Fountain Pen Problems

Fountain pens float effortlessly over the paper when everything is working as it should. That is one of the reasons why people who prefer fountain pens really like them. But they can be difficult when something is not as it should be. They can be scratchy. Ink flows poorly or not at all. And, they may put out too much ink, even in the form of a sudden blob of ink that runs over a document and onto clothing. These problems are not inherent to all fountain pens, but occur in pens needing a little tender care to keep them in sound working condition. Fortunately, all of this is much easier than a person would think.

The pen shown is from a Classic American kit sold by Woodcraft.  The pen is reminiscent of a Parker Duofold from the late 1920's and early 1930's.  The color pattern is very similar to one used on Duofold pens. 

Step 1 Making it flow if dried out

A couple of Instructables advise soaking the nib and feeder (the section) in cool water for a day or so to remove old dried ink from the ink flow path or capillary system. Actually, a good flushing of the capillary system like this is advised every month. Another good practice is to add a little moisture to ink held in the nib and feeder that may be partially evaporated after a few days of non-use. Get a drop of water on your fingertip and touch it to the slit between the nib's tines.  If the pen has been sitting unused for more than a few days, add two or three drops of water,  Let it soak in. If you do not write with the pen immediately, the water can mix with the ink under the nib more thoroughly. Do this once a week and as necessary.

In more severe cases, as when ink has been left in a pen during several weeks of non-use, cup your hand under a faucet and fill it with water. Quickly dip the whole section into the water in your hand and remove it. Cap the pen and carry it in your pocket for an hour or so before using. If the writing is light in color, touch a facial tissue to the nib and feeder a few times to remove excess water or watery ink.

Fountain pens like to be used regularly.  If you are not going to use a pen for a while, empty the ink from it and flush the pen with water until no discoloration from ink appears.

Do not mix inks from different manufacturers.  They sometimes react with each other and form chunky, gelatinous material that clogs the ink passageways.   Use fresh ink that has been tightly capped or fresh cartridges.  Purists fill the air space in an ink bottle with an inert gas like nitrogen before putting the cap onto the bottle.  They do this to keep the ink from oxidizing.

Comments

[lotus1922]

Great tutorial, I learned lots about how to keep my pens in shape that I did not know before. But I'm having a problem I didn't see addressed anywhere in here: I have Libelle fountain pen that I've always used a piston converter with. I last used it about two months ago and all was well, flushed it out like normal when I was done, etc. But now I have taken it out to use again with fresh ink (I never leave ink sitting in them), and the converter will not draw ink from the bottle when attached to the nib! The converter fills just fine when stuck directly in the bottle, but it does absolutely NOTHING when drawing through the nib. All the fittings check out fine and it has not undergone any trauma--- all it did was sit in its case for two months. What could have caused this?

[Phil B]

Thanks. I have used an eyedropper to fill ink cartridges. There came a time when the eyedropper sucked ink out of the bottle very poorly. Although it did not seem to be a problem, the rubber bulb actually did not fit tightly on the glass tube any longer. I bought a card of two identical eyedroppers and switched the rubber bulb. I did this because I had modified the tip of the glass tube to fit my needs. The old eyedropper worked perfectly again. I suspect there is an air leak between the converter and the pen's section. Could you smear the front fitting on the converter with something like Vaseline for a temporary sealant enhancer and see if that makes a difference? An alternative would be to drip candle wax around the pen where the converter and the section meet. Temporarily reinforcing the seal might give you a clue as to where the problem is.

[ticoun]

in fact, it was an adjustable flex nib, going from stiff to extra flexible

[dogianto444]

thank you! you have fixed my fountain pen! 

[Phil B]

I am pleased for you.  What was the problem with the pen and what did you do to it?

I recently discarded some ink that had become a mix of brands and had been in that bottle for a long time.  It is amazing how much better pens work when filled with good ink!  Mixing inks from different makers is definitely discouraged, but I thought I could get away with it.  I had problems with clumps in the ink plugging the pens' delivery systems. 

[dogianto444]

what i did to fix it was do step7 and it worked realy well!!! 

[Phil B]

I wish I could say I thought of that.  I read on a web page I found.  *I thought I had listed the page, but I guess I did not.)  The author of that page said 95 per cent of all fountain pen problems come from a poor feeder to nib fit.  I am not too surprised that was the problem you had.

Thank you for reporting back.  I hope you enjoy your newly useful pen.

[Phil B]

I added a better introductory photo and step 7 is now step 8.

[sharlston]

hey do you know what them catridges aqre called that are like a pump? you dip it in the ink and pump it and insert it like a normal cartridge?it looks like its made of chrome

[Phil B]

I think they are called a converter.

[sharlston]

ok thankyou

[The ed]

I have a parker fountain pen, which was my father's and it hasn't been used for quite some time(years maybe). now it won't suck up ink and write. What should I do?

[Phil B]

Chances are it may have been put away with ink in it. If that is the case, the ink has dried out and is plugging things. Try standing the pen on its nib in a glass with an inch or two or water in it. Let it stand for a day or two. If the water begins to turn the color of ink, you will know that is the problem. Eventually the dried ink will leech out and the pen will work again. It could also be that the bladder has cracked, assuming it is not a cartridge pen. A new bladder would then be needed. You can learn how to replace that yourself, but it is some work and some expense. There is also the risk you could break something irreplaceable. Or, you could take or send it to someone who does pen repair. A new bladder installed will probably cost you somewhere between $25 and $50 US. I am just guessing.

[The ed]

I tried the method of dabbing the nib with a little water and it worked until the water dried up

[Phil B]

That almost certainly means the pen was stored many years ago with ink in it. When you applied a little water to the slot in the nib, you moistened some of the dried ink and the pen wrote briefly. There is more dried ink farther up the delivery system. A good soaking in water for a day or two should clear the system and get the pen working again. You might want to fill the pen with water rather than ink a couple of times and flush it out thoroughly before filling it with ink. Try to flush the pen until the water you expel is clear.

[The ed]

ok. so I'll soak it for a few days. if it doesn't work, is it something else that is spoilt?

[Phil B]

It pretty much always works.

[The ed]

ok, I'll try it first

[The ed]

Hey, I think I broke the pump that sucks in the ink. Is it beyond repair now?

[Phil B]

If you are not able to get your pen repaired, you still have some options. Because it belonged to your father, you could frame it in a shadow box for a keepsake. Or, you could use it as a dipping pen. You would be limited to writing where you have access to an ink bottle. Dip the pen tip in an ink bottle like they did in the very old days and write a few words before dipping again.

[Phil B]

It is probably not beyond repair. I would take or send it to someone who does fountain pen repair. He probably has parts from some old pens to replace anything you may have broken. He can tell you where you stand and what it might cost. What model Parker pen do you have? If the part that broke is rubber, those are available as new replacements.

[The ed]

Ok. I don't know the model of the pen. I guess I'll just find some other way to use it. thanks for the help

[Phil B]

There are Internet pages that can help you determine what model of Parker pen you have. If your father was born in the 1930s or 1940s, the pen could be a Parker 51. Here is a page on the Parker 51: http://www.parker51.com/51fs.html
The 51 had a bladder and a fill mechanism. The Parker 21 and 45 had a similar external appearance, but either used a cartridge or had a squeeze bladder different from a regular fountain pen. Some other Parker models can be found at: http://www.pensandwatches.com/parker.html
It might also be a Parker 75, although those were more costly. http://www.vintagepens.com/Parker_75.shtml If the pen is older and your father acquired it secondhand, it could be a Vacumatic, maybe even a Duofold. http://www.vacumania.com/website/generationsessay.htm http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Parker/ParkerDuofoldFlattop.htm
The Duofolds are still sold new, but are now cartridge pens.
Interestingly, a Chinese company has taken over a Parker factory in China and is making knock-off Parker 51 pens under a different name.

[sharlston]

like the pics u made on paint

[Phil B]

Thank you. I alternate between photos and images in Paint. Sometimes a photo would be difficult, so I will reconstruct what I need in Paint. Sometimes I just as arrows and such to photos with Paint.

[sharlston]

good idea i will start doing that if you dont mind

[Phil B]

Oops. I meant to say sometimes I use Paint to ADD arrows and other explanatory things to a photo. Please feel free to use any idea. You might also be interested in an Instructable I did on using Paint to edit other graphics. See http://www.instructables.com/id/Edited_Drawings_saved_as_JPEG/ Also, take a look at step 13 in my Instructable http://www.instructables.com/id/Sharpen-Your-Drill-Bits/ where I added an arrow and a shower of sparks by editing a photo in Paint. In steps 2, 3, and 4 of my Instructable http://www.instructables.com/id/AC-Powered-Engine-Timing-Light/ I used screenshots edited in Paint to overlay a color coded circuit diagram over a photo of the actual components and to capture screenshots from a circuit simulation program so I could add labels and display a neat schematic. In my Instructable http://www.instructables.com/id/Move_Banquet_Tables_with_a_Single_Hand/ I got lazy and did the whole Instructable with graphics generated in Paint. Otherwise, I would have either needed to build a new copy and make photos as I went, or get and dismantle the working copy I made some years ago. I did something similar in my Instructable http://www.instructables.com/id/Rescue_for_a_Weed_Whacker/ in the Introduction and in steps 1 and 2 where I scanned pages from the factory manual and highlighted certain parts of the graphic using Paint. Look at steps 4, 5, and 6 in the same Instructable where I used Google Sketch Up to show the steps in something that would have been too much work to replicate anew. There are a lot of other people on Instructables who use much better graphics than I am able to use, but these work for me. Thanks for asking.

[vitruvian8807]

Hey, how well do those disposable fountain pens work? I've been curious to try one and see the quality, but I haven't gotten to it.

[Phil B]

I tried one a few years ago, but cannot find that model now. It was very smooth for writing. I experimented with trying to fill it, but without success. The ink ran through it and made big blotches after my efforts. I eventually discarded it.

[sharlston]

can u really get disosable fountain pens and if you can where can you get them?

[Phil B]

Since you are in the UK, you can go to Amazon (dot) co (dot) uk and search for Pilot Varsity pens. They are listed there. You may also be able to pick them up in a stationery or office supply store.

[vitruvian8807]

Eh? I've never had problems with my fountain pen. It's a "cheap" Waterman Phileas. I had one friend ask me if I had had problems like leaks. I looked at him weird, since I have never had problems. I guess I assumed fountain pens worked "perfectly". I find them to be amazing writing instruments. Gave my female friend an Audace Midnight pen. Too bad the only seller I've found was in France. Unfortunately, the bottom cap on mine was bitten by a kid (grrr!) so it's got long scratch teeth marks on it, and the clip on the cap broke off (also someone else). People just don't realize that they're not cheap. I don't think I can replace the caps without having to buy another pen, but maybe I'll save up and buy a Waterman Expert. I'm faving your 'ible and keeping it for future reference.

[sharlston]

got the same pen as you

[Phil B]

Here are some additional thoughts for what I wrote earlier (see below). Leaks in a fountain pen are usually caused by a poor feeder to nib fit that allows air into the ink reservoir. This can happen over the decades as a pen ages. The problem is due to dimensional changes in the plastic used in the feeder as the plastic ages and cures. Leaks can also occur if you have a pen with you on an airplane at high altitudes even though the cabin is pressurized, but you can pretty well avoid the problem by keeping the ink reservoir as full as possible. Leaks in airplanes happen because a quantity of air in the reservoir is still at the pressure of air back at the airport. Meanwhile pressure inside the cabin is less at altitude and the air inside the pen expands, pushing ink out of the feeder and into the cap so it can get all over your fingers and your white shirt. But, the worst leak problem I ever had on an airplane was actually with a rollerball, not a fountain pen. Only twice have I had leakage problems with a fountain pen while on an airplane. Both times the ink cartridge was less than half full and air inside the cartridge expanded in the lowered cabin pressures. Once I was in an airplane at 14,000 feet with an unpressurized cabin. It was only for a few minutes while a friend wanted to see how high his plane could climb. (We were both watching ourselves and each other for signs of oxygen deprivation.) I had a fountain pen with me and it did not leak at all. You will find it helpful to flush and clean your Phineas with water about once a month. Thanks for your comments and your endorsement of the Instructable.

[Phil B]

The Waterman Phileas is an entry level pen, but still is a nice pen. You can pay $10,000 for a pen that still only puts ink onto paper no better than the Phileas does. Sometimes cosmetic repairs are possible with epoxy or filling the scratch with lacquer and polishing it. It may still be visible if you look for it. I like to think of experiences you had with the scratch as God's way of telling us not to get too hung up with material things.

[Phil B]

Tonight I was in the local Office Max store. They had a fountain pen for only $10. It goes under the brand name of DiVoga, a house brand for the Office Max chain. It was made in China. For $10 I decided to try one. It is pretty well designed and very traditional looking. It writes very well with a line that is between a fine and a medium, but closer to a fine. The cap is machined from metal with a plastic color cover and a chrome clip. The lavender color is a little more feminine that I would prefer. The pen uses a Mont Blanc style universal cartridge. The one problem I have had is the white plastic insert in the cap that causes the cap to snap onto the pen body does not stay put in the cap. I smeared it liberally with epoxy glue and closed the pen until the glue had pretty well hardened. Then I pulled the cap off of the pen. The plastic insert stayed put. The glue was still not quite fully hard so I could remove any glue stains that got onto the pen's barrel. The problem with the cap would be a deal breaker for anyone who did not have a DIY streak. Office Max has a 14 day return policy, though. For anyone who wants a fairly decent fountain pen and wants to spend about the price of a movie ticket, check it out. (I have no connection to Office Max or to DiVoga.)

[ItsTheHobbs]

oh, I wish i could afford a Namiki.

[Phil B]

I looked at some of your things and am guessing you are in your late teens or early 20's. As time goes on you will afford and have many things you cannot now imagine. Be patient. (Some of them are not all you expected once you have them, either.)

[ItsTheHobbs]

ummm... yeah, sure... late teens..(cough,twelve,cough) yeah, I know. I can't wait until the day I get one though, when I have one thousand dollars to kill...

[Phil B]

I just looked again at your comment. The Namiki Vanishing Point pen I have retailed for about $110 and I got it with a special discount for about $75 - $80. It was not $1,000. Even though I "tried" it in the store, I wish I had realized the difficulty I would have holding it in my left hand. I probably would not have bought it.