Need Fountain Pen Advice

[seleneheart]

I know many of the members of this comm are fountain pen enthusiasts!

I have a Sailor Compass 1911, which occasionally spews huge amounts of ink into its pen cap. Of course, I don't notice, so when I go to use it, I plop the pen cap on the barrel and then everything gets covered in ink. I normally store it on its side.

I've had this pen for about six months, and it just started this behavior in the last three. Before that, I was very pleased with it.

Any suggestions as to why this is happening and how to fix it?

Comments

[yhlee]

My suspicion would be either a crack in the section/feed or maybe the converter (I don't own one of these but Googling suggests it takes a converter) - test components separately? Best case is that the converter has gone belly-up and you can replace it. "Burping" ink is a known phenomenon, especially with air pressure changes (e.g. air travel), but IME that's more common with eyedroppers/similar. If the issue is in the section/feed, you're probably better off getting a new one at this price point.

[seleneheart]

especially with air pressure changes (e.g. air travel) LOL, yes, I've made that mistake before.

After your comment, I took the pen apart to see if I could see anything. It completely saturated the paper towel I was using to hold the nib. I think the problem started after I changed the cartridge for the first time, so maybe I damaged it doing that. I am going to put the converter in and see if that helps. Otherwise, I'll take your advice and get a new one. Or something else.

[grayestofghosts]

It kind of sounds like the nib and feed might be out of alignment and loose, causing the usual capillary action of a fountain pen to just go splort instead. This would be an easy fix if that's the issue, the nib and feed would just need to be realigned. There are probably youtube videos on how to do this.

[seleneheart]

I had a look at it and can't really tell anything. I'll poke around YouTube.

[lunabee34]

I hope the advice you've been given can help!

Another suggestion: do you live near a stationer who knows about fountain pens and could look at it? Is there a fountain pen show in your area you could eventually take the pen to and have someone look at?

[seleneheart]

I don't think we have anything that specific around here. I'll keep my eye out for a show however. It's a $50 pen so possibly not worth the money or effort. I do like how it writes though.

[lunabee34]

A fix at a pen show would probably be free depending on what it turned out to be.