How Do I Prepare A Brand New Pen?

[Titanic9990]

So i just purchased my first "real" fountain pen, a waterman apostrophe, and know that there are steps one needs to take to prepare pen for use and ink insertion, but all the places i have looked had different options. I just wondered if anyone could sum up the steps that they use! Thanks -Titanic9990

[ThirdeYe]

I just ink it up and go. :roflmho: If the pen was used, I flush it with water first and make sure it's clean.

[farseer911]

I like to sit down with the pen for a few hours in a nice comfortable place. Talk to it for a while. tell it what it really means to be my pen. What I typically do with some of my pens then introduce it to the inks. Kinda warm it up to what lays ahead. I really do not like to shock them in any way. I want them to be prepared for what lay ahead....

[ru32day]

I flush a few times with clean water. If it shows any sign of ink (eg use or dip testing), I soak the nib/feed in plain water for a few hours as well.

 

Some people recommend a drop of dishwashing liquid and/or a very mild household ammonia solution. I wouldn't go to those lengths unless the pen played up after the plain water treatment.

Edited December 29, 2010 by ru32day

[dnb]

I've learned to always put a new pen in warm water for a while, then flush the nib. Even if nothing is wrong, it can't hurt it. And if something is, you've solved a potential disappointment. It'll take more time to do it if the pen doesn't work correctly because you'll have to flush the ink now, too.

[MarkAL]

:roflmho:

I like to sit down with the pen for a few hours in a nice comfortable place. Talk to it for a while. tell it what it really means to be my pen. What I typically do with some of my pens then introduce it to the inks. Kinda warm it up to what lays ahead. I really do not like to shock them in any way. I want them to be prepared for what lay ahead....

:roflmho:

[mholve]

Fill it with ink and go crazy.

 

If it doesn't flow quite like it should (dry, scratchy) I might flush it out with cool water with a drop of dish soap detergent.

[ArchiMark]

I always test the pen with water first...fill and flush into a cup...this way I get to see:

 

A) If filling system is working properly without filling with ink (important if you bought new pen and you want to be able to return it if there's problem...)

 

If pen was used before, by looking at what comes out of pen when you flush into cup....I've been quite surprised on several occasions at how much ink comes out of pen, especially, if I was told by seller that it's 'brand new, never been inked'.....

 

The above saves some time and energy versus filling up pen with ink when you get pen and then finding out there's issues with pen....

 

Works for me....but YMMV......

[ThirdeYe]

I always test the pen with water first...fill and flush into a cup...this way I get to see:

 

A) If filling system is working properly without filling with ink (important if you bought new pen and you want to be able to return it if there's problem...)

 

If pen was used before, by looking at what comes out of pen when you flush into cup....I've been quite surprised on several occasions at how much ink comes out of pen, especially, if I was told by seller that it's 'brand new, never been inked'.....

 

The above saves some time and energy versus filling up pen with ink when you get pen and then finding out there's issues with pen....

 

Works for me....but YMMV......

 

That's a good point about trying water first due to return policies. If I get a newer, expensive pen I'll have to keep that in mind.

[Scrawler]

So i just purchased my first "real" fountain pen, a waterman apostrophe, and know that there are steps one needs to take to prepare pen for use and ink insertion, but all the places i have looked had different options. I just wondered if anyone could sum up the steps that they use! Thanks -Titanic9990

If a pen was made in China, you flush it carefully several times with a drop of detergent in tepid water, then wash it and dry it carefully, then follow all the other suggestions everyone else has made.

[Quixote]

I like to sit down with the pen for a few hours in a nice comfortable place. Talk to it for a while. tell it what it really means to be my pen. What I typically do with some of my pens then introduce it to the inks. Kinda warm it up to what lays ahead. I really do not like to shock them in any way. I want them to be prepared for what lay ahead....

 

I hope you buy them dinner first. I am sure they're not that kinda pen...

[Bo Bo Olson]

If it's a C/C pen, or a Pelikan or other twist out nib pens, you need a rubber ear syringe to clean the pen out easily and quickly when you change inks.

 

The syringe like a good 10-15 X power loupe is a once in a life time buy, but needed.

[nxn96]

I think it's not a bad idea to flush any pen before your first use, irrespective of whether it is new or used/vintage. As others have noted, a used/vintage pen (particularly one that you're not buying fresh from the restorer) typically has some old dried up ink sitting in it that needs to get out of there for you to get the best out of the pen. In those cases, I've found that water alone only gets you so far; you really need a good flush or two with a 10% ammonia mix in water to get the old ink out.

 

For a new pen, a simple water flush should be all you need with the sort of pen you've got.

 

Hope this helps, and hope you enjoy your new pen.

[burmeseboyz]

Before inking up every new pen, I usually dip the nib in water and try writing with it to get a feel for any nib problems. If it's scratchy with water, it's probably going to be scratchy with ink. You should check if the tines are aligned with a 10x loupe or a strong magnifying glass. In a pinch, you can probably use grandpa's glasses. If you're short sighted like I am, you can see closer by taking off your glasses.