Most of the times fountain pens can be considered as works of art, since they are made with precious metals, jewels and enamel. The correct care of those precious pens is a good habit for whoever wants to use his fountain pen for a long time without any trouble. Stipula has made a decalogue for the correct use and maintenance of fountain pens.
1) Wash your pen every few weeks and whenever changing ink color.
2) Use only cold or tepid water when washing the pen. Demineralised water will work best (tap water sometimes contains particles which may clog the feed).
3) Never use hot water, alcohol or solvents as these will damage the feed or other parts of the pen irreparably.
4) Wash the pen by filling and emptying it with water (repeat this until the water is clear). If the pen uses a cartridge/converter, soak the nib section in water for some hours.
5) If you do not plan on using your pen for a prolonged period of time, empty and wash it out before storing it away.
6) Avoid using chemically treated paper, which usually has a slick feel, because it does not absorb ink well and leaves residues on the point of the nib which might clog the ink flow
7) If travelling by plane, it is a general rule to follow with fountain pens to fill or empty them completely and keep them stored in vertical position with the point upward. This will avoid leakage.
8) Do not loan your pen to anyone, as the nib adjusts only to your own writing style (i.e.: pressure and angle).
9) When not using the pen, keep it stored vertically with point upward to prevent ink from settling in and clogging the feed.
10) If your pen does not write immediately (after not having been used it for more than a month) the ink has probably dried and clogged the nib and feed. To restore the ink flow either wash the nib with water or fill and empty it with ink of same color. If it does not write yet, wash it with tepid water.
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