Thread: Another Fountain Pen Question

I want to change ink colors in my fountain pen. Do I need to "wash" remnants of the old ink out of the nib area? If so, what's the best way to go about this?


Jordan

Is this a cartridge pen? Or converter/piston/bladder?

Either way a good soak in warm water will start the process. You have an advantage, if you have a piston etc., because you can cycle the pen and more actively flush out the nib.

Thank you. It's a converter (the plunger screws up and down). I'll give the warm water a try.

Jordan

you don't have to, some people enjoy watching the ink slowly change from one color to the next.

however, if you are using 2 different brands of ink, you prolly should.

Originally Posted by jockeys

you don't have to, some people enjoy watching the ink slowly change from one color to the next.

however, if you are using 2 different brands of ink, you prolly should.

I would respectfully disagree -- if you're changing color, you should flush and clean the pen. Sometimes manufacturers use different formulations for different colors (noodlers does this quite frequently), and (rarely) two formulations can react and turn to sludge, which is not a good thing. Generally, you're safe -- but it only takes once to gum up the works of an expensive pen -- which is easiest cleaned out with a ultrasonic cleaner, by the way.

Just my two cents.

cass

I'll pass along what the reps at Waterman told me when I contacted them. Because most fountain pens have a very small passage, and because most new pens are made of plastic, anything that will warm the pen (like warm water) will risk constricting that passage and risk warping/cracking it. THey advise cold water...the colder the better. Cold water will open that passage up and help flush the old ink out.

FWIW, I always flush the pen whenever I'm refilling, even if I'm not changing colours.

Mark

Warm water, cold water. Each pen (I have many of different prices and ability) is an individual that may respond better to different techniques. Either way the water will dissolve any crud that builds up inside. I've never had a pen quit functioning using warm water and I clean the pen most every time I reload with ink. I'll report back if one does. I agree with Milton though, even the more expensive pens have plastic innards.

I learned to take mine apart (yes, field strip) all of them. YMMV.

Originally Posted by cassady

I would respectfully disagree -- if you're changing color, you should flush and clean the pen. Sometimes manufacturers use different formulations for different colors (noodlers does this quite frequently), and (rarely) two formulations can react and turn to sludge, which is not a good thing. Generally, you're safe -- but it only takes once to gum up the works of an expensive pen -- which is easiest cleaned out with a ultrasonic cleaner, by the way.

Just my two cents.

cass

it's quite possible. all of my ink is noodler's and all of it is bulletproof, which is the same base compound i think. i frequently mix them on purpose (not just when i'm refilling) to create custom colors, and have never had any issues. but then again, i've been using a fairly homogenous set of inks, so i'm prolly just lucky.

This reminds me that I have to refill my remaining fountain pen that wasn't stolen.

I always flush between colors or if de-inking a pen to put it away a while (yes, a rotation of pens just like razors). I run water through it, not hot, not cold, just luke warm. I typically take one of those rubber baby suction bulbs found in any drug store (for clearing their nose and mouth) and squirt water through the section/nib to clean the interior passages well.

BTW, the Philidelphia Pen Show is this weekend for anyone nearby.

Tony