About feeds and flow
The nib seems like the most important part of a fountain pen, but there are several other parts that are just as important. One of these parts is call the ink feed located under the nib. The feed controls the flow of ink from the ink reservoir inside the pen to the tip of the nib by constraining two controlling the flow of air back into the pen to compensate for the lost ink. Plug up the air flow and you'll never get any ink out of the pen. Open up the air flow, and ink will flow out uncontrollably. The feed is really an "ink/air feed" controlling both the flow of ink out of the pen and the flow of air into the pen in a balanced fashion. That's a lot to expect from a part that doesn't adjust or move.
We provide a variety of feeds for our pens based on the way they control the air/ink flow in the pen. The feed has to be matched closely to the nib, the pen, and the flow you desire. The interface of nib to feed must be precise so ink is transferred from the feed to the nib without leaking.
You have five choices of feed for Manga G pens distributed in two types of feeds:
- Standard feeds
- F3 standard flow for standard fountain pen inks
- F4 thick flow for India ink and most paints
- Squeeze feeds
- F2 thin flow for thinner inks like walnut ink
- F3 standard flow for standard fountain pen inks
- F4 thick flow for India ink and most paints
| Standard feeds are traditional feeds shaped like a rod where the ink channel runs along the top of the feed. You can slip nibs in and out of the pen easily using this feed, but there is a slight chance that ink will leak from the feed because press-fit parts don't always seat properly. |
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| Squeeze feeds are our new improved feed model, also called over/under grip feed where you insert the nib into a slot in the front of the feed, then press the feed with nib into the front of the pen. This squeezes he top and bottom sides of the feed to press down, grip the nib and hold the nib in place while ink runs through a channel in the center of feed the nib. |  |
We think squeeze feeds are better, but we will find out what our customers think.
The standard feed F3 is shipped with each pen unless you select another feed.
For more information about feeds and feed flow, read About feeds and flow
Feed flow is not an exact science
Feeds control the flow of ink and paint based on the viscosity or "thickness" of the ink/paint. Other factors contribute to ink flow, including how quickly you draw or write, the absorption of the paper you're drawing or writing on, the warmth of your hand, the ambient air pressure, even the electrostatic charge and potentials of the inside surfaces of the pen, which can vary.
Viscosity charts
Here's a growing list of charts that people have created to describe various forms of fountain pen inks and their viscosities. This list will grow over time, and will provide more information about fountain pen inks.