The surface electric field distribution along the axis of a wetted needle type liquid metal ion source has been determined by numerical methods and is shown to exhibit a secondary maximum at the intersection of the cylindrical and conical sections. It is shown that the volume flow rate of the liquid metal film along the cylindrical portion of the emitter is adequate to resupply the ionized portion at the needle apex. However, a pressure minimum in the liquid film, which decreases with increasing apex cone angle, occurs at the cone/cylinder intersection and the pressure gradient formed on the conical section of the emitter opposes flow to the apex region. It is shown that, by chemically roughening the conical section of the emitter, liquid film flow via microcapillary action occurs in such a way as to provide a low flow impedance to the apex.