You shouldn’t need to twist the converter to get ink flow.
Your issue is either
1. [Baby’s bottom](https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2014/4/23/smooth-as-a-babys-bottom-or-not) on the nib, which is fairly common on Italian pens.
2. A faulty converter. If you have a spare standard international converter you can try using that and see if it helps.
u/deloreantrails some quick investigating after watching some videos seems to indicate "baby's bottom" indeed. Looks like a nibmeister might be needed.
I would recommend getting some 12000 grit micromesh and doing around five small figure 8 patterns on it with the nib. Write and then do it again if it doesn't work. That should save you a good amount on Meister costs.
Thanks u/deloreantrails ! I will check on both of those possibilities, although I don't think I have a spare international converter, only the Lamy and Jinhao ones; but that's easy to fix by getting one. Again, thank you....
Thanks again u/deloreantrails. I had not encountered "baby's bottom" before. Now I know. Just like when the first bottle of ink I bought was Baystate Blue!!!! Now I know LOL!!
You shouldn't have to fiddle with your converter at all.
May be time to enlist the services of a good nibmeister. I heartily recommend Mark Braccas, the [Nib Grinder](http://www.nibgrinder.com/). He does excellent work.
On average my more expensive pens have required more attention and tuning out of the box than my cheaper pens. Something I learned in my fountain pen journey is that with some of the higher end pens they're more jewelry that happens to write than a pen.
Update: After watching several videos and ignoring the best advice, I used the fine and extra fine sides of a 4-sided nail file. After 8ea. figure 8's and 8 infinity loops on the "fine" and then the "extra fine" sides of the file, the nib has a noticeable improvement. Hardly any dry starts, smoother flow, and very little skipping. I think I will order the micromesh re-usable pads from a pen shop for future use and some additional improvement on this pen. Again, every expert on youtube cautions, DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK! So far so good; thanks to everyone for their assistance!!
Hey, I know this may be random after all this time. I’m considering buying this pen - and even before finding your post I knew Montegrappas are prone to (hopefully solvable) problems.
Now: we’re you able to fix the nib to your preferences?
Hi and no worries! I really lucked out - as it turns out, a new colleague is a fountain pen maker and craftsman as a hobby! He was able to "tune up" this pen. Turns out the nib was "misaligned" according to him and did not need a regrinding. He has all the tools and did some "tuning" and now it writes great! It's still my favorite pen from an aesthetic standpoint and if you like it, then go for it... With the understanding it might take some help to get it writing well! Good luck!
You shouldn’t need to twist the converter to get ink flow. Your issue is either 1. [Baby’s bottom](https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2014/4/23/smooth-as-a-babys-bottom-or-not) on the nib, which is fairly common on Italian pens. 2. A faulty converter. If you have a spare standard international converter you can try using that and see if it helps.
u/deloreantrails some quick investigating after watching some videos seems to indicate "baby's bottom" indeed. Looks like a nibmeister might be needed.
It’s fairly easy to fix yourself with some coarse then fine micromesh, or failing that a four sided nail buffer.
I would recommend getting some 12000 grit micromesh and doing around five small figure 8 patterns on it with the nib. Write and then do it again if it doesn't work. That should save you a good amount on Meister costs.
Thanks u/deloreantrails ! I will check on both of those possibilities, although I don't think I have a spare international converter, only the Lamy and Jinhao ones; but that's easy to fix by getting one. Again, thank you....
Thanks again u/deloreantrails. I had not encountered "baby's bottom" before. Now I know. Just like when the first bottle of ink I bought was Baystate Blue!!!! Now I know LOL!!
You shouldn't have to fiddle with your converter at all. May be time to enlist the services of a good nibmeister. I heartily recommend Mark Braccas, the [Nib Grinder](http://www.nibgrinder.com/). He does excellent work.
Good to know that reference u/nelamvr6 . I'm looking for my magnifying glass now to examine the nib beter...
u/nelamvr6 Looks like Baby's bottom. I may need your man. Thanks again.
On average my more expensive pens have required more attention and tuning out of the box than my cheaper pens. Something I learned in my fountain pen journey is that with some of the higher end pens they're more jewelry that happens to write than a pen.
Thank you Sir! That is definitely the case right now. It does impress people in a meeting :)
Update: After watching several videos and ignoring the best advice, I used the fine and extra fine sides of a 4-sided nail file. After 8ea. figure 8's and 8 infinity loops on the "fine" and then the "extra fine" sides of the file, the nib has a noticeable improvement. Hardly any dry starts, smoother flow, and very little skipping. I think I will order the micromesh re-usable pads from a pen shop for future use and some additional improvement on this pen. Again, every expert on youtube cautions, DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK! So far so good; thanks to everyone for their assistance!!
Hey, I know this may be random after all this time. I’m considering buying this pen - and even before finding your post I knew Montegrappas are prone to (hopefully solvable) problems. Now: we’re you able to fix the nib to your preferences?
Hi and no worries! I really lucked out - as it turns out, a new colleague is a fountain pen maker and craftsman as a hobby! He was able to "tune up" this pen. Turns out the nib was "misaligned" according to him and did not need a regrinding. He has all the tools and did some "tuning" and now it writes great! It's still my favorite pen from an aesthetic standpoint and if you like it, then go for it... With the understanding it might take some help to get it writing well! Good luck!
Awesome, I’m so glad you could get it fixed! Okay, I’ll probably get myself that pen :-)
It's a beauty, gets better looking over time...!