea over time...Kate (Cathy Johnson)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-75248878119890869002012-01-21T08:21:53.701-06:002012-01-21T08:21:53.701-06:00thanks for this, I'm just starting to use a No...thanks for this, I'm just starting to use a Noodler's pen and loving it. Tips are appreciated.CHRIS MURRAYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00902291140734132670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-42014359058633927922012-01-21T08:20:59.251-06:002012-01-21T08:20:59.251-06:00Thanks, I'll tweak the original post! But yes...Thanks, I'll tweak the original post! But yes, a fountain pen is almost alive, it's not like a disposable. It likes to be respected and cared for.<br /><br />I've found that some inks work well, and some just don't, no matter how they're advertised. And sometimes there's just a misunderstanding...I bought some expensive J. Herbin inks that were advertised in a catalog as waterproof. They definitely were NOT, and Herbin doesn't say they are. I alerted the catalog that they needed to change their text!Kate (Cathy Johnson)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.com