BillsPenFactory
Fountain Pen Care
Before putting ink in your pen, make a series of “curly-Q’s” on a piece of brown paper bag. Do this lightly, without exerting pressure on the nib. This will break the nib into your way of writing. Now install the ink cartridge or fill the converter (see below for instructions) and write a letter to someone important to you.
DO NOT apply pressure to the nib when writing, remember, this is not a BIC. Pressure when writing will damage the nib. Your fountain pen should glide effortlessly across the paper.
Periodically flush it out (see instruction below). Doing this once every few months or when changing ink refills will keep dried ink from building up and interfering with ink flow. Do not use hot water or solvents. Do not soak any part of the pen other than the nib.
Use only high quality inks intended for fountain pens. NEVER use India ink because the solids in it, will clog the nib and feed.
Use a good quality smooth finish paper, like your bank checks. Coated paper does not absorb ink well and soft, “fuzzy” papers absorb ink too well. Both can clog the nib.
Basic Information
All of our fountain pens are offered with an optional ink pump or a standard ink cartridge prefilled with either black or blue ink. The ink pump enables you to use a variety of water based inks in a rainbow of colors.
Using an Ink Cartridge
The cartridge is the easiest to use. Simply unscrew the nib from the body of the pen and gently push the cartridge into the base of the nib. To get the ink started, gently squeeze the cartridge until a drop of ink appears at the tip of the nib. Wipe off any excess ink and replace the nib. You are now ready to write. When the ink runs out, clean the nib, as described below, and install another cartridge.
Should you decide to use the ink cartridge, remember to save your ink converter for cleaning purposes.
Using an Ink Pump
Always use fresh fountain pen ink which is less than a year old. The ink will evaporate over time and become thick and clog your pen.
Using the converter is like using an ink cartridge that you fill with ink yourself. It is very simple to do, once you know how. First, unscrew the nib from the body of the pen, then gently push the converter into the base of the nib, just like you would with an ink cartridge. Next, twist the top of the converter counter clockwise until the piston moves all the way to the base of the nib. Place the nib of the fountain pen completely in the ink well. Twist the top of the converter clockwise with the nib still in the ink well and the ink should fill the reservoir as the piston moves back up. You may get nothing but air at first, don't worry. Just bring the piston down again and repeat the process. When you have the reservoir full of ink, wipe excess ink from the nib and replace the nib on the body of the pen. You are now ready to write. When the ink runs out, clean the nib, as described below.
Cleaning
You should clean your fountain pen nib every time you refill it with ink by flushing cold water through the nib section. Never wash with hot water or alcohol. If the nib is dirty, use a solution of two-thirds cold water and one-third household ammonia. Fill the converter with the solution and flush the pen several times, then repeat with cold water to remove the solution. If the nib is clogged with ink, soak it in cold water for 24 hours. Fountain pen ink is water soluble. Allow the nib to dry thoroughly before filling with ink.
General Information
If you will not be using your pen for several weeks, empty the ink and clean the pen by flushing with cold water.
When not in use, store your fountain pen in an upright position. Storing your fountain pen on its side or in a downward position may allow the ink to dry and eventually clog your pen.
When traveling by plane, carry your fountain pen with the nib up. To prevent air pressure from forcing ink through the nib, the ink cartridge should be completely filled or left empty. An almost empty cartridge, where the amount of air is greater than the amount of ink, is more likely to leak than a full cartridge.
Remember, Do not press hard when you write. The beauty and advantage of a fountain pen is that it flows with the touch of paper. Pressing hard may result in ink flow problems.
Fountain Pen Care
Before putting ink in your pen, make a series of “curly-Q’s” on a piece of brown paper bag. Do this lightly, without exerting pressure on the nib. This will break the nib into your way of writing. Now install the ink cartridge or fill the converter (see below for instructions) and write a letter to someone important to you.
DO NOT apply pressure to the nib when writing, remember, this is not a BIC. Pressure when writing will damage the nib. Your fountain pen should glide effortlessly across the paper.
Periodically flush it out (see instruction below). Doing this once every few months or when changing ink refills will keep dried ink from building up and interfering with ink flow. Do not use hot water or solvents. Do not soak any part of the pen other than the nib.
Use only high quality inks intended for fountain pens. NEVER use India ink because the solids in it, will clog the nib and feed.
Use a good quality smooth finish paper, like your bank checks. Coated paper does not absorb ink well and soft, “fuzzy” papers absorb ink too well. Both can clog the nib.
Basic Information
All of our fountain pens are offered with an optional ink pump or a standard ink cartridge prefilled with either black or blue ink. The ink pump enables you to use a variety of water based inks in a rainbow of colors.
Using an Ink Cartridge
The cartridge is the easiest to use. Simply unscrew the nib from the body of the pen and gently push the cartridge into the base of the nib. To get the ink started, gently squeeze the cartridge until a drop of ink appears at the tip of the nib. Wipe off any excess ink and replace the nib. You are now ready to write. When the ink runs out, clean the nib, as described below, and install another cartridge.
Should you decide to use the ink cartridge, remember to save your ink converter for cleaning purposes.
Using an Ink Pump
Always use fresh fountain pen ink which is less than a year old. The ink will evaporate over time and become thick and clog your pen.
Using the converter is like using an ink cartridge that you fill with ink yourself. It is very simple to do, once you know how. First, unscrew the nib from the body of the pen, then gently push the converter into the base of the nib, just like you would with an ink cartridge. Next, twist the top of the converter counter clockwise until the piston moves all the way to the base of the nib. Place the nib of the fountain pen completely in the ink well. Twist the top of the converter clockwise with the nib still in the ink well and the ink should fill the reservoir as the piston moves back up. You may get nothing but air at first, don't worry. Just bring the piston down again and repeat the process. When you have the reservoir full of ink, wipe excess ink from the nib and replace the nib on the body of the pen. You are now ready to write. When the ink runs out, clean the nib, as described below.
Cleaning
You should clean your fountain pen nib every time you refill it with ink by flushing cold water through the nib section. Never wash with hot water or alcohol. If the nib is dirty, use a solution of two-thirds cold water and one-third household ammonia. Fill the converter with the solution and flush the pen several times, then repeat with cold water to remove the solution. If the nib is clogged with ink, soak it in cold water for 24 hours. Fountain pen ink is water soluble. Allow the nib to dry thoroughly before filling with ink.
General Information
If you will not be using your pen for several weeks, empty the ink and clean the pen by flushing with cold water.
When not in use, store your fountain pen in an upright position. Storing your fountain pen on its side or in a downward position may allow the ink to dry and eventually clog your pen.
When traveling by plane, carry your fountain pen with the nib up. To prevent air pressure from forcing ink through the nib, the ink cartridge should be completely filled or left empty. An almost empty cartridge, where the amount of air is greater than the amount of ink, is more likely to leak than a full cartridge.
Remember, Do not press hard when you write. The beauty and advantage of a fountain pen is that it flows with the touch of paper. Pressing hard may result in ink flow problems.