The Drawing Board

[Unicorn Master]

Anybody here have some experience with it? I'll dip it and throw some lines and then it just stops flowing, even after I've dipped it again. Doesn't appear to have any of the paper stuck in it.

I've heard theses can be hard to get used to at first. ANY tips are greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

[TimothyObriant]

Not sure why that would happen if the nib is clean.  Maybe it's a defect. 

[JimN]

Anybody here have some experience with it? I'll dip it and throw some lines and then it just stops flowing, even after I've dipped it again. Doesn't appear to have any of the paper stuck in it.

Sometimes when they're new they have that problem and need to prepared before they can be used. Try this:

— Since you used the nib already, rinse it in water and wipe off any remaining water/ink on a paper towel. Let the nib dry for a minute or two.

— Hold the nib (especially the tip) in a match or lighter flame for a few seconds.

After that, it should work fine.

Sometimes pen nibs still have a thin coating of oil (or something) from the manufacturing process remaining on the surface. It's not visible but it prevents the proper flow of ink. The flame "tempers" the nib and gets rid of that oil.

Jim

[allen]

That's a good trick, and i do it, too.  Just be careful that you don't heat the tip up too much.  Get it too hot, and you'll take the temper out of the metal, and that will greatly shorten the life of your pen nib.  Pen nibs need to be broken in, there's a sweet spot for them, when the ink and water have roughed up the surface of the nibs a little, and where the paper has smoothed down the point a little, and where the metal is just the right springiness.  You'll hit that sweet spot, use it while you can, but eventually, the tip will become dull, split and corroded and then it will be time to throw it away and pick up another and go through it all again.

Another thing I do sometimes is scrape the top of the tip with a blade, then put it int he ink and draw a little with it, and then actually leave it in a jar of water overnight.  Sometimes that helps break it in.

[Unicorn Master]

Thanks for all the tips guys. Much appreciated.