Ink sets a bit in Waterman cartridges.

A few years ago I bought several boxes of Waterman brown "Large Size
Standard Cartridges" because the man in the pen shop only had a few
left and thought they were going to be discontinued in the UK.

I'm still using them, but I occasionally get this strange problem: the
ink appears to be stuck in place by surface tension, i.e. the air
stays at what was the top end when I turn it over, but if I plink the
side of the cartridge the ink runs down and the air rises.

I've noticed this in unused cartridges too, although it's mainly a
problem in a pen because it stops writing (if it's been in my shirt
pocket with the nib upwards).

Has anyone else had this problem?

Adam Funk writes:

I'm still using them, but I occasionally get this strange problem: the
ink appears to be stuck in place by surface tension, i.e. the air
stays at what was the top end when I turn it over, but if I plink the
side of the cartridge the ink runs down and the air rises.

Has anyone else had this problem?

Well, Waterman uses cartridges that are just like long international
cartridges, but they are a little bit narrower. I have seen that same
problem with proprietary Parker cartridges, because they are so narrow,
too.


--
Juhapekka "naula" Tolvanen * http colon slash slash iki dot fi slash juhtolv
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Realisti, ateisti - Se ei koske sinua. Demokratia, byrokratia - Se koskee
sinua. Vapaus, veljeys, tasa-arvo - Se ei koske sinua. Kansalle virtaa. Se
sattuu ja se koskee sinua. Kärsi!" Turmion kätilöt

"Adam Funk" wrote in message
...
A few years ago I bought several boxes of Waterman brown "Large Size
Standard Cartridges" because the man in the pen shop only had a few
left and thought they were going to be discontinued in the UK.

I'm still using them, but I occasionally get this strange problem: the
ink appears to be stuck in place by surface tension, i.e. the air
stays at what was the top end when I turn it over, but if I plink the
side of the cartridge the ink runs down and the air rises.

I've noticed this in unused cartridges too, although it's mainly a
problem in a pen because it stops writing (if it's been in my shirt
pocket with the nib upwards).

Has anyone else had this problem?

Yes, some manufacturers add a tiny ball which movement within the cartridge
as you handle the pen helps break the surface adhesion.

--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

My suggestion: First try the suggestion of dish soap on the tip of a
toothpick.

My guess as to cause: As Frank of blessed memory used to say, "Ink is
just colored water!" And we know oil and water do not mix. And oil
is often used and leaked in various manufacturing uses. There might be
a bit of oil in a cartridge or converter. oil rises to the top, and,
etc.

The soap would help to break down the oil slick.

On 2006-09-13, Bluesea wrote:

I've noticed this in unused cartridges too, although it's mainly a
problem in a pen because it stops writing (if it's been in my shirt
pocket with the nib upwards).

Has anyone else had this problem?

Yes, some manufacturers add a tiny ball which movement within the cartridge
as you handle the pen helps break the surface adhesion.

Waterman cartridges have that --- the ball is the closure of the
cartridge's outlet; pressing the cartridge onto the back of the nib
assembly releases the ball into the ink.

--
Vielen Dank

On 2006-09-14, JimL wrote:

My suggestion: First try the suggestion of dish soap on the tip of a
toothpick.

My guess as to cause: As Frank of blessed memory used to say, "Ink is
just colored water!" And we know oil and water do not mix. And oil
is often used and leaked in various manufacturing uses. There might be
a bit of oil in a cartridge or converter. oil rises to the top, and,
etc.

The soap would help to break down the oil slick.

Yes, a bit of surfactant sounds good. I'll try it.

Is this probably related to the age of the cartridges?

--
He could feel the creature inside his mind and taste
its dank, ghastly breath as it breathed through his
mouth. [G.P. Taylor]

On 2006-09-13, L, not -L wrote:

This is a common problem with modern cartridges, not just Waterman. One of
two solutions usually corrects the issue:
- stick the end of a toothpick into dishwashing liquid then into the end of
a cartridge of ink; the detergent acts as a surfactant and allows the ink to
flow better

Sounds good: I'll try it and report back.

- force a small metal ball (such as the ones used to make pull chains for
lamps) in the open end of a cartridge; the ball will fall to the end of the
cartridge when the pen is tipped and the surface tension of the ink will be
broken. Some international size cartridges come with a metal ball in them
- I have one in a pen right now; the ball does seem to be about the size of
the previously mentioned pull chains or a little smaller.

As I said in my other reply, there's already a ball in the cartridge.

Thanks.

--
He could feel the creature inside his mind and taste
its dank, ghastly breath as it breathed through his
mouth. [G.P. Taylor]

On 2006-09-13, L, not -L wrote:

This is a common problem with modern cartridges, not just Waterman. One of
two solutions usually corrects the issue:
- stick the end of a toothpick into dishwashing liquid then into the end of
a cartridge of ink; the detergent acts as a surfactant and allows the ink to
flow better

Sounds good: I'll try it and report back.

- force a small metal ball (such as the ones used to make pull chains for
lamps) in the open end of a cartridge; the ball will fall to the end of the
cartridge when the pen is tipped and the surface tension of the ink will be
broken. Some international size cartridges come with a metal ball in them
- I have one in a pen right now; the ball does seem to be about the size of
the previously mentioned pull chains or a little smaller.

As I said in my other reply, there's already a ball in the cartridge.

Thanks.

--
He could feel the creature inside his mind and taste
its dank, ghastly breath as it breathed through his
mouth. [G.P. Taylor]

"Adam Funk" wrote

As I said in my other reply, there's already a ball in the cartridge.

Musket love.

--oTTo--

On Thu, 14 Sep 2006 10:38:51 -0400, "Otto Bahn"
wrote:

"Adam Funk" wrote

As I said in my other reply, there's already a ball in the cartridge.

Musket love.

Worst Captain and Tennille song EVAH!

--
If we could live without passion maybe we'd know some kind of peace, but we
would be hollow. Empty rooms, shuttered and dank. Without passion we'd be truly dead.
--David Boreanaz as Angel in "Buffy The Vampire Slayer"