Cleaning A Pen With Warm Water

[TheCaptain]

Hello all,

 

I just have a quick question with regards to how to clean out a pen. I'm new to using fountains pens so I'm not quite sure what to do. I was told that when switching inks it is important to clean out the pen thoroughly so the inks don't mix and potentially create sediment (or something like that). I have, however, found some contrasting advice regarding how exactly to clean the nib out. One person told be that a could use a syringe to push water through. Another has told me that I shouldn't force water through and I should just let run warm water through the nib. I'm sorry if this is a repeat on this forum (I did have a quick look but didn't see this elsewhere) and I'm sorry if this is a basic question. I just have a couple of new inks I can't wait to try out.

 

Thanks for any thoughts.

[watch_art]

Force it through!

 

[mdbrown]

I use the converter to force water through it.

[RudyR]

Force it through!

 

 

I do the same and even use the suction of the bulb to backwash by pulling water through the nib and feed.

[OcalaFlGuy]

Take the nib section into the shower with you and use the hand held shower massager to flush it.

 

 

Don't laugh, it works great.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

[Stompie]

Take the nib section into the shower with you and use the hand held shower massager to flush it.

 

 

Don't laugh, it works great.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

 

 

and during the half hour it takes to get the ink off of you, the pen gets a thorough rinse out! :ltcapd:

[TheCaptain]

Thanks for all the advice. I got a squeezy bulb and it's working great!

[mhosea]

I thought maybe I should add here since the title says "warm water" that with some pens you need to stick to cool or at most lukewarm water. It just depends on the pen.

[watch_art]

when should you be worried about using warm water? Anything at 140 F could melt shellac, and loosen sacs or seals, but warm water... What harm would come?

[AltecGreen]

when should you be worried about using warm water? Anything at 140 F could melt shellac, and loosen sacs or seals, but warm water... What harm would come?

 

 

Warm water leeches the plasticizer from celluloid. It will haze the celluloid.

[watch_art]

Very good to know - thanks!

[WhosYerBob]

Warm water leeches the plasticizer from celluloid. It will haze the celluloid.

+1 on this. I had a beautiful pen become utterly destroyed simply because I used rinse water that was too warm; it literally fell to pieces in my hands. Now I use cold to cool water only.

[Hooker56]

Take the nib section into the shower with you and use the hand held shower massager to flush it.

 

 

Don't laugh, it works great.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

 

 

It's very apparent that Bruce loves his old pens....

[Lloyd]

Take the nib section into the shower with you and use the hand held shower massager to flush it.

 

 

Don't laugh, it works great.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

 

 

It's very apparent that Bruce loves his old pens....

Which "it" are you referring to?

[LedZepGirl]

Rule of thumb, I always use cool or room temperature water when cleaning pens. You never know what warm or hot water might do.

[Sasha Royale]

The "squeezy" bulb works great. In my local drugstore, it is called a

Baby's Ear Bulb. I cut of the tip, little-by-little" until the opening

fits my pen section thighly. Two bulbful flushes from either end of

the section takes 45 seconds. It is sufficient to clean a Parker 45.

I use a medical syringe to flush the cartridge/converter, when needed.

 

I have what approaches 100 fountain pens. I have syringes and ear bulbs,

and other people's paper ia no longer good enough for my ink. Family is

starting to talk about me as if I live in a badger hole.

 

Sorry, Bruce ! I am NOT taking my fountain pens into the shower.

(And if I do, I aint tellin'.)

[Tdot]

I understood that warm(er) water can also "melt" and wash away the lubricant in piston fillers. True? Myth?

[Nathaniel Harter]

will the squeeze bulb work with a snorkel fountain pen with no harm?

[watch_art]

where would you put the squeeze bulb? over the snorkel? I wouldn't. Just cycle water in and out with a bit of shaking with clean water in the pen so you can clean it out a bit faster.

[whych]

when should you be worried about using warm water? Anything at 140 F could melt shellac, and loosen sacs or seals, but warm water... What harm would come?

 

 

Warm water leeches the plasticizer from celluloid. It will haze the celluloid.

Only if it is above 140 F, which is hotter than 'warm'

Warm/lukewarm water is fine for most pens.