Fountain Pen Maintenance (Fountain Pen 101)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 มิ.ย. 2012
- Proper pen maintenance is a very overlooked aspects of fountain pen usage, so I created this video to help new and experienced fountain pen users alike to understand why cleaning their pens is so important, so they can get the most out of their performance.
TIMESTAMPS:
- Why you need to clean your pens (0:53)
- How often you should clean them (2:40)
- Pigmented/Carbon inks (3:46)
- Choosing proper inks for use in fountain pens (5:07)
- Storing unused pens (6:43)
- Demonstration of how to clean out a pen from start to finish (7:25)
Here's another vid where I show how to clean a pen with a bulb syringe: • Flushing a Fountain Pe...
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ABOUT GOULET PENS:
Brian & Rachel Goulet started The Goulet Pen Company in 2009 and you can see the evolution of our mom and pop into a full-blown company through this channel. We run a dedicated online store with fountain pens, ink, paper, and other fine writing accessories. Our goal with this channel is to provide fountain pen fans at all levels of experience with comprehensive product reviews, round ups, and how-to videos to answer all the fountain pen questions you may have. Shop at www.gouletpens.com.
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I never knew you had to clean them like this. I have a Lamy Safari that has been a workhorse for 5 years. I've changed colours countless timea and haven't cleaned it once, so it's testament to the reliability of the Safari that it's never had a problem. Ever. That said, I think I'll clean it.
Nice that's great to know. I also have a Lamy Safari and never cleaned it. I actually remember as a kid cleaning a fountain pen, because it was stained with ink, but I was never able to use it again. because for some reason the ink wouldn't come out and thought fountain pens were not supposed to be cleaned T_T
Agreed. The Lamy Safari is a really durable and reliable work horse. Got mine when I joined secondary school (nearly 20 years ago) and it is still working as a brand new one. To be honest though I weren‘t using it all the time, but on a regular basis. Even after 3 years in the drawer (uncleaned and empty) it works without cleaning. Cartridge in and good to go.
i had a waterman as a kid at school, used it for 2 years without cleaning and switching inks without problem too , then we switched to bics ball points pen . it was how we was learning writing. good pens can be really impressive.
I agree really but when using carbon inks then it has to be cleaned. But still I love my Lamys
I have to agree here. I still have my Safari from school, which is around 16 years old now. Probably has had a litre of ink through it over the years and I only rinsed it once or twice after letting it dry out on accident.
found two parker 45's from the mid 60's in the basement.
both engraved with my grandmums phone number and name. (she was the district nurse)
cleaned them out and stuck an old cartridge in the medium tipped one.
works a charm. even tough it hasn't been used since she died in 1978.
one red and one green with silver cap and "gold details" and even a converter!
Wow, that's good to hear they still worked. A little TLC goes a long way. - Colin
Hey, I found an old 51 and it got working after some washing, it’s amazing how long these pens last
Well done! I just got old Parker 45 up and running again. It was from when I was at school from 84-89. Not sure I’ve used it since.
Happy for your very cool find. Got a Sheaffer Tanga (at least I think it's a Tanga) from my mom. She hadn't used it in over 15 years! Suffice to say she's not a pen person and . I came here for a reason.
R.I.P.
You may want to skip to 7:43 if you are on a pinch
David González omg I was just looking for a comment like this! thx
David González thank you
David González the real MVP
I didn't see this until after I watched the entire thing. :/
David González thank you!
Truly the best FP channel out there. As a fountain pen n00b, your videos greatly inpsire me. Great work man.
Really like the idea of using two cups rather than a sink, as someone who lives with other people with a noisy communal sink and as an ex uni student I can totally see myself storing two glass jars of water in my room for when pen cleaning is needed then emptying and refilling them for next time, so I always have pen cleaning water on hand even in the middle of the night. (Plus I personally am more likely to clean my stuff if I have supplies on hand at my desk rather then having to drag my stuff to the communal bathroom and take it over for awhile.)
Dear Brian and everyone else at Goulet. I have only recently gotten into Fountain pens, while I have always been interested in them. You guys have made this infinitely easier for me to become educated with them, as well as @sbrebrown who I see posted earlier. And Drew is the absolute best person you could have working for you in customer service. He's pleasant to work with, and is helping me out so much. So hats off to Goulet! Amazing company and group of people!
Logan
To clean pens
1st dissemble
2nd throw in water ( maybe with some dish soap if the pen is dirty)
3rd optional : clean with hands, cotton buds ect.
*do not use sponge or anything you'll get scratches
4th take out pen and leave it to dry
5th done? Take ink, take pen and now you can write
Brian```I've been watching your shows now for a while and I've learned so much. Thanks and continue doing the good job on these informative videos.
I bought some stuff from your shop man....it's so good....very professional and efficient, Ty very much.
That's an Aston Leather Case 20, I actually have several of these that I use to store all of my pens. I sell them, so full disclosure there, but I bought this particular one about 3 years ago and it's been holding strong since. I love these cases.
Quick question, if the pen has a feed which is non-removable, how long should I let it sit after it has been flushed with water, to allow the water to evaporate?
lol
Siggi galam overnight
Or you can even grab some (unused) toilet paper and put it to the nib. I know it may sound bad, because the nib could grab some paper, but I have found that this is not a real issue. This will move out a lot of the water quick and will also show if it has any color left inside
I know that this is 5 years later and you probably don't need a reply by now but I have to answer anyway.
You don't need to leave your pen out to dry, you can get out most of the water if you repeatedly flick it down really fast and use some paper towel on the nib. This can be used to clean out as much water as you need to in under 10 minutes and still have a little wet coating on the channels so that it re-inks nicely but doesn't water down the ink.
Thank you, that is helpful
Got my Lamy Imporium running again thanks to your tips! Thank you so much!!
Really appreciate all the beginner videos you have made. Ordered your cleaning and tuning kit along with some nibs for my Xmas gift, Lamy Studio. Hopefully this will give me a range of experiences.
I really like this old school style !
just came to say ya. I'm using fountain pens for years.
I find your channel refreshing. I'm so old I can remember a time well before ball point pens, where folks used special nibs for taking short hand, journal entries, accounting, architecture, signatures, drawing, and there was a plathoria of inks, ink types, replacement nibs, cleaners, and etc. I often wonder what happened to those drawers full of fountain pens. I certainly enjoy my collection, and use all of them regularly. Thank you!
We're glad you found us! - Drew
Thank you so much for this and other videos. I may never buy a $2,800 pen. Mine two are are the least expensive Waterman pens ever made. Yet I truly enjoy them.
Ten years ago... my dude, I watched this when it came out. Amazing how far the GPC has come.
This video is still realavent today after 11 years.
And Thankyou Brain because of you i had an amazing hobby.🖋️.🎉
The last one I used ;) Haha, no really, the one I keep coming back to time and again is my blue Pilot Custom 74 with a medium nib. I just love the way it writes.
Super helpful! Well articulated, good information! Thank you!
Yeah, the Platinum converters are usually a little bit tight. You can take them apart and throw a little silicone grease on them though and that helps a lot. The gold part just unscrews right off the back.
awesome video, I've always wonder if it was a good idea to leave ink inside my pen during summer break (i use my pens for school), now i know i shouldn't. thank you for the video!
Thanks Brian. I appreciate your thorough and helpful videos.
Definitely! Glad to help. I wish I'd had something like this when I first started out in the hobby ;) -Brian Goulet
The Goulet Pen Company Hey, a quick question if you don't mind: How do I clean a fountain pen if I don't have the converter to pull the water up? Should I only rinse the nib and feed and whatnot? I want to change from a blue cartridge (I already depleted the ink) to a black cartridge. Thanks for the advice.
As a novice FP user the two things I’ve been using to clean my pens is cool water and an eye dropper. It’s worked like a charm so far. I just keep repeating the process until the water is clear. I stay away from paper towels as much as possible, too. They’re loaded with tiny bits of paper that can jam up the works. I’ve been using napkins instead. The smoother surface doesn’t have as much tiny fibers.
How do you store your pen when you are done with it for the day? Nib up? Nib down? Horizontal? Got a Noodler's Ahab Lapis Inferno for Christmas and it is great. Your videos have helped to take away some fountain pen insecurity for me.
nib up always, sideways isn't awful though
AnnPeek i have it nib up, horizontal is probably okay too but nib down will make your pen leak,
I don't have any experience with Rotrings, those I know that use them say they're a bit finicky at times. I would make sure you've cleaned it really well, that might help the clogging. You can also try diluting the ink a bit (especially if it's a really saturated one like Gruene Cactus), maybe 10% or so with distilled water in a small test batch to see if that helps the clogging/drying out issue.
Thanks, just what I needed.
Thanks for the vid! I think it'd be a good idea to include the bulb syringe video link in the description. It has been one of the most helpful videos in pen cleaning I have seen! A lot of people have adapted that method too ;) Thanks Mr. Goulet!
Brush pen inks clogs up really easily also because they contain a lot of gel like protein so when it dries up it is going to form solid that is really hard to clean. The traditional brush pen ink actually comes in the form of a solid cube and you use a stone tool and rub a layer off on a stone tool with water to make ink.
I've never written with a Laban, but I've seen/held many of them. They have SOOOOO many different pen models, I don't think they ever discontinue anything. They're mostly big pens, too. I've considered carrying them, but no one really asks me about them (except you!).
Thanks for your explaination!!!
I've always loved writing implements and paper and, now, having retired, am immersing myself into these and all things related. Your videos have been really useful. I wonder if you could help with a problem...I have had a Lamy Joy for some time and now that I've revisited it, I find that the nib is needing considerable pressure and is failing almost totally on downstrokes. I think, though I'm not sure, that I might, at one point, have used acrylic ink in it. Is there any hope?
I just found your videos last week and subscribed! Two quick questions - how do you clean fountain pens that used ink cartridges only?
Good to know that I have been doing it right all this time.
Very nice video, thank you for sharing!
On a note about the "Calligraphy Inks".
Some specifically say that they will work in fountain pens.
I have a couple pots of of Windsor & Newton that I got for my glass dip pen that advertises that it'll work in fountain pens.
what is the clear and gold pen next to the red one??? It's lovely
Thank you!! I didn't know the bit about Sailor Pigment Inks (and the need for a more frequent cleaning). I wonder if continual use of said inks (so the pen never dries out) makes a difference - so you don't have to clean as often.
Fabulous video, Brian, After the cleansing, whatr about drying the nib, feed and converter? Or do you just replace the converter, replace the cap and put the pen away? And if so, what about the piston inside the converter - open (as if filled with ink, but in this case air) or closed?
Thanks.
Just watching this video makes me feel a bit classy .
Have a look at the Lamy line, specifically the Lamy Studio - great pen!
I am new to pens. I got a new pen from a vendor at the VA hospital. Then got some ink from Goulet. I saw a walnut/carbon fiber pen on the Goulet web page and had to have it. Now I know how to maintain both pens. Now I am the envy of the pen snobs at the office. That makes me a little happier.
Very helpful! Thank you!
Another great video! Thank you!
thank you! this helped a lot!
Thanks! Your videos are great too, keep THEM up!
I just got my Pilot Metropolitan and am new. I exchanged my cartridge for the first time for ink using the converter that came with the pen. After adding it and letting the nib get saturated pointed down for an hour. I am now having an issue where it'll write for maybe 5 to 30 minutes but if I put it down and pick it up again it no longer has ink flowing and I need to let it sit top down for another 30 minutes and may only get another 5 minutes or so. I also tried cleaning.
Great video. Thank you. I recently bought a Visconti Rembrandt, my first expensive pen and I love it. I am using Visconti blue ink and probably won`t use any other ink in it. I use the pen every day to write my journal and short stories. So, according to your recommendation I should flush it every to weeks just with water. I am a little nervous about pulling the nib and feed apart to do any deeper cleaning. Can the Rembrandt nib even be separated from the feed?
Thanks Brian! BTW what is that gorgeous demonstrator pen with the gold highlights at the beginning of the video?
You can certainly do that if you're comfortable, and the pen will allow you. It's not always necessary, though. Some inks are harder to clean than others, and you may want to completely take them apart, but it's not required with 'regular' maintenance.
hello! i have a pilot kakuno which i haven't used in a long time. i've cleaned it up before storing it, but when i try using it again a few days ago, the ink wont flow well. i need to add pressure to the tip of the nib to write, and i'm worried it might damage the nib. is there anything i can do to revive the pen? thankyou in advance.
I really like the look of the pen in the upper right of the case with the black matte finish at the 3:00 min. mark. Which pen is that?
Just discovered your channel...I'm hooked! Thanks for sharing this video...can hardly wait to see the rest :)
Awesome, glad to hear you found your way to us! Lots of videos to take in. - Colin
This is great. Thank you.
Hi Brian,
Thank you for the informative video, could you please tell me the make of the pen case you are using?
Thanks,
Pedro
You are correct.
You're welcome! Let me know how it goes.
I've just got a feather dip pen that doesn't have one of those reservoir things, just a nib. Do you know what the best way to clean those would be? The ink dries awfully fast and I dunno if it's good for the bed to scrape off what doesn't come off in water.
Hi,
I was just wondering what is the best way to clean a Pilot Custom 845(with the pump) fountain pen?
Could you please do a video showing the best, or recommended, way to do it?
Thank you very much.
Cheers,
You should try the Laban PF-900 fountain pen. It is an amazing pen and I think you would like it very much!
i didn't notice how many times you run the pen flush through. is it once, twice, dozen? very nice video. i've purchased too many things from you all lately. lol. i used to use a fountain pen in the 60s-90s, but always had issues with the pens, even my 70s parker. the twsbi-s and preppy-s i've gotton from you all have been the best pens i've every owned.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for this video! :)
That is my Sailor 1911L, clear with gold trim in a music nib. It's a good pen, but doesn't write as well as I wished it did.
Thanks! We have a pretty decent selection of pens over here, but most of them come from Germany or Japan! I'd think you would have access to a lot of good pens...Waterman, Parker, Pelikan, Lamy, Kaweco....they're all made not far from you! I can see how they'd be expensive though...
Perhaps...I'm not all that familiar with Aurora, but there are few pens that don't have removable feeds. What pen is it?
Any tips for cleaning a pilot vanishing point that has been using noodler's bay-state blue?
I've found that, even flushing thoroughly with a bulb, there will still be residual ink on the nib and feed. The only way to truly get a pen clean is to disassemble the nib/feed/grip assembly, and soak them in warm water with a drop of dish soap, then rinse with clear water. I then lay the parts out on a paper towel to dry, and once everything is dry, I reassemble the pen. You'll often find that your cap also has ink in it, and possibly even the barrel. I always flush those with a bulb, soak and rinse them with the rest of the parts. All this might not be necessary when simply changing ink, but I always do this before storing a pen. You'll want to use a jeweler's loupe when reassembling the nib/feed/grip, to make sure the nib is properly seated and aligned.
very helpful! thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
I am using a sailor jentle ink for fountain pens black, is it okay if i only cleaned it 2-3 weeks? because the salesperson did not say anything about maintenance of the pen, she just said that that ink is safe to use in FP. i've only watch this today and i have been using this ink for months now. so far i do not have any problems to my twsbi 580al and twsbi eco.
Would someone please tell me what make the all black pen is right at the top at 2.41? Pilot vanishing point? Thank you x
So I just got my first fountain pen and it came with the single use cartridges and I figure I will stick with those for a little bit before I move up. How would this process change for me?
Thanks for the video! What are the 3rd and 4th black and gold pens from the bottom at 3:00? I'm trying to identify an heirloom that has a similar look.
That's hard to tell, but I think they're Pilot Falcon and Platinum 3776. - Colin
Would a good alternative be boiling water then letting it cool? If I can help it I would rather not have to get distilled water. And how long should I leave the pen and piston converter to dry?
Newbie fountain pen fan here, love the vids. I've got a Pilot Metropolitan that I switched from a black to a blue cartridge (bought a converter from you guys, but it hasn't gotten here yet.) without cleaning. Should I pull the current cartridge and clean the pen? Also, thoughts on carrying fountain pens in your pants pocket?
+Robert “Frank” Martin Hey Robert, I wouldn't worry about it now, just keep going til the cartridge is dry but then definitely give it a good clean once you're done. I tend to carry my pens either in a case in my work bag or clipped to an inside jacket pocket. The Metro is a fairly decent sized pen but the risk is minimal of it cracking / splitting / leaking as long as youre sensible. There are smaller pens specifically for riding in your pocket (check out the kaweco sport and the twsbi mini) All the best, Sean
Helpful? You're a savior...
Nah, dilute to your heart's content. In fact, Nathan often promotes it as a way to get more bang for your buck...he's very into the economy of pen ink.
Thought I should mention, the first ink I ever bought for my first pen (granted, I didn't have much education on the subject) was "Higgins Fountain Pen India". It was an India-type ink with no binder agent, so it was safe for fountain pens. However, it was a very cheap, splotchy, pigmented ink, and I will probably never use it again.
HI, i have Caran D'Ache Silver-Plated, Rhodium-Coated LÉMAN EBONY BLACK Fountain Pen, pen was falling on glass and strached untill brass. I see metal, how can I repare this? Do I need a lacquer and which type because I cant just polish this spot? In description says "Round brass body and cap lacquered in deep black" Thank you Jovan
Is it any different when switching cartridges that have different colors
Is it safe to take the converter out of the grip and run water through the grip? The manufacturer of my pen says to take the pen totally apart and soak the individual parts for 4 hours. That seems a little excessive to me.
I'm gonna try a pigment ink (Platinum Carbon) for the first time, and I see people saying to clean the pen using it every few days like you said. What if I don't run out of ink for a lot longer than that? Do I throw the unused ink out every 3 days to clean it?? Do I put it back into the bottle and risk contaminating that? Or should I buy some kind of vial like the one you use for samples and pour the unused ink in that and refill from it after the cleaning?
Do you know how to fix a clip that has been bent slightly out of shape? This has happened to my Parker IM and it is really annoying!
My mother recently gave me an old fountain pen she used when she was in like 3rd grade. The problem is that it hasnt been used since then. Any tips for cleaning it up?
Hey Brian - I was wondering what the matte-black pen is that is the uppermost pen on the right side of this case. I really like the look of it! Thanks and great video!
-Nate
That'd be the Matte Black Vanishing Point! www.gouletpens.com/Pilot_Vanishing_Point_Fountain_Pens_s/950.htm Sweet pen :) -Brian Goulet
brian is there anything wrong cleaning the pen under running water from the tap as long as it is not hot and not too heavy a stream?
+michael ellliot He does say you should use distilled water and lukewarm water.
I know this is late but ideally, you should use distilled. However, using tap water isn't a cardinal sin or anything. It's not going to affect it that much, especially with cheaper pens.
michael ellliot use distilled, because tap water is hard water, don’t want calcium building up in your writing utensils :]
If I have a water softener will that make distilled water? Lol
Where would I get distilled water???
Which pen is the clear one at the beginning of the video? Many thanks!
Indeed Gruene Cactus seems less fluid than the other ones, and diluting it helps. I was assuming the viscosity chosen by Noodler's was not to be fiddled with too much. A problem with cleaning is that the nib/feed assembly seems to be definitive. I've pulled hard enough on the nib to fear damaging it, and it does not budge.
Most FPs look either too fancy or too toyish -I'm difficult, I know :D- I love the technical/bauhaus design of the Rotring 600s. Too bad they have these practical flaws…
Do you have experience with Rotring 600 FPs? I have a few that behave strangely depending on the inks I use. Parker Quink flows really well, Noodler's Polar Black and Dragon Napalm not too bad, but Green Cactus clogs often. I use the colors to grade papers and if I read for 2-3 mins without writing or recapping the pen, it clogs…
I agree :)
I have hard, mineral filled water where I live which I use for all my fountain pen cleaning so that I don't have to spend too much money or time buying or generating distilled water and I have never had a problem, I shake/flick out the water after cleaning so that there is much less water to dry and I often fill my pens after I have got the pen as dry as possible by flicking and blotting but not evapourating.
Hello, i was wondering, would you still need to do a full cleaning when using different colored ink from the same proprietary company? I am referring to the pilot metropolitan
Yeah I would. Even within the same brand, the properties in the ink can cause some reactions if mixed. Especially with a brand like Noodler's. It's best to flush it out every time you're looking to refill your pen. - Colin
Not unless you're going to use it! ;) I mean, you could be okay, I have pens where I leave the ink in them for a long time, but most of the time the ink either partially dries out or just doesn't flow as well (mainly when the water in the ink starts to evaporate, it leaves the concentrated dye behind).
Hey Brian! I love your videos thanks a lot for all these tips! Unfortunately i did smt really stupid: I put dip pen ink (a metallic color) in my FP!! Now it’s all clogged :( It’s a cheap pen so i can buy another one but I really loved that pen... How can I clean it?
You can try to clean it with pen flush, but I can't guarantee it's going to get clean :( -Margaret
1 pen 2 cups
Lol
Christiån Kirkenes 2 cups 1 pen
Came looking for this comment. Was not disappointed.
One cup of white rice 2 cups water
Christiån Kirkenes so that clean water doesn't get contaminated doesn't get contaminated so that clean water is being flushed through the pen
i have a cross TOWNSEND MEDALIST FOUNTAIN.i think this one was made back in 1997.my dad gave it to me around 2000.. it hasnt being used since then.. i remember i kinda cleaned without intending it to do it .. its a precious item for me not just for the quality n looks of the pen but also for the sentimental value.. im thinking of buying the fountine pen converter n ink for it so i can use it..but before that, do you think the pen still good?. is it worth it for me buying all that?
Great Video!
I tend not to keep harsh chemicals around, so I don’t have bleach or ammonia. Will hydrogen peroxide work instead of either bleach or ammonia or will it harm the pen? Thank you for this information! I recently bought a Pilot Metropolitan and a TWSBI GO to dip my fingers into fountain pen writing and art outlining. I think I already made a mistake: I filled the GO with ink I purchased specifically for Japanese calligraphy and brush writing. The reviews of the product stated the ink worked well in fountain pens but my GO does not like it! The information on the bottle is entirely in Japanese so I have no idea what’s in it. I’ve only been able to scratch out broken lines, hence my search for how to clean fountain pens!
Just bought a sailor bent nib for watercolor pen and ink. Off hand does the baby syringe work for cleaning? I bought the Calli non clogging, waterproof calligraphy ink. Is that going to be a problem? It works well with the watercolor. Lots to learn about inks.
Thank you. Arlene
Not sure about that particular ink, but usually Calligraphy ink or India ink is a big no-no. It'll ruin the pen so I might double-check that. Make sure you get an ink labelled for fountain pens. The syringe method should work, just unscrew the barrel of the pen and plug it right in! - Colin
this is not really related but im doing research and i need to know if this is correct. the way i see it a pen puts the ink on the paper then the solvent evaporated hardens the ink and leaves the ink hardend. Is this correct also do you know of where i can find info on different pen solvents.