Proper Filling Techniques?

[Weiss.ar]

I literally put the ink in the pen yesterday, and just washed it all out. It's non water proof, so it basically dissolves or washes off in water. I can't imagine the damage is disastrous. My question was simply how to get the ink off of the front of the nib (the smooth part) when dipping it in a bottle of ink to fill it with the piston, but I greatly appreciate all of the help I'm receiving.

 

Cheers.

[fraafreg]

Try cycling the rapido-eze by filling and unfilling the pen? It should clean faster than soaking.

 

Use dry tissue or paper towel for the nib and feed followed by a damp/moist one to wipe your nib after filling. The dry tissue will wick out the excess ink on the nib and feed. The damp one will wipe away the ink on the nib without drawing out more ink from the slit.

 

edit: I think the damage should be minimal or none if it was just one day and the ink didn't dry in the pen. Try filling the pen with and letting it sit for an hour or 2 nib down with cap on. Then empty it into a container and see if the water is completely clear. This will help to check if there are trace amounts of ink still inside the pen.

Edited August 12, 2011 by fraafreg

[Stoneguard]

I've only used waterman ink, so that could be why i've had such an easy time, but a piece of paper towel is great, after you have filled your pen, give it a wipe with the paper towel, and that should remove any excess ink around and on the nib. if thats what you were asking?

[USMCMom]

I've only used waterman ink, so that could be why i've had such an easy time, but a piece of paper towel is great, after you have filled your pen, give it a wipe with the paper towel, and that should remove any excess ink around and on the nib. if thats what you were asking?

 

I've used Waterman, but also use Noodler's, DIamine, Mont Blanc, Private Reserve and all the others. If I need to wipe off the nib, which I usually always do, I use a paper towel or piece of an old soft clean rag.

[Weiss.ar]

I've only used waterman ink, so that could be why i've had such an easy time, but a piece of paper towel is great, after you have filled your pen, give it a wipe with the paper towel, and that should remove any excess ink around and on the nib. if thats what you were asking?

 

I've used Waterman, but also use Noodler's, DIamine, Mont Blanc, Private Reserve and all the others. If I need to wipe off the nib, which I usually always do, I use a paper towel or piece of an old soft clean rag.

 

Do you find any traces of the ink on your nib even after using the paper towel? Maybe there is supposed to be some ink there after dipping it and wiping it?

 

The pen seems clean and clear. The ink as I said before is non-waterproof, and it washes off completely if i get it on my hands with just a bit of water. Are there any stores that sell appropriate ink or do I need to order it online?

 

Also, is there a way to use this website to identify pens?

 

Thank you very much for your help. You are all very generous to help me.

[Stoneguard]

followed by a damp/moist one to wipe your nib after filling. The dry tissue will wick out the excess ink on the nib and feed. The damp one will wipe away the ink on the nib without drawing out more ink from the slit.

 

That is brilliant!!! Learn something new everyday, thanks mate. I always get it clean, and then a bit of my paper towel will touch the slit and will mess up my cleaning job, for some reason i have an obsession to have a shiny clean nib!

[Stoneguard]

 

Do you find any traces of the ink on your nib even after using the paper towel? Maybe there is supposed to be some ink there after dipping it and wiping it?

 

The pen seems clean and clear. The ink as I said before is non-waterproof, and it washes off completely if i get it on my hands with just a bit of water. Are there any stores that sell appropriate ink or do I need to order it online?

 

Also, is there a way to use this website to identify pens?

 

Thank you very much for your help. You are all very generous to help me.

 

No, i like to have a shiny clean nib, if i accidentally brush past the slit sometimes i get some ink, but i tend to spend a bit of time to make it all clean. and usually when im done you cant see any ink

 

I'm not to sure where abouts you're located, perhaps a Google search for a local pen store, if they stock fountain pens, which they should, they are bound to stock at least some types of ink. that would be my first call, there are places where you can order it online, however, im quite new to fountain pens so im not quite sure of any actual websites.

[olivier78860]

Indeed, drawing inks are _not_ to be used with fountain pens. They are nearly always containing lacquer or shellac that give very nice appearance on paper, but the drawback is that they clog the feeder. The good thing is that those inks usually get thinned with water without problem.

 

But then, load the pen 10 times with a mix of dishwashing soap and water (pure dishwasher soap the first times), shake the pen a lot to be sure no solid ink remains inside the pen (those dry up very fast) then completely clean with water until there is no bubble coming out anymore.

 

I did that mistake on an inexpensive pen lately, it took me 30 minutes of thorough cleaning to remove everything.

 

 

There are some traces of ink on the towel when you clean the nib because the feeder is full of ink. The complete diameter of the section surrounding the nib contains ink, the absorbing power of the towel doing the rest.

Edited August 12, 2011 by olivier78860

[USMCMom]

There will be ink as long as your pen is inked. I use the damp paper towel also and it does a good job.

 

As for inks ... Where I live, there are no stores that carry ink, so I order online. When I order I use gouletpens.com most of the time, but have also used peartreepens.com. There's a "Swab Shop" at goulets.com, where you can see all the different inks and colors. There's also a feature in the Swab Shop where you can check colors by ink brand, ink color group (blue, red, green brown and so on). It's fun to use the Swab Shop. Both gouletpens.com and peartreepens.com have samples that you can purchase for a very little amount of money. That way, you can try out different inks/colors before buying a whole bottle. There are many reputable places on the internet to buy ink. Be forewarned ... ink is addicting, as are pens. You get a bottle , then there are 3 ... next thing you know, you need a place to store them all, because you suddenly have 80+ bottles. LOL

 

About storage of inks ... if you buy bottles of ink, keep them in their boxes and away from sunlight. It's recommended that if you decide to change ink color and you still have ink in your pen, don't put what's in your pen back into the bottle. Doing that, you invite contamination and ugly things might start appearing in your bottles. When you're ready to use a new color, flush your pen well to remove the ink that was in there. There are threads here about how to do that and there are videos as well.

 

If you have questions ... ask. No one here was born with the knowledge they have ... every one was a rookie at some point. Our members are VERY generous with their knowledge and expertise. I'm still a bit of a rookie, so if I have a question, I ask. So, don't hesitate to do the same.

Edited August 12, 2011 by USMCMom

[olivier78860]

USMCMom : Last time I was at a local shop selling fountain pens and inks, I noticed the new Mont Blanc bottles have a "best before date" on them. I don't know if it's a marketing thing or something real, because I have bottles of ink from 10 years ago and ink hasn't changed at all, but I'll consider not stockpiling anymore now.

[USMCMom]

USMCMom : Last time I was at a local shop selling fountain pens and inks, I noticed the new Mont Blanc bottles have a "best before date" on them. I don't know if it's a marketing thing or something real, because I have bottles of ink from 10 years ago and ink hasn't changed at all, but I'll consider not stockpiling anymore now.

 

I'm not sure about dates on bottles of ink, but I don't really look for them either. I have ink that is very old ... very and the person before me practiced good ink hygiene and kept them out of the sun and basically took good care of them, because they still write beautifully and have no "off" smell or floating "things". As for an off smell ... I've never experienced that, so I can't say much about it.

 

I'm certain that a member or members with much more knowledge than I have will share what they know.

[Weiss.ar]

I think I may have a problem, but am hoping not. I just flushed the pen several more times (using dish soap as one member suggested)and I am now noticing a small black ring where the piston stops if i am lowering it towards where the nib would be. Was this ring always there to stop the piston, or is that residue from the poor ink choice i made? I only ask because the ink has washed out so easily from everything else and I've put so much water and soap and cleaned it so thoroughly with cue tips and tissues and no ink is coming off.

 

Thanks for your help, and also, where would be a good place on this website to help identify which type of Pelikan pen I actually have?

Edited August 12, 2011 by Weiss.ar

[olivier78860]

If it's an ink ring it will probably disappear when inked with your new ink, with time.

If it's a part of the piston, I hope you're good at mechanics

 

Try the Pelikan sub forum for identification (a picture uncapped might help)

[Ernst Bitterman]

By getting on the thing right away, you've likely prevented any serious damage. The ring you're seeing is a result of the bad ink, but it's at worst a reminder of a small folly. I'd say the course to follow at this time is to continue looking for Rapido-Eeze, and in the meantime fill the pen with a nice mild fountain pen ink of one of the sorts already suggested. When you get the Rapido-Eeze, flush the pen with it, and if the ring remains you should be able to clear it by unscrewing the point (a trick Pelikans are capable of) and apply a little more of the stuff with a Q-tip. Sometimes nothing but mechanical forces get rid of gunk.

[DaveO]

I was told at a nice pen shop that the Pelikan ink is one of the best. I have also heard that the Noodlers ink is also. I believe you have to order that off the internet.

 

DaveO

[WendyNC]

As for identifying your pen, go to this part of the Pen Review index and start clicking on links and looking at pictures.

 

As for cleaning the nib after filling, I'm lazy and just pass the nib and section under running tap water. I then use a tissue to soak up the water droplets (including on the underside of the feed) and then touch the nib to that tissue to draw ink into the feed.

[Namo]

For informations about in ks, look there, go to the REFERENCE PAGES item, then to TAKING CAR OF YOUR PEN. Among other very useful and interessting articles, you will find: INKS: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY.

 

Enjoy your reading!

[Shangas]

NEVER put ANYTHING apart from FOUNTAIN PEN INK into your pens. It'll destroy them. I've heard stories of people filling their pens with PAINT.

 

Fortunately it seems like a disaster has been averted.

 

Keep to fountain pen inks from major brands from now on.

 

Ink does not have an expiry date. But in older bottles of ink, you should check for floating sediment and signs of evaporation that might render the ink dangerous. Store ink in a cool, dark place where it can't evaporate or get contaminated and keep bottles firmly sealed.

 

If there's ink on the nib and it just stays there, then you have a condition called 'nib-creep'. This doesn't damage the pen in any way. It's just unsightly. I have heard tell that different brands of ink are worse with nib-creep than others, so you might want to experiment and see what ink is best.

[professionaldilettante]

If you're filling the pen as I think you are, there will be bound to be ink on the silver side of the nib. Just a fact of FP use, and you can either live with it, or just wipe it off. I usually don't care, as it reminds me what color I'm using in the pen.

[Redbarchettayyz]

 

Use dry tissue or paper towel for the nib and feed followed by a damp/moist one to wipe your nib after filling. The dry tissue will wick out the excess ink on the nib and feed. The damp one will wipe away the ink on the nib without drawing out more ink from the slit.

 

I wish I read this thread an hour ago, as I just finished inking two pens. Good to know, though. Thanks!