Perfect Iridium Nib Calligraphic Flat Fountain Pen

• Adopt unique nib and advanced liquid ink system, the calligraphic fountain pen guarantees smooth writing

How to Clean a Fountain Pen Nib:



In fountain pens, the ink flows down toward the pointed tip of the pen, which is called the nib. Because the flow of ink never really stops on a fountain pen, the ink on the nib can dry or thicken when the pen is not in use. This results in a clogged writing tip that does not transfer ink smoothly. Cleaning the nib on a fountain pen should be done regularly even if the pen is not used often.

• Turn on a steady stream of warm water at a sink faucet.
• Hold the metal tip of the fountain pen underneath the stream of water and allow it to loosen any dried on ink. Rub your fingers over the metal tip to help dislodge the clogged ink. If the ink is still hard to remove, brush the nib gently with the bristles of a soft toothbrush.
• Fill a cup half full with warm water and insert the nib of the fountain pen into the cup. Leave the pen inside the water and allow it to soak for approximately 15 minutes.
• Remove the pen, pour out the discolored water and refill the glass with fresh warm water. Reinsert the pen back into the cup and allow it to sit for an additional 15 minutes. Continue replacing the water in the cup and soaking the pen until ink no longer appears in the water.
• Pour the water out of the cup a final time and rinse and dry the cup thoroughly with a towel. Dry the pen to remove as much water as possible.
• Place a paper towel into the bottom of the cup and insert the pen into the cup with the nib facing downward. Allow the pen to sit inside the cup for an additional hour to allow the moisture to drain out and be absorbed by the paper towel.

Tips & Warnings:

• Sometimes even new fountain pen needs to be cleaned before use. Factory dust and oils may impede the flow of ink.
• Do not use hot water to wash a fountain pen. Room-temperature or cool water is OK. Some vintage materials (such as ebonite) will change color in hot water, and other materials might warp.
• Never use ammonia-water solution with a ratio bigger than 1:5.
• Don't use excess force. If you find that one part of your pen unscrews from another part, but it's stuck, try soaking it in water first.
• Don't use alcohol or any type of chemical cleaner which can dissolve the adhesive that holds the pen together on the pen nib.

How Does a Fountain Pen Work:

The Fountain Pen

• Although fountain pens may seem quaint to many people, they actually represented a big advance on the pens that came before them. Before fountain pens, people relied on dip pens, quill pens, reeds and brushes. All of these needed to be recharged with ink constantly, and most were very difficult to use consistently. There would be a glut of ink on the tip at the beginning of the stroke, and very little by the end of it. Fountain pens were the first to use reservoirs, allowing the writer to continue writing without an ink well nearby

How it Works

• Fountain pens have a reservoir inside the pen that holds the ink. Some of them use a disposable ink reservoir, while others can be filled with an eyedropper. The ink flows down into the nib, where it is dispensed by a thin slit. When a writer or artist draws a fountain pen across a piece of paper, ink flows out of the slit. Gravity keeps it flowing along with what is known as capillary action. In capillary action, molecules of liquid adhere to one another, pulling each other along. When ink slides onto the paper, the molecular bond between the ink particles pull more ink behind, keeping the flow smooth and continuous

Uses

• Fountain pens are not frequently used for jotting notes or other sorts of casual freehand writing. They are temperamental and difficult to use when compared to rollerballs, felt pens and ballpoint pens. Fountain pens can achieve some artistic effects that these other pens can't, however. Because a ballpoint pen has a broad, flat tip, it is extremely useful for calligraphy. By varying the angle of the stroke, the writer can get broad lines or narrow strokes, letting him achieve interesting artistic effects

How to Clean a Fountain Pen:

The pleasure you take in writing with a fountain pen can diminish considerably if you don't maintain the pen in good working order. Unlike ballpoint and rollerball pens, fountain pens require simple, regular cleaning to perform optimally. Well- maintained fountain pens can last for decades without needing replacement parts. The methods for cleaning these pens also depend on the materials used to manufacture them, such as sterling silver, gold, nickel, stainless steel or iridium. Plan to clean your fountain pen before every third refill

Cleaning the Nib

• fountain pen image by Pali A from Fotolia.com Unscrew the pen block from the pen body and remove the ink reservoir or cartridge
• Fill an ear syringe or a clean ink syringe with cold water, and with the syringe attached where the ink reservoir normally sits, hold the pen block nib over the empty plastic cup and squeeze the water from the syringe into the nib. As the water passes through the nib, the leftover ink will drip into the cup
• Refill the syringe and repeat until the water emerges clear from the nib. When the water is clear, remove the syringe. If the nib requires extra cleaning or is clogged, fill the syringe with household ammonia and squeeze it through the nib to loosen solidified ink
• Wrap a paper towel around the nib and shake the pen several times to force any remaining water from the nib
• Keep the nib wrapped in the paper towel overnight so that any remaining water has time to dry
• Insert the ink reservoir or a new cartridge into the pen, reconnect the barrel and re-cap the pen

Cleaning the Pen Body

• Fountain pen image by Alex Dascalu from Fotolia.com Use a soft, clean cloth to wipe down the body of the pen if it is made of celluloid, lacquer or a hard-metal finish (for example, stainless steel, chrome, platinum or rhodium)
• Wipe down a resin pen body with a soft, clean cloth and at the same time check the pen for chips or cracks. This material is generally less durable and more susceptible to damage from dropping or scratching
• Use a soft, clean cloth to wipe down sterling and plated-silver pens. If the pen is tarnished, coat cotton ear swabs with liquid silver polish and apply the swabs to the silver.
• Wipe the tarnish and any remaining silver polish away with the soft cloth

Package Included:

• 1 x Fountain Pen