Fountain Pen Maintenance

It's important to take care of your fountain pen if you'd like it to keep working.  The same way a car or computer needs periodic maintenance, so does your fountain pen.  Just flushing it out once a month with keep you from having to take your pen to a technician.  Here's how to maintain your fountain pen and keep it writing well.

After you flush the ink out of your pen with water, flush it again using a solution of two parts water and one part household ammonia.  To dissolve accumulated ink solids, fill and empty the pen multiple times, then flush the pen three or more times with tap water to get the ammonia out of the pen.

If you change brands or colors of ink, or just use cartridges, this kind of flushing is extremely important, since some inks can react and create clogs.  There are some pens that should not be used with ammonia - any pen that has aluminum parts, for instance, or nitrocellulose pens.

If you have a pen that uses a twist plunger filling system, you'll find the twisting is difficult if ink is allowed to build up inside.  This can even break the mechanism in serious cases.

In pens with transparent parts, look for accumulated dried ink.  If you can see this, it's time to clean out the ink.  Pens that use cartridges require regular cleaning as well.  Don't put your pen away with a full cartridge in it, either.

If you find that the feed of your pen is too clogged to successfully be flushed, you can send it in to a technician for cleaning.  There are specialized tools available and these people know how to clean just about any pen.  Look for a quality pen technician in your area if you suspect this is necessary.

In addition to regular cleaning, you need to hold your pen correctly.  Make sure both tines are on the paper at the same time, and don't apply pressure.  If you're used to using a ball point pen, you may be trained to put pressure on it.  However, fountain pens use gravity and capillary action to write, and pressure can damage their delicate nibs.

Use the right ink.  There's a lot of argument about which is the right ink, and it may take some experimentation for you to find it.  Look for inks that are specifically designed for fountain pen use, not calligraphy or India ink, which can cause permanent nib, reservoir and feed damage.

Choose an ink that's thin enough to flow correctly, but not so thin that it bleeds or spots.  The right paper is important, too.  That's because lower quality paper or papers with coatings cause a residue to build up on the nib tip as you write.  The ink bleeds and skipping tends to occur.  A high cotton content and smooth surface is helpful.

Correct storage will also keep your fountain pen in good condition.  These pens should always be stored upright, allowing the ink to drain away from the nib.  This keeps you from getting serious clogs.