Need Cleaning Help For Bsb Inked Pens

August 30, 2014

Several years ago, before I found this wonderful website, I had purchased Noodler's Bay State Blue ink to go into ALL my pens (yes, I heard the Siren's call. I'm completely enamored with that brilliant blue).

I had no idea that ANY ink could be bad for a fountain pen (save for India Ink). Unlike most pen users, I don't particularly like changing ink on a regular basis. My infatuation is primarily for the pens so, like Steve Jobs who only wore one kind of mock turtle-neck shirt and jeans, I wanted to use only one kind of ink.

I was completely indiscriminate about it. I loaded everything: Sheaffer Balance II Aspen, Parker 51, Parker Vacumatic, Parker Duo-Fold, Pelikan M100, Pilot MYU 701 and various Esterbrooks. (I was absolutely mad with desire for this ink.)

But, I started getting weird vibes almost immediately about the way it reacted in my different pens and within days I was flushing it out of almost everything I had. I could tell, almost within hours, that it was causing strange flow issues with some of my pens. I can't explain it. Almost like eating something foreign, while visiting a different country, and then quickly realizing that you were going to regret it in a few hours.

Now, here I am several years later, and I'm reading all this important information about NOT mixing BSB with other inks. I'm sure I didn't clean my pens as thoroughly as being suggested here, before I loaded BSB. And my writing experience, with the various pens, did begin to suffer. Skipping and bad ink flow became common to the point where I actually set my precious pens aside to focus on other hobbies for years.

I know I didn't have the BSB in my pens for very long (some pens maybe several months), but I want to give everything a complete cleaning today. What do you suggest I do in order to remove any former BSB ink from my nibs, sacks and converters? I don't really want to get into taking everything apart, unless I absolutely have to (I'm not familiar with the mechanics of these pens).

From my previous drafting days I have a bottle of Koh-i-noor Rapido-eze pen cleaner, and a small bottle of Higgins pen cleaner. Should I just soak my nibs and sacks for several days, or will I need an ultrasound cleaner?

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Edited August 30, 2014 by SomethingWicked

August 30, 2014

Several years ago, before I found this wonderful website, I had purchased Noodler's Bay State Blue ink to go into ALL my pens (yes, I heard the Siren's call. I'm completely enamored with that brilliant blue).

I had no idea that ANY ink could be bad for a fountain pen (save for India Ink). Unlike most pen users, I don't particularly like changing ink on a regular basis. My infatuation is primarily for the pens so, like Steve Jobs who only wore one kind of mock turtle-neck shirt and jeans, I wanted to use only one kind of ink.

I was completely indiscriminate about it. I loaded everything: Sheaffer Balance II Aspen, Parker 51, Parker Vacumatic, Parker Duo-Fold, Pelikan M100, Pilot MYU 701 and various Esterbrooks. (I was absolutely mad with desire for this ink.)

But, I started getting weird vibes almost immediately about the way it reacted in my different pens and within days I was flushing it out of almost everything I had. I could tell, almost within hours, that it was causing strange flow issues with some of my pens. I can't explain it. Almost like eating something foreign, while visiting a different country, and then quickly realizing that you were going to regret it in a few hours.

Now, here I am several years later, and I'm reading all this important information about NOT mixing BSB with other inks. I'm sure I didn't clean my pens as thoroughly as being suggested here, before I loaded BSB. And my writing experience, with the various pens, did begin to suffer. Skipping and bad ink flow became common to the point where I actually set my precious pens aside to focus on other hobbies for years.

I know I didn't have the BSB in my pens for very long (some pens maybe several months), but I want to give everything a complete cleaning today. What do you suggest I do in order to remove any former BSB ink from my nibs, sacks and converters? I don't really want to get into taking everything apart, unless I absolutely have to (I'm not familiar with the mechanics of these pens).

From my previous drafting days I have a bottle of Koh-i-noor Rapido-eze pen cleaner, and a small bottle of Higgins pen cleaner. Should I just soak my nibs and sacks for several days, or will I need an ultrasound cleaner?

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

August 30, 2014

I just use distilled water. Water pressure from a syringe. Disassemble the pen.

I heard the Platinum ink cleaner was pretty good.

August 30, 2014

I've had it in several pens, one a Pelikan M205 for months without use, and I've never had any issues at all. I think that I had a particularly mild batch (lucky me!).

I've since refilled the M205 (and other pens) with other inks, and all I used was tap water to flush them. My routine is to flush them, leave them stood nib down on a paper towel to wick out excess water, then flush again, and finally repeat the wick on paper towel.

Hope this helps. Welcome back to the greatest hobby going

August 30, 2014

Thank you Icywolfe and MBFan, I appreciate your input, especially about the Platinum ink cleaner.

I assumed, since it's been a couple of years since I mixed BSB and other inks into my pens, that it might be harder to get the pens cleaner than just using tap water. Maybe the whole BSB thing was just blown out of proportion.

Edited August 30, 2014 by SomethingWicked

August 30, 2014

For old ink, I've been surprised many times how soaking the pen draws out ink that flushing does not.

So I would also soak the pen, loaded with a cleaner like 10% ammonia, nib down in a cup of cleaner to just below the first section/barrel joint.

August 30, 2014

Thank you Icywolfe and MBFan, I appreciate your input, especially about the Platinum ink cleaner.

I assumed, since it's been a couple of years since I mixed BSB and other inks into my pens, that it might be harder to get the pens cleaner than just using tap water. Maybe the whole BSB thing was just blown out of proportion.

I use pressurized water from syringe. It apparently works wonders. Just gonna hurt your hand from pressing hard.

August 31, 2014

For old ink, I've been surprised many times how soaking the pen draws out ink that flushing does not.
So I would also soak the pen, loaded with a cleaner like 10% ammonia, nib down in a cup of cleaner to just below the first section/barrel joint.

+1 on this.

For most inks, you'll want to use 10% clear ammonia. BSB may need sterner stuff; alcohol will cut it if you're brave enough to put it in your pen. I've run it through several modern pens with no visible ill effect, but nothing with a sac. I wouldn't soak it either, which is what it might need if it's dried in the feed.

Anything you can get to the feed and use a brush on - the Esterbrooks, the Pelikan, any Jinhao, Safari, or cheap Pilots - that might help too.

August 31, 2014

For the sacks I have no idea I have never owned a pen with a sack. For the piston fillers and the like diluted bleach does the trick a 1-10 ratio roughly. I don't know how long I would soak my pens in a bleach mixture but flushing them has always worked for me.