Care for your Instruments
Why a Fountain Pen?
Many people wonder why they should use a fountain pen. Fountain pens offer an expression to a person's handwriting. Through a change in pressure of the pen to the paper, you can achieve a variety of lines, from thick to thin. The ballpoint and roller ball will not give you this variety of line.
Many people also believe that fountain pens improve their penmanship. The basic nature of a fountain pen forces the user to write a little more slowly, hence creating neater, more legible handwriting.
Unlike a ballpoint or roller ball pen, a fountain pen allows for more choices when it comes to ink colours and shades. With a ballpoint or roller ball, blue is blue and black is black. That is not the case with fountain pen ink.
Writing With a Fountain Pen
The proper manner to hold a fountain pen is in the triangle created by your first two fingers and your thumb. The nib of the pen should be up, so that you may see the engraving (if any) on the nib; the black portion of the nib (the feed) should be down. The fountain pen nib is a piece of metal, steel, gold or titanium that is split down the centre. On the underside of the nib, on both pieces of the split, is a half ball of iridium. If the fountain pen is held properly, both tines of the nib should hit the paper at the same time, allowing for a smooth feel and a consistent flow of ink.
There are two different ways to handle the cap of a fountain pen. Probably the most common manner is to post the cap on the back of the pen, aligning the clip with the nib. If the pen is held properly, the clip will be out of the way of your hand, and the cap will help with the balance of the pen in your hand. If the fountain pen feels uncomfortable in the hand, you may decide to use the cap in the "European" style, setting the cap on the desk as you write. Rather than setting the cap down, many people may decide to hold it in their none-writing hand.
Picking a Bottled Ink
Ink should always be chosen by colour preference, not by brand. You should only use ink that is designed for fountain pens, and you should NEVER use India ink. India ink contains a lacquer that will seize the mechanism in a fountain pen and cause permanent and irreversible damage. If you choose to use bright coloured inks, such as pinks, purples, and reds, use them in a dedicated pen. In other words, pick a pen and use that colour only. Bright coloured inks have the tendency to stain the barrels and converters of fountain pens.
Some ink varieties to bear in mind would include:
Aurora - Black or Blue
Private Reserve - Lake Placid Blue, Midnight Blues, or Fiesta Red
Waterman - Purple or South Seas Blue
These ink choices are consistently less problematic and require low maintenance.
Filling A Fountain Pen
Cartridge
Cartridges for fountain pens come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some brands, such as Parker, Waterman, Aurora and Lamy use full-sized cartridges, cartridges that fill the entire barrel of the pen. Most other fountain pen brands including Mont Blanc, Cross, Visconti and Delta, use mini cartridges. When using a full-sized pen that requires a mini cartridge, you should drop one cartridge, narrow side down, into the barrel, and plug the other cartridge into the nib. This piggy-back system serves two purposes: you have a spare cartridge when your pierced cartridge runs out, and it creates a snug fit for the cartridge you are using.
Converter or Piston
A pen that fills from a bottle requires a little more care than a cartridge pen; however, it is not as intimidating as most people would think. Most converters operate using a piston system. This requires a knob to be turned counter-clockwise to move the piston forward, immersing the entire nib into a bottle of ink, and then turning the knob clockwise to draw the ink. Once the converter or reservoir is filled, you should lift the nib out of the ink, turn the piston knob counter-clockwise to bleed out two or three drops, turn the pen nib up, and then turn the know clockwise again. Bleeding the pen will allow for the normal expansion of liquid that occurs with a fountain pen. when cleaning the nib after filling your fountain pen, you should always use a paper towel. You never want to use tissue or cotton clothes, as they will leave lint in your nib, and you may experience ink flow inconsistencies.
Clean Up
Your Fountain Pen
Remove the Nib from the feed and section. Place all parts including cap in an ultrasonic cleaner. Then take the filling system apart and lubricate all moving parts. Brush clean the feed and then reassemble the pen taking care to set the nib square on the feed.
Hint: By leaving the cap on the back of the pen and cleaning it last, you can use it as a guide to reposition the nib in its original Slot or key.
Note: Most modern converters and pistons can be dissembled with the right tools and "know how." This does not include a hammer.
Best:
Use an ultrasonic machine (jewellery cleaner) with a mix of three parts water to one part sudsy ammonia. Do not let the water get hot. Do not clean any part of the pen that is celluloid in this solution. It is advisable to rinse before and after with cool tap water. Allow all parts that will come in contact with ink to complete dry.
Hint: In a pinch Windex with Ammonia works as a cleaning solution straight out of the bottle.
Note: We have seen jewellery cleaners in stores for as little as £10.00.
Second Best
Cleaning your Fountain Pen
There is a regular monthly maintenance procedure that you should follow with your fountain pen. It is recommended that you flush your fountain pen with cool, clear water on a monthly basis. The easiest way to flush a pen that has a converter or piston is to draw clear water as you would ink, expel the water, and repeat this until the water coming out of your pen is clear. It is a repetitive process that may take a little while, but it is necessary. You should also do the flush whenever you change ink colours or brands. You can also remove the converter clean that part on its own by filling and emptying, Then run cool water from the tap through the back of the pen blowing through it until the ink colour is gone. Remember to blow dry or air-dry the nib section and converter completely.
Hint: When you blow through the pen keep your head deep in the sink to avoid splatter.
If the water you expel from the fountain pen doesn't lose colour after persistent flushing, and your pen and it is NOT made of celluloid, you may use a mix of 3:1 solution of water to sudsy ammonia Fountain pen ink is ammonia soluble and this solution will break down any dried ink that cannot be loosened with plain water. Be advised: Celluloid is also ammonia soluble, so DO NOT use this solution if you pen is celluloid. When in doubt, just use the water.
Hint: Clean out the cap of the pen too, If you don't and ink is present, it might flow down on the nib and make the pen appear to be leaking even if the ink appears to be dry on the inside of the cap. Moisture (evaporation) from the ink in the pen will hydrate the ink in the cap after filling and capping.
Your Hands
When it comes to getting ink on your hands, there are several options that you have to remove it. Amodex is a product available on the market that will remove fountain pen ink from skin and many fabrics. It has a lotion consistency that is gentle on your skin, and works like a dream! Soap and water is always an acceptable way to remove ink from hands. It may require some scrubbing, depending on the water resistance of the ink. In a pinch, when neither Amodex nor a sink are available, spritzing your hands with a little Windex will also help to remove the ink. As previously mentioned, fountain pen ink is ammonia soluble, and Windex has enough ammonia to remove the ink without having other solvents that would damage your hands.
Fountain Pen Storage
Filled fountain pens should always be stored nib up, as they would be in a shirt pocket. You should never store a fountain pen nib down...GRAVITY WORKS. Filled fountain pens should never be stored for an extended period of time. When you fill a pen, consider it a commitment to use it. Storing a pen that is filled with ink could cause the ink to dry in the pen, and create flow problems and possible piston damage.
If you plan on storing your fountain pen for an extended period of time, you should always empty the pen and flush it before putting it away. This will ensure that the barrel is clean and there is no ink inside that will lock the piston and create a problem that may need a professional repair.
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Wooden Pen Care Your New Pen is made from natural Wood. As with any fine instrument made from wood some care must be taken to maintain the beauty and the structural integrity of this Handmade Classic. DO NOT leave your pen in the car. The temperature extremes experienced in a car can damage or destroy your writing instrument. Treat it as you would any fine, delicate instrument. Although it can withstand a lifetime of use it will not tolerate abuse. DO NOT use cleaning fluids or any abrasive substance (car wax) on any part of your new writing instrument. The fluids and/or abrasives will damage fine finish. Do care for your writing instrument the way you would any fine wooden product. Protect it with a light coat of good furniture paste wax designed for wooden products. After proper drying buff with a soft, clean cloth. Do keep your pen from extremes of heat and cold. Both are enemies of wood. Some woods are very temperature sensitive and may split or develop cracks from extremes of heat and cold. Protect it and it will deliver years of service. Do use your pen. It is designed to be written with not placed in a drawer. |
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Resin Pen Care The Acrylics shown in the products area are man made products. These materials are more tolerant to extreme heat & cold and therefore more stable in these conditions. However DO NOT drop your pen, these materials are more brittle and can crack or chip if dropped. Do use plastic polish to revive the luster, also a quality-rubbing compound can buff out light scratches. |
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Fountain Pen Care Do not press hard when writing, as this will this will damage the nib. A good fountain pen should glide effortlessly across paper Periodically flush it out, filling it with cool water and emptying it a few times. Doing this once every few months will keep dried ink from building up and interfering with ink flow. Do not use hot water or solvents. Use only inks intended for fountain pens Carry your pen nib upwards and you should have no trouble with leakage. Keep your pen full of ink, since ink flow can become irregular if the ink chamber is close to empty. 95% of "leaky" pens can be cured by the above two precautions! DO NOT soak any part of your pen other than the nib assembly! Pens are designed to hold liquids, not to be immersed in them. If ink gets into the inside of the cap, wipe it out with a damp cotton swab. Dunking the entire cap (or the entire barrel) into water is unnecessary and may harm your pen. If your pen is clogged with dried ink, soak it by placing it nib-down in only enough water to cover the nib and the lower part of the section, leaving the barrel dry. When placing the cap on the end of the barrel, set it in place gently, like putting on a hat. Pressing the cap on the end of the barrel in a rough manner will most likely cause damage to the wood or acrylic body. If your pen has a screw end on the barrel, just place the cap on lightly... you do not want to screw the cap on either the body end or the nib end tightly. |
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More Fountain Pen Tips § Non-permanent ink is the easiest on your pen. If you desire to use permanent ink, weekly washing and cleaning of your pen is absolutely necessary. Coloured ink (other than blue, blue-black or black) is hard on fountain pens. They require frequent cleaning to prevent clogging your pen’s feed. Use good quality ink in your pen. The better quality inks are made to keep your pen writing smoothly. NEVER drop, throw or otherwise bang your pen around. It is a fine instrument, not a dart. § DO NOT loan your pen to someone else, especially if they are opposite handed to you. Your pen’s nib breaks in to your specific handwriting style. Use of your pen by someone else will tweak the nib differently and the pen will not perform well for you. (This point is debated by many pen aficionados). § Clean, rinse the nib and feed and flush the pen with clear, baby bottle warm water monthly. If your pen will be unused for a protracted period of time (two weeks or more), clean it, let it air dry and store it empty. § When flying with your pen, it is highly advisable to empty it first. The change in atmospheric pressure, even in a pressurized cabin, can cause your pen to leak ink all over everything! § After filling your pen, wipe the lower portions that have been immersed in ink with a soft fabric. Using facial tissue can leave fibers on the nib that will cause smearing. § Occasionally, you can use a cloth dampened with a mild dish soap solution to clean skin oils and other dirt from the outside of your pen. Be sure to rinse it thoroughly, and then dry it with a soft cloth. Any time you clean the nib and feed you should allow it to air dry. § A fountain pen should not be gripped. It should be held lightly. NO pressure should be exerted on the pen while writing. The pen should be allowed to glide smoothly across the paper. § A good quality, smooth finish paper (such as that your bank checks are printed on) should be used. If the paper is too soft, the nib may catch on the fibers. If it is too absorbent, the writing quality can be fuzzy and look smeared. Coated papers will not absorb ink and may cause the nib to become clogged.
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But more importantly enjoy your fine writing instruments
and use them everyday,
make yourself feel important because you are important. care of your instruments, care of your fountain pens, maintain your fountain pens, repair your fountain pen
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