I have a Platinum pen I purchased from Stan. This pen just won't write easily. I can even just dip the pen in ink and it won't write, so I suspect it's the actual nib's problem. Is there anything I can do to make this pen increase its ink flow with the use of very basic things available around the house? I don't want to buy any special equipment to fix a cheap pen.

Do I try to stretch the 2 nibs apart a bit?

A blast of compressed air on the tines using Dust Off, floss the tines with dental floss or a piece of thin plastic. I've used the first method successfully twice.

I joined this forum because a problem similar to yours vexed the jeebers out of me. If you search on my name you'll find a good set of links about Dust Off. Note the above work only for what likely is ink or some gunk blocking flow, rather than a true malfunction with the tines.

Hi Betty,

My thoughts are first have you had a good look at the nib through a loupe? Does anything look wrong. Compare with other pens if you are not sure.

The next thing is that if you want to floss between the tines, then use an old bit of 35mm film. To get the emulsion off, soak it in some very hot but not boiling water and then it all scrapes off easily. just work that between the tines and the check that all is aligned.

Finally, you could try writing it in on a bit of brown craft paper. Just try figures of 8 and zigzag strokes, should help. Best to use a bit of free-flowing ink, I use Quink Washable Blue, not the best colour, but a great ink for testing and working with pens as you can get it off you and flush it out of the pen easily.

Hope this helps,

Jim