How to Clean a Fountain Pen

#pen cleaning #figboot #fountainpens

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Figboot on Pens
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[fancyfaceb]

Great video, thanks! One tip I have for you - if you are saving the ink, put it in a clean sample vial instead of back into the ink bottle. You are introducing dirt/bacteria/mold into your ink bottle if you're putting the ink back into it. Instead, stick it in a vial and then use your syringe to put it into your converter or fill from the sample vial. I'm a biologist, , so I am very conscious of keeping things clean, so I even use a syringe to take the ink out of the bottle and fill either with the syringe or through a vial. I know there are antibacterials in the ink, but I also have heard of people's ink going 'off'. So for me, prevention is worth the extra effort! :)

[joanwerthman]

That cookie sheet is a great idea. I usually put mine in a Dixie cup lined with a paper towel and will add the silica packets that come In medicine bottles to help the contents dry. (At 71 with a senior dog, there are a few regular medications around, but these also come in regular packaging to help keep contents dry). My 823 never wants to dry in humid Florida. Takes at least a week.

More importantly, I use Brian Goulet’s advice to check the nib with a paper towel since sometimes the water will flow clearly, but ink will still come off on the towel from where it’s hiding. When that happens I usually let the nib soak in a cup of water. Now, I might well invest in a sonic cleaner.

[evanbasnaw]

While watching this video, I just realized that I could use a different fountain pen every week and make it almost a whole year without repeating.

[johnlopez]

Thank you for the CON-70 cleaning tip. You are helping to save time with cleaning that specific ink converter.

[popfoot]

I just found a number of pens I haven't used in years. This has been very helpful. Thank you.

[MarshaLove]

I put my cleaned pen parts in small super fine mesh bags before setting them aside to dry - each pen in its own bag. (Organza gift bags)
I don't have to worry about misplacing small parts, especially if I've taken a pen apart, or getting them mixed up when there are similar parts.
I accidentally bumped a tray of cleaned pens once and mixed things up. Oops.

[paulvestol]

For hard to get spots, like inside the section of a demonstrator, I use a water-pic like a mini pressure washer. Works great.

[zathrasnotzathras]

Very nice overview David. Thank you. I need to pick up some of those blunt syringes.

[michaelsimon]

Even after several years of cleaning pens I picked up some good tips. Thanks, David.

[davidingham]

Thanks for a great video, David. Much appreciated

[ctsealteam]

The more pen I have, the more I appreciate simple C/C pen as they are generally much easier to clean

[adrianthepoollegend]

Wow, your collection is amazing! I love it

[angelopaola]

Excellent review. Very informative and helpful
Thanks so much

[TomReinerDE]

That was super helpful, thank you so much.

[MichaelG]

I have very hard water from the tap where I live so I generally use bottled distilled water to clean my pens out. I don't want scale to build up in the converter, feed, etc.

[YT-hvro]

Thanks for the video! I'm definitely going to incorporate a few of these tips when I'm cleaning one of my pens next.

[SmasherBunny]

Thanks for this video! Any tips on thoroughly cleaning a Conklin Mark Twain Crescent Filler pen? :)

[OttomanPhotography]

Thank you for the structured approach … Question, if I may; would you put a Montblanc into an ultrasonic cleaners (would such a cleaner cause damage to the seals?) … thanks once again

[mahdigharavi]

Your tip on some Pilot converters was new to me. Thanks!

[MrDWinter]

Good video! I have three TWSBI 580s that I tend to use for specific colors (purple, green, and orange). For whatever reason I find the 580s really tough to get *fully* clean, so I wind up just kind of shrugging it off if (for example) there’s still a faint hint of Iroshizuku Muraski Shikibu in there - I’m just going to be filling it with Diamine Monboddos’ Hat anyway. So I’m glad to hear I’m at least in good company on that little bit of laxity. :)