Pen Care

Fountain Pen Care

Ink
Fountain pens should never be used with India ink or similar inks. These inks have very high solids content and will clog a fountain pen. Always use inks made solely for fountain pens.

Preparing a new fountain pen for use
Whether you are using an ink cartridge or a pump, the fountain pen must first be primed with ink.

Fountain Pen Cartridges
Insert the open end of the cartridge firmly onto the nipple, inside the pen. Now, you must prime the pen. There are two methods used to prime a pen. The first is to squeeze the cartridge so ink comes out of the tip of the nib. Clean the nib and under the feed with a tissue; write a few words to test the pen. It should write but if not, squeeze again but harder.

The second method is to screw on the pen the section, nib and feed assembly and then quickly snap the pen down hard so ink comes out the front of the nib. Clean the ink from the nib and under the feed with a tissue. Test and repeat if the pen does not write.

Fountain Pump
Insert the open end of the pump firmly onto the nipple inside the pen. Turn the black ridged piston handle very gently counter clockwise until the piston is at the bottom (open end) of the pump. Dip the nib entirely into your inkbottle and then turn the piston handle clock wise to draw the ink up into the pump. Clean the nib and bottom of the feed with tissue paper. The pen is now automatically primed and writing can begin

Pen Cleaning
Your handmade fountain pen requires regular maintenance to keep in good condition. Fountain pens use ink that needs to flow from the ink reservoir to the nib.

Most problems with fountain pens stem from dried ink that gets in the path of the ink flow. The key to a well-performing fountain pen is to regularly clean these parts to keep them in good working order.

Use warm distilled water, if possible, instead of tap water. Distilled water does not contain minerals and other ingredients that can build up and clog the pen over time. Hot water should not be used as it could damage the pen. The front part of the pen (barrel) will unscrew from the body so that it can be easily cleaned. Make sure it is dry before reassembly.

Cleaning the Nib
You can gently clean the pen’s nib with warm distilled water and a soft cloth. Be careful not to damage the nib while cleaning it.

Cleaning the Pump
The ink pump, if used instead of a cartridge, holds the ink. It should be cleaned separately and can be cleaned with water by flushing it out several times until the water runs clear and clean.

Care of your Pen
Very hot or cold environments will damage your pen by causing the ink to dry out, the wood or acrylic body material to expand or shrink and damage the finish. Take care not to drop your pen as the materials can chip or break.

Pens should be used, not stored away in a drawer. This is especially true for rollerball and fountain pens whose ink will dry out over time if not used.

Fountain pens should not be shared with others, as the nib wears according to your personal pattern and style of writing.

When not in use, the best way to store a fountain pen is in the horizontal position.

The metal plating on your pen may be cleaned with a damp soft cloth. Never use any abrasives.

If your pen is made of Resins, or Acrylics, then to clean your pen you only need to use a fine vehicle or plastic polish. Rub a little on the pen, let it haze over and polish with a fine cloth.

If your pen is made of wood then use a good quality wood furniture paste wax using a soft cloth to buff up the wax. This will keep the shine looking nice and remove fine scratches as well.