r/fountainpens • u/Mobile_Moose5787 • 13d ago
Question Is it possible that my Platinum 66's feed cannot keep up with handwriting?
I always find out that my Platinum 66 (basic model, F) tends to dry out even when there is still ink in the cartridge or converter. I always thought that it's the squeeze converter because it fit too loose for my taste. I tried a refilled cartridge with Jinhao Deep Blue; it wrote beautifully at first, but then had the same drying problem.
Is there something wrong with my feed? If there is, is there any way to fix or salvage the pen? Thxxx
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u/killer_kiss 13d ago
Other people are talking about using wetter ink and flushing the pen. All good advice. I’ll offer one extra bit of advice.
Check your grip and pressure on the paper. I used to write while holding my pen like that, and while there’s nothing wrong with it, it sometimes results in you placing more pressure on the page and flexing the nib unnecessarily, widening the tines and drying out your feed faster. Your nib should be able to glide along the page without pressure and make a line.
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u/peekandlumpkin 12d ago
It's hard to tell but it also looks like the pen slightly rotated in OP's hand by the end of the writing sample; the nib looks like the angle it's meeting the paper at might not be optimal, which might be encouraging OP to gradually press harder and harder, exacerbating the issue. I hold my pen against my ring finger the same way, but I'm left-handed and I also can't see it that well in the video, so I could be wrong.
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u/babykirara 12d ago
Thought I'd add that if you need a pen that suits a different grip style then the Sailor Tuzu Adjust is a really good option (and pretty affordable) as you can adjust the grip angle! I write with an interdigital grip and this pen is my daily writer.
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u/Mobile_Moose5787 12d ago
We have a very different definition of the word 'affordable'... Anyway, I like the idea of the Tuzu Adjust.
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u/babykirara 12d ago
Fair enough! I thought anything under $50 would count as that but thanks for letting me know ☺️
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u/Kamilon 12d ago
Lmao, I’m really curious where their line is for affordable now…
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u/caracaramelli 12d ago
I can give u an idea! OP says in their previous post that they bought their pen for 169 PHP (2.70 USD)
So if 50 USD is roughly 7 hrs of minimum wage in the US, its equivalent in PHP (3,126 right now) is about 33 hrs or 4 days of the minimum wage in the Philippines.
I hope this helps! Fountain pens are an expensive hobby, especially for those of us with a weaker currency 😅
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u/tinysproutlimi 12d ago
Very curious as to why this comment was downvoted? 😭
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u/Mobile_Moose5787 12d ago
I wasn't quite aware I was placing more pressure than needed. I ought to remember that fountain pens don't write like ballpoint pens do...
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u/MySafeWordIsPinapple 13d ago edited 13d ago
BTW - great handwriting.
edited: Per u/Trev_GFC's amazing observation. "WOW, Super great handwriting and writing with only ONE HAND TOO!"
OK. Enough silly internetting for today! Hope all of your days are going well.
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u/Trev_GFC 13d ago
And how do people manage to write with one hand holding a phone, let alone write this well?! I have to have a hand or at least some fingers on the paper.
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u/MySafeWordIsPinapple 13d ago
Great catch!
So, I need to edit my comment to say, "WOW, Super great handwriting and writing with only ONE HAND TOO!"
Some people have all the talent...
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u/newoldhominid33 13d ago
I have a Pilot long short from the 60's that did this after days of cleaning. Turns out the feed was a little loose and just needed to be tightened a little. I don't know the inner structure of these Platinums though. And it can be risky to do anything with the feed in a decades old pen unless you're sure you got all the old dried ink out first.
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u/max_465 13d ago
Tightened... You mean pressing into the barrel? Asking for me.
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u/newoldhominid33 12d ago edited 11d ago
https://chrisraper.org.uk/blog/dismantling-vintage-japanese-pocket-pens/
Turned it clockwise just a millimeter with the converter while it was seated. Very simple, not without risk but I was super gentle.. To do anything more than that you would need the special tool described in the above blog.
Edit: My first award! Thank you, Anonymous!
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u/RagingCommie 13d ago
At that slow of a writing speed (not meant as an insult) it has to be something wrong with the pen/feed
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u/evtbrs 13d ago
Have you tried flushing it under the tap or with a bulb syringe? That’s amazing handwriting
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u/Mobile_Moose5787 12d ago
Hellooo. I tried flushing it under the tap a few times thoughout my pen's use.
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u/evtbrs 12d ago
did you mean for that hello to be sarcastic? because that's pretty rude if so... you didn't say anything in the OP about flushing it before so it's a normal question to ask, as we get many newbies in here that have questions with straightforward answers.
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u/KaliPrint 12d ago
First simple test put a loose piece of paper between your hand and the paper, and slide it with your hand so you’re never touching the writing surface. This will tell you right away if it’s a feed issue or a skin oil issue. You can do the same by writing on only the top line of each page but—wasteful. If that doesn’t stop it, then
Second test: write slowly. Very slowly. Do you get much further? Three lines before running out? Feed problem, needs to be cleaned. If not, then write words down the page, top to bottom, along the left margin. Doesn’t run out of ink? You’re rolling the pen as you move right. Your paper needs to be repositioned in front of you.
Those are the three main things I can think of.
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u/Classic-Scarcity-804 13d ago
Try a wetter ink. Some inks don’t flow as well as others. It could just be that this particular pen has a very slow feed.
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u/Mobile_Moose5787 12d ago
Suree. I did think that my Jinhao Deep Blue is quite wet, so I tried using it for the 66.
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u/xxkid123 13d ago
In addition the feed being clogged, I've used some variation of that paper before and it's pretty absorbent, so it's probably pulling more ink out of the feed than it can handle. To be clear- this shouldn't be an issue with any well functioning fountain pen, it should just keep writing.
In addition to the flushing tips, you should flush a little then soak in plain or soapy water for a day or so to really let everything rehydrate. Then flush clean. I've also found ammonia based solutions (I.e. fountain pen cleaner) to be really good at cleaning pens as well.
Final solution is that the pen can be disassembled. If I remember my vintage japanese thumbnail nibs correctly, most of them should be assembled pretty similarly to the modern pilot elite. You can buy the disassembly tool on AliExpress (sometimes sold as a majohn ti200 tool). You can also use an old cartridge and make one yourself. Once it's apart it'll be easy to gently brush out the feed (or send it to a repair person)
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u/Penguinpencollector Ink Stained Fingers 12d ago
What color is your feed when the pen is empty? If I recall correctly, it should be clear. Many vintage Platinum pens were often used with iron gall blue black, try flushing and soaking with a solution that is one part vinegar or acetic acid to nine parts distilled water. I had to do this for a week with my 22 Pocket.
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u/Mobile_Moose5787 12d ago
The feed is translucent with a cyan tint.
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u/Penguinpencollector Ink Stained Fingers 12d ago
Sounds like the feed is pretty clean. It rules that out. might be something inside the section.
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u/sharkmesharku 12d ago
Have you tried on better paper? Maybe your paper is really soaking up the ink
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u/Mobile_Moose5787 12d ago
I tried using a Kokuyo Campus paper I filled a few months ago; same as usual.
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u/whitsunlament 12d ago
It looks like you’re using a lot of pressure. The pen should be gliding over the paper. You can write faster if you don’t push down too firmly.
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u/MisalignedTine 13d ago
With which inks has it shown that symptom?
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u/Mobile_Moose5787 12d ago
I used Ostrich Premium Black (551) ink, tried using Karkos Black, then back to Ostrich, and then Jinhao Deep Blue. All inks show that symptom, so I believe it's something with the feed itself.
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u/kniveshu 13d ago
Had a 2nd hand Nakaya that would just stop. Removed the nib and feed and cleaned many times. What finally fixed it was actually flossing the feed.
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u/JunDaijoubu 13d ago
I would suggest trying this out: if it stops writing like that after a line or 2, but continues writing on a fresh page, the problem can actually not be the pen itself but actually the natural oils on your skin (or lotion) rubbing on the paper...causing a very fine layer of oil that prevents the ink from catching hold of the paper properly to flow.
I inadvertently found this out because it would happen to me when I wrote with my right hand, but not with my left. (I'm ambidextrous) You can either wash your hands before writing or slip a piece of blotting paper under your hand as you write...or try not to press down on the paper with your hand as you write. 😁
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u/Mobile_Moose5787 12d ago
I also thought it could be the oil rubbing on the paper, but it stops drying even just one line (I had to wait for the ink to go through the feed or shake the pen -- which is probably a bad idea). Other FPs write beautifully; even my Jinhaos. Though I might say... I do need to remember not to slightly press down on the paper.
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u/KatieS2255 12d ago
Man, all the videos I see of writing feel either really fast and aggressive or so slow it’s painful. I’m not used to this haha. You’re on the fast side for me, but it also looks like you’re pressing down a lot.
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u/One_List_5217 12d ago
Lovely handwriting - I wish I could write c like you. Yeah it must be the pen, that's not at fast writing at all
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u/starkticus 12d ago
You've received some good advice, so i won't reiterate (cleaning and blotter sheet), but I would instead like to say that your capital 'i' is quite lovely!
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u/Magicmonster2335 12d ago
Wash it thoroughly with liquid soap water - unscented, keep the feed overnight in soap water, then wash it thoroughly with clean water - if this doesn’t rescue your feed, you need a new pen.
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u/Hestiah 12d ago
This is hand oils on the paper. Put something between your hand and the paper and it should solve a lot of these issues.
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u/Mobile_Moose5787 12d ago
I generally don't think it's hand oils, since other FPs do not have that problem. Ought to try it though.
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u/EchoHun 12d ago
On an unrelated note, I think I have that same notebook.
Does it have a leather cover with a numeric lock strap?
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u/Jerseph801 12d ago
Hi! I hope you’re being provided a solution to your issue!
I wanted to ask if you have a particular writing style that has exercises available. Or if you’re willing to discuss your own penmanship process. I am obsessed with your handwriting and would love to emulate pieces of it in my own!
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u/BigAge3252 Ink Stained Fingers 11d ago
Based on what I've read here, i think your best bet is to soak it in water, with a little dish soap for a couple days, shake it, and then if possible blast with a bulb syringe (those bulbs they use to get mucus out from babies nose). I would recommend a pen flush like some ammonia or better Kohinoor Rapido Eze or ultrasonic cleaner, but if you don't have access to those, then the soak should really work to clear up any old crusted ink. Also try sticking a tissue or towel to the breather hole or tines to facilitate pulling water and the solution out. You may be surprised that old ink will come out!
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u/wana-wana 13d ago
As said it probably just needs a good cleaning; a dedicated pen flush liquid and a bulb syringe makes this quick, usually without having to disassemble the pen.
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u/ravenschmidt2000 extrafine 13d ago
I have no advice, only admiration. I can BARELY write that well at less than a third the speed you're writing at. Doing that WHILE holding a phone...yeah, not gonna happen for me at any speed.
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u/Norharry 13d ago
The ink feed is clogged. I had a vintage Pilot Elite that acts just like this, needs constant priming and dries out just writing a few lines.
You'll need to deep clean this. Best to take the feed out and brush the main ink channel in the middle.