Cork Hydration/ Safety Pens

[linearM]

My question is related specifically to Moore Non Leakable pens but could have pertinence to other safety pens. I looked through some other posts regarding hydrating cork seal to make certain the cork does not dry out in storage. Some suggested keeping water in the pen to keep the cork from drying out and some suggested flushing the pen occasionally to keep a more humid atmosphere in the pen to keep the cork hydrated, but this was primarily with celluloid pens.

 

The warning is usually to avoid water with hard rubber pens because of what it does to the appearance (exterior) of the pen but does water have any real detrimental effect on the hard rubber. What is the best way to keep the cork from drying out in a vintage hard rubber pen when it isn't in rotation....occasionally flushing the pen with water, maintaining a bit of water in the pen...some other method?

[mirosc]

occasionally flushing the pen with water

that's my way of doing it. It hasn't done any harm to the pen - but (as you may have already read) an occasional fill with ink might be even better, because ink is better in preventing bacterias/fungus/... (just now I don't find the technical term in English, sorry)

 

But as modern corks (after a restoration) are usually cooked in paraffine they shouldn't shrink so soon.

[Ron Z]

Most pen mechanics use silicone grease to lubricate the cork, and some soak the cork in paraffin oil first, then use silicone grease before inserting in the barrel. In either case, the silicone grease will keep ink or water from reaching the cork, so no point in keeping the pen filled with either water or ink just to keep the cork wet.