Monoc FAQ

--------------Instruction Set V1.0--------------

Hey Congrats on your Monoc! Big day for you, and for us! We wrote a rough draft of an instruction set that will eventually become a video with online FAQ, but for now, enjoy this long format instruction set.

Inking Methods- Please review!
·         Converter- Fill from the front of the nib using the supplied converter. Blot the excess ink and you are ready to write! This is the preferred method of filling as it fully “primes” the feed with ink
·         Cartridge- Load the cartridge as you would any cartridge pen. See our youtube if you are having trouble with that! Get the ink going by swirling pen lightly around with the nib down.  Important! The Monoc feed needs to be primed before it regulates effectively. This is due to the feed being wrapped by the nib. Loading a cartridge from the back does not automatically prime the feed. This can be done using a few simple steps. Once the pen cartridge is flowing and writing, you may see a small droplet forming between the tip of the feed and tip of nib. When you see this, rotate the pen nib up which will cause that ink to flow back into the feed. Wait 5 seconds with it nib up. Repeat 3 times and then blot the nib and feed (be sure to blot the nib tip under the feed where the droplet forms). Test write a bit (10 seconds writing) and if another droplet forms, the feed is still not primed. Repeat the 3X rotation and then blot the nib once more. The feed will stabilize and regulate phenomenally once primed! If you are still getting droplets, check to make sure the cartridge is installed correctly, as a mis-install can cause air to go into the cartridge from the back of the pen and cause leaking.
·         Eyedropper- This will write very wet. Only eyedropper in our engineered plastics pens and do not use any of our P6 or metal bodied models, it will not work. Follow our eyedropper instructions on our youtube. Take care to keep the nib tip up in this filling configuration as the excess ink capacity creates a wetter feed that can shake ink our and can cause ink to siphon out of the pen and make a mess. The feed must be primed when the pen is eyedroppered. Read the above on Cartridges to understand how to do that.

Compatible Inks
·         Since we made this nib/feed from titanium and ultem, (both chemically resistant materials) this pen should be able to be used with a wide range of inks. Feel free to experiment and let us know what you find works well or not so well!
·         This being said, we don’t know what the chemical composition is of all the inks that are out there so we cannot insure that the nib will not get damaged by some random crazy ink that’s made in someone’s basement somewhere
·         Please only use inks that are designed for fountain pens, not india ink or other types of inks
·         Inks with shimmer particles can cause clogging in the nib/feed and can result in a pen that no longer performs optimally. We recommend strongly against using shimmer inks in this pen and are not responsible for damaged nibs associated with shimmer inks.
·         If you are changing ink brands or colors we advise you to clean the pen between inking

Un-capping the pen
·         Best to uncap the pen tip up or horizontal. Uncapping the pen tip down can cause the pen to write very wet or oversaturate the feed as the uncapping creates a small vacuum that can pull ink down into the feed.

Writing
·         Though it is made from Titanium, the Monoc nib is not a flex nib. Please do not attempt to flex the nib. When using it for the first time, approach cautiously and feel it out. Use light pressure and slowly explore the writing surface. The nibs should have a light graphite like feedback and wonderful feel. Try it at different angles to see how the Monoc performs with its unique shape (you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the line weight variations!)

Storage/Travel
·         The Monoc can be stored inked for quite some time due to the O-rings inside the Schon DSGN Pen cap. The pen should be cleaned if it will not be used for 3 weeks.
·         It is best to keep the pen nib up when in transit or travel. 

Cleaning
·         Use the provided syringe that has been modified to fit the Monoc to flush the nib. You will need to unscrew the Monoc from the pen to use the syringe. Take care to not twist the feed when removing the nib. Water is fine, pen flush is fine if followed by water (do not use pen flush and leave it in the pen).
·         If the nib is particularly dirty it can soak overnight or even be cleaned using isopropyl alcohol flush (ultem is resistant to the alcohol!). Please do this outside of the grip section (the nib unscrews)
·         If the nib has a leak from the back of the pen and there is ink between the grip section and the nib, this can cause binding. Unthread the nib and clean the grip and nib until the are free of ink and apply a little silicone grease to the threads before reassembly. 
·         Do not attempt to remove the feed to clean the nib. This can cause a bunch of issues if done incorrectly. 

Damages to the nib/repairs
·         Let us know if you drop it. We’ll have to charge you for the repair, but not as much as if you try to fix it yourself or if someone unqualified makes a go at it. Let us take the first pass, even if you love your nibmeister, this is a special product that requires different tools when damaged to recover.

Modifications to the nib
·         The Monoc is a fantastic platform for modifications by nibsmiths. It has a lot of tip and can be modified into many styles of writing. However, if a nibsmith damages the pen it is between you and nibmeister and not our responsibility. Damages during modification are not covered by Schon DSGN. We may be able to fix it, but we’ll have to look to see what’s up first and then we'll quote the repair. 

Thank you all for your support of this project. I am so excited to have these out into the world. Enjoy the pens, let us know what you think and please help us spread the word about this epic project!