Hello everyone,

I think that the Starwalker is going to be my first fountain pen. The rubber and platinum version is absolutely stunning. I was just curious what kind of periodic maintenance it should receive as I am unfamiliar with owning a fountain pen. Thanks so much everyone!! Cheers.

-Antonio

Nothing too fancy, just flush it with water every couple cartridges. This will keep any debris or dry ink from clogging up the works. Montblanc makes hi-speed widgets to making flushing easy or you can just run it under your faucet.

Sums it up. Whats this "hi-speed widget" you are talking about?

PRAG

It is a cross between a cartridge and a turkey baster. They come loaded with some cleaning solution and you basically plug it into your section and squeeze. The solution is forced out through the feed and nib. It essentially backflows cleaner and clears any gunk out of the works. I haven't seen them on the MB refills site but your local boutique will have them. I believe they come in a 3-pack.

Cool. I didn't know that.

What should I do to flush the pen? Just take the cartridge out and run it under a tap? Thanks.

Yep, just take the cartridge out and hold the nib/gripping section assembly under the tap until the water runs clear.

This is all I've ever done with my SW, which was in rotation for three years non-stop. After flushing with cool water, I wrap the nib section in a paper towel and holding the wrapped nib securely, flick my wrists a few times to get the water out of the nib section. That tells me if I've flushed the nib section out enough. (This step is more for changing ink colors or for taking the pen out of rotation for a while.)

Nice choice! I'm very happy with my StarWalker.

Oh, let me add, you can dry out a nib quickly after flushing by putting it point-down on a paper towel at the bottom of a glass. For cartridge/converter pens, I set the barrel and cap aside, and put the nib/section assembly into a shot glass with a little paper towel at the bottom.