Luxury fountain pens are fantastic; they provide a smoother and neater writing experience and are made with the finest materials such as silver, gold, platinum, aluminum, emerald, and so on. These precious pens offer longevity; they can last over a decade, and with proper care and maintenance, they will last forever. But sometimes we need to clean our fountain pens. In this article, we will discuss why we need to clean a fountain pen and how to do basic cleaning of a fountain pen.
Why clean a fountain pen?
A fountain pen works due to its capillary action, which is a physical phenomenon in which a liquid uses surface tension to draw itself with a narrow tube, in a fountain pen, ink flows down a channel in the feed and the nib slit on the writing surface.
Dust, paper, fibers, and flakes of dried ink can be stored in the nib and feed. That affects the capillary action, which hampers the writing. When your pen gets slow and inconsistent ink flow, scratchiness, and skips, then your fountain pen needs to be cleaned.
When should you clean the fountain pen?
Fountain pens, even if they work perfectly, should be cleaned every 4 to 8 weeks, and they should be cleaned while changing the ink, which ensures that the inks do not mix in the pen and prevents muddy colors and the possibility of inks reacting badly with each other.
How to do basic cleaning of a fountain pen
Even if your pen works fine and you are not changing inks, basic cleaning is still needed.
Disassemble the pen (Step 1)
First thing first, you need to uncap the pen. After that, open the nib section from the barrel. If the fountain pen has a cartridge or converter, then remove it from the nib section.
Rinse the section (Step 2)
You need to hold the pen under the cold running water for a few seconds; it will wash off the ink and make the next step easier and faster.
Soak the section (Step 3)
Soak the nib section in a cup of clean water; when it becomes saturated, replace the water; repeat this process until the water is completely clean; this takes at least one hour, and a highly saturated or water-resistant pen may take longer.
Dry section (Step 4)
After removing the nib section from the water, let it dry fully; wait 24 hours for the best results; leave it sitting nib-down in a small cup along with the nib wrapped in a smooth and soft cloth; or you can use a paper towel to help draw the water out of the nib section.
Reassemble the pen (Step 5)
Once you are done with drying the nib section, if your pen has a cartridge and converter, install them, and then screw the nib section back into the barrel.
How to flush a fountain pen
If you are troubled writing with your pen or you are planning to change the ink, you need to flush the pen which can solve the problem flushing means you need to pass the water through the nib until it is clean.
If your pen comes with a converter or built-in filling system, then just follow the instruction.
1. Disassemble the pen and rinse the section
You need to disassemble and rinse the pen and follow steps one and two of the basic cleaning instruction we mentioned above.
2. Flush the filing system
Put the open end of the converter or barrel in a bowl of water and wait to empty the ink chamber.
3. Partially assemble the pen
Reattach the converter or barrel to the nib section and immerse the nib in water.
4. Flush the feed
Use the converter to cycle water in and out of the pen, repeat that until no ink is left while pushing water out of the pen, and replace the water if the water is saturated with ink.
5. Soak the section
You need to soak the nib section for hours to dissolve any remaining traces of ink.
6. Dry the section and assemble the pen
Then let it dry, and assemble it in the old position.
So, guys, I hope this article has helped you clean your fountain pen. Luxury pens lasts a long time because of its durability, and these fine-writing instruments will last forever. If we take care of these pens, they will last forever.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean dried ink out of a fountain pen?
Your pen dried out because of clogging; you just need to follow some simple steps, like first flushing it with warm water after unscrewing the pen. Then, remove the cartridge and pour warm water into the feed along the length of the nib, which will flush out any hardened ink or sediment.
How long should you soak your fountain pen?
You need to soak the nib in the water for 15 minutes, then empty the glass of water, fill it again with clean water, then put the nib in the water, and repeat until the water becomes clear.
What is the fastest way to clean the fountain pen
- Pour the nib and the feed into the cool water
- Fill the pen in the same way you would with ink, only with water.
- Then you need to flush out the reaming ink.
- Repeat that until the pen body is clear.
- Then dry it out with some soft towels.
Does vinegar clean Fountain pens?
To remove stubborn residues of dried or encrusted ink, you need to leave the nib to soak overnight in a bowl of vinegar and water; 5 ml to 250 ml is preferred. Allow the nib to dry before repeatedly shaking it to remove the reaming water.
Is it ok to leave ink in a fountain pen?
If you are leaving ink in your fountain pen and you are not using it for a while, you will have issues when you start writing because the ink will dry on the nib or in the feed, which causes trouble flowing.
Does soap ruin a fountain?
Soaping may sound like a fun way to transform a public water feature into a giant bubble bath for a day, but the vandalism could result in costly cleanup and have a long-term impact on the fountain pen.
How do you clean a dirty fountain pen?
To scrub away grime, you need to use a hard-bristled brush and hot water mixed with dish detergent. If you are troubled by tough deposits, you might use the vinegar solution as described above to help disintegrate them and make them easier to remove.
