Care for your Writing Instrument

Fountain Pen Care

The acrylic and ebonite pens are created from man-made products.
 
Try not to leave your pen in a hot car.  This is especially true of ebonite.

Ebonite should not be left out in the sun.

Do not drop your pen.  These materials can be brittle and may crack or chip if dropped.

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.  NOT india ink.  India ink has too high of a solids content, and will clog a fountain pen.

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! 

It is OK to soak my pens if you have some ink that leaks into the cap, or on within the pen  barrel.  After soaking, be sure to insert a paper towel or Q-tip to get the water out.

Non-permanent ink is the easiest on your pen. If you desire to use permanent ink, weekly washing and cleaning of your pen is recommended.  Colored ink (other than blue, blue-black or black) is harder on fountain pens. They require frequent cleaning to prevent clogging your pen’s feed.  Use a good quality ink in your pen.  The better quality inks are made to keep your pen writing smoothly.  My personal preference is Private Reserve, which I sell on the Private Reserve page.

Clean and rinse the nib and feed and flush the pen with clear, baby bottle warm water monthly. If your pen will be unused for an extended 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.

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.  I recommend Rhodia brand paper.

If your pen doesn't "start" right away (i.e., after not being used for a couple of weeks), ink has probably dried and clogged the nib and/or the feed. To start the ink flowing again, resist the urge to press down hard on the pen. Instead, wet the point of the nib with water or ink of the same color. If that doesn't work, wash the pen out.

Thanks,

Brian at Edison