Fountain Pen Troubleshooting

Even the most reliable fountain pen will eventually develop problems.  Whether it's stopped feeding ink, is feeding too much, or has other issues, your pen could become an annoyance.

However, that doesn't mean you have to get a new one.  All you have to do is know how to troubleshoot some of the most basic fountain pen problems.  Here are the answers to some common pen dilemmas.

Pen Is Skipping

Skipping is when your pen isn't feeding ink on all your strokes.  This usually occurs when the feed can't get into to the point fast enough to keep up with.  Some possible fixes include making sure the feed channels are wide enough and changing the way the point is fitting against the feed, as well as realigning the nib.  However, in many cases, all your pen really needs is a good cleaning or a thinner ink.

Ink Flooding

Flooding is the opposite problem, and happens when there's too much ink getting to the point.  That could happen if the point is too loosely fitted against the feed, or if your ink is too thin.  There are also some pens that suddenly begin to feed ink heavily right before they run out, so try filling the pen, too.

Needs A Jumpstart

Is your pen a great writer, but hard to get started?  This is common in new pens and pens with large nibs.  They may write better if you begin on a downstroke.  Do not, however, be tempted to bear down harder on the pen.  This won't help, and you could damage the pen, plus you'll be gouging the paper.

Instead, be sure to cap your pen when you stop using it, wet the point or start out on scrap paper, or give yourself some time to slow down and get used to the pen.  It may take a little while to find the perfect angle for it, especially if you're using a new pen that's a different style than you're accustomed to using.

In the end, you may have to try a new point if no other option works.  Pens with large cap vents may also have poor starts - plug one or two of the extra vents with wax to improve this problem.

Pen Is Blotting

Is your pen letting out large blobs of ink unexpectedly?  Blotting is similar to flooding, just more intermittent.  Using thicker ink or refilling the pen will usually fix the problem.

Scratchiness

If you're finding that your writing is very scratchy, the problem is probably a broken, rough, or poorly aligned nib.  Check it out under a magnifier and see if it looks crooked or broken.  if something seems wrong, talk to a technician about the problem, or smooth the pen with a fine piece of sandpaper (for pens that are merely rough).

These aren't all the problems you'll encounter using a fountain pen, but they're some of the most common.  If your pen is having trouble, take a little time to think about what might be wrong with it before you get a new one or head to a technician.  Many fixes are simple and easy!