High-quality fountain pens can last for many years but are not likely to do so if you treat it the same way you do a disposable pen from the grocery store. However, with a little bit of TLC, you can keep your favorite fountain pen in tip-top shape. Following the advice of our pen enthusiasts below can set you on the right track to caring for your pen collection.
Lucas Travis
Lucas Travis is the founder of Inboard Skate and a thrill-seeker who loves to write about his expertise, bikes, skateboards, scooters, and rollerskates.
Maintaining Your Fountain Pen
Regular Cleaning
Simply cleaning [your pen] is different from cleaning it regularly and properly. Even the smallest parts of a fountain pen are important. There are many brands and types of fountain pens, and you should be aware of their differences because you do not want yours over-cleaned or not cleaned enough.
On average, fountain pens need cleaning monthly. You must keep water away from the pen’s body. Just wash its tip and its cartridge section. Remember to use cool tap water. Dry the nib and feeder with a clean cloth right after. The process does not need to be very long to ensure it is thoroughly done. You just need to [clean] it regularly, and your fountain pen can last a very long time.
Choose Your Paper Carefully
It is not only the cleaning process of the pen that matters but also the paper that you use with it. Some papers do not absorb ink properly (mostly the chemically treated ones). When fountain pens are used on them, the ink that is supposed to be absorbed collects in the nib, which then clogs the feeder. This can cause damage to your fountain pen if not immediately stopped. If your pen is not working after using treated paper, it is vital you wipe the nib with a clean cloth or immediately wash the pen with tap water if it does not work.
Regularly Clean Your Nib
To maintain your fountain pen, you have to make sure to regularly clean your nib by blowing on it lightly. Ink can build up over time, which makes it harder to clean. Diluted water with no minerals is great to clean the pen and to keep it looking new with minimal deterioration.
3 Tips for Taking Good Care of Fountain Pen
To make a fountain pen last a lifetime, you have to take great care of it.
- Do not store the ink in the pen for a long period.
- The pen should be kept in a dry place. Keep it in a place where the temperature is moderate and where it is not affected by ultraviolet (UV) light, such as in your study room.
- The fountain pen nib should be cleaned at regular intervals.
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1 comment
T. Cain
All that’s necessary for good pen maintenance is to use appropriate ink and flush pens with distilled water when changing inks or when pens have been left unused for more than a week or two. Ink choice is an extremely important factor in pen maintenance because ink with particulates (sheening or shimmer inks), highly alkaline or acidic inks, and iron gall inks can all destroy delicate pen feeds over time. I enjoy using a few of these myself but reserve them for less expensive pens that have no sentimental value. Using inks that are close to pH-neutral, don’t stain, and lubricate well, in conjunction with regular cleaning, is the best and easiest way to extend the life of a prized pen.
Blowing on the nib shouldn’t be necessary and could result in spattering ink on your writing surface, clothes, or face. Have a paper towel standing by during writing sessions. If your nib dries, gently touch the nib to the paper towel until capillary action draws the ink out again. If that doesn’t work, you have a clog and should flush the pen with distilled water.
All that’s necessary for good pen maintenance is to use appropriate ink and flush pens with distilled water when changing inks or when pens have been left unused for more than a week or two. Ink choice is an extremely important factor in pen maintenance because ink with particulates (sheening or shimmer inks), highly alkaline or acidic inks, and iron gall inks can all destroy delicate pen feeds over time. I enjoy using a few of these myself but reserve them for less expensive pens that have no sentimental value. Using inks that are close to pH-neutral, don’t stain, and lubricate well, in conjunction with regular cleaning, is the best and easiest way to extend the life of a prized pen.
Blowing on the nib shouldn’t be necessary and could result in spattering ink on your writing surface, clothes, or face. Have a paper towel standing by during writing sessions. If your nib dries, gently touch the nib to the paper towel until capillary action draws the ink out again. If that doesn’t work, you have a clog and should flush the pen with distilled water.