Making The Transition From The Maintenance-Free World Of Ball Point Pens. Tips With My First Real Pen (Parker 51)

[El Psy Congroo]

While probably not as fancy looking as many pens here, I needed a good workhorse for class and this fit the criteria. Its an aerometric 1948 Parker 51 Signet. Im currently awaiting my first ink bottle and have several packs of Clairefontaine on the way in the mail. What would you tell a newbie who has no clue how to use his pen? When filling, would I only immerse the pen only up to the exposed nib/feed or would I dip it a little more towards (not past) the clutch ring? And if im correct, emptying and flushing the pen should be done every 2-4 weeks or in between color changes. I know filling involves pressing on the pressure bar but how do I empty it? If I have left over ink, can I empty this back into the ink bottle? Also, would pen flush be safe for my pen or would a few drops of ammonia in distilled room temperature water be sufficient? Any other things I should know?

[PAKMAN]

Great pen for a starting pen!! You just need to get the hood (part that covers nib) in the ink far enough so the opening at the nib is under the ink (keeps you from drawing air). You are right on flushing. Push the pressure bars 4-6 times and let it stay in the ink the last time for several (5-10 seconds) to fully fill. I wouldn't put the ink back in the ink bottle. Usually cleaning is just repeatedly squeezing bar in clean cool water till the pen runs mostly clean. No need to do more if you are keeping the same ink going. You didn't mention what ink you have coming, make sure it is a fountain pen ink and not a dip pen ink that could contain shellac that will goop up your 51.

[El Psy Congroo]

Great pen for a starting pen!! You just need to get the hood (part that covers nib) in the ink far enough so the opening at the nib is under the ink (keeps you from drawing air). You are right on flushing. Push the pressure bars 4-6 times and let it stay in the ink the last time for several (5-10 seconds) to fully fill. I wouldn't put the ink back in the ink bottle. Usually cleaning is just repeatedly squeezing bar in clean cool water till the pen runs mostly clean. No need to do more if you are keeping the same ink going. You didn't mention what ink you have coming, make sure it is a fountain pen ink and not a dip pen ink that could contain shellac that will goop up your 51.

I have Isroshizuko Asa-gao coming but im also contemplating on whether I should get Noodler's Black Swan in Australian Roses or Diamine Oxblood.

[PAKMAN]

All of those inks are great choices! enjoy!

[WirlWind]

I have Isroshizuko Asa-gao coming but im also contemplating on whether I should get Noodler's Black Swan in Australian Roses or Diamine Oxblood.

 

I'm a big fan of how Black Swan in Aussie Roses looks, I'm actually thinking of getting a bottle myself next week. Already have Apache Sunset and I love that

 

As for maintenance, there's not that much to keep up on really.

 

The only thing you need to do, really, is flush the pen every now and then + flush when changing inks.

 

I just fill a small cup up with filtered water and dip the pen in, squeeze the bar until the water is super inky, refill it, then squeeze once and empty in the sink. Only uses 2 cups of water that way. It can take a few minutes to get it done properly due to the filling method though.

 

Every few months (or more, just if your flow slows down mainly) you might need to do a flush with an ammonia flush to clear out any dried ink, but that's basically the same thing, except the second cup of water has like 1:10 ammonia and maybe a tiny drop of dish soap.

[Buzz_130]

Great first pen! And my EDC Parker "51" has Iroshizuku Asa-Gao loaded. This combination writes on almost everything, and the color is a great blue.

 

You "empty" the "51" by writing! Seriously, all common fountain pens use the method to fill them to also get rid of any excess ink.

 

I wouldn't recommend squeezing leftover ink from the pen back into the bottle. You don't want to take the chance of putting any contamination from your pen into your ink supply. Ink is cheap (relatively speaking); your pen is not.

 

There are a couple of topics posted recently about "pen flush." If you maintain good hygeine with your pen with water every month or so and with every ink change, you will likely never have to worry about a more potent solution. If you find a good pen in the wild or you let your pen sit too long without writing, then you may find a next for a more aggressive approach. Many would argue that water and patience are still the key in even these tough situations.

 

Enjoy your purchse!

 

Buzz

[ac12]

Oh man, nice pen.

BUT, I would NOT take a signent to school.

A gold pen like that will attract too much of the wrong kind of attention. You need to be VERY VERY careful with it, and put it back in your purse as soon as you finish using it. And NEVER NEVER leave it out on the desk or table and turn away from it. A pen can disappear into a pocket very easily, never to be seen by you again.

It if was a plain 51 with a chrome cap, that would be much better for a school environment.

 

Personally, I do not recommend you changing inks with the 51. Select one ink and stick with it. My experience with my 51s it that they are a difficult to clean out the old ink. More important if you are going from a dark ink (like black) to a lighter ink (like blue) where the old ink still in the corners and collector would "contaminate" the color of the new ink.

 

For your ammonia mix, get a small bottle and mix 1 part ammonia to 10 parts water. Then you know what ratio cleaning solution you have, and you have enough to use whenever you want/need it.

 

On your first cleaning, expect to spend about a week cleaning out the old ink from the pen. The old ink is probably dried out and/or gooey.

You will have to soak and blot out the ink in the collector, and hopefully the ink is not red or purple, as those have been the inks that took me the longest to clean out.

[Runnin_Ute]

I have never used anything stronger than warm tap water when cleaning a pen. Have there been times when I could have used a pen flush? Probably. Patience and water works well for me.

 

Enjoy your new pen!

[WirlWind]

I have never used anything stronger than warm tap water when cleaning a pen. Have there been times when I could have used a pen flush? Probably. Patience and water works well for me.

 

Enjoy your new pen!

 

Depends on the pen, really.

 

A full flush is more for pens that are hard to get all the ink out of, like the squeeze filler types.

 

Things like piston fillers or C&C's are much easier to flush generally, so you can get away with being less thorough.

 

And even then, we're not suggesting ammonia flushing every time, but it's something that should still be one once in a while to keep your pen the cleanest it can be.

[montserratplay]

I'm sorry; I don't have very many words of wisdom, but I thought I would say that I'm only a little further along than you are on your Parker 51 journey. I really love writing with mine and I'm sure you'll enjoy yours, too. Definitely give us updates!

[Bo Bo Olson]

The good thing is if you hold the fountain pen behind the big knuckle, at 45-40-35 degrees, you don't have to go weight lifting any more for your ball point which is like plowing the south forty with out the mule.

Fountain pens skate on a small puddle of ink, so no force is needed.

Hold your pen like you are holding a featherless baby bird.......don't make baby bird paste.

 

A P-51 is a medium-long pen that if posted has great balance. All vintage pens had to have great balance......modern ones don't.

I let the pen rest naturally at 45 degrees just after the big index finger's knuckle, or at the start of the web of my thumb at 40 degrees, some pens are heavier and rest well in the pit of my thumb at 35 degrees. I just let the pen decide where it wants to rest.

 

Vintage pens are made to post. Wax your pen and you don't have to worry about mars.

 

There were very few Large pens back in the day when one wrote 8 hours a day. The sleek Snorkel is thin, very well balanced and I was shocked to find out it was a Large pen. It posts well...if posted has great balance.

 

 

[El Psy Congroo]

Oh man, nice pen.

BUT, I would NOT take a signent to school.

A gold pen like that will attract too much of the wrong kind of attention. You need to be VERY VERY careful with it, and put it back in your purse as soon as you finish using it. And NEVER NEVER leave it out on the desk or table and turn away from it. A pen can disappear into a pocket very easily, never to be seen by you again.

It if was a plain 51 with a chrome cap, that would be much better for a school environment.

 

Personally, I do not recommend you changing inks with the 51. Select one ink and stick with it. My experience with my 51s it that they are a difficult to clean out the old ink. More important if you are going from a dark ink (like black) to a lighter ink (like blue) where the old ink still in the corners and collector would "contaminate" the color of the new ink.

 

For your ammonia mix, get a small bottle and mix 1 part ammonia to 10 parts water. Then you know what ratio cleaning solution you have, and you have enough to use whenever you want/need it.

 

On your first cleaning, expect to spend about a week cleaning out the old ink from the pen. The old ink is probably dried out and/or gooey.

You will have to soak and blot out the ink in the collector, and hopefully the ink is not red or purple, as those have been the inks that took me the longest to clean out.

In my case, it would be a murse or manbag lol.

 

And believe me, my eyes will never leave its sight. Im not too worried about losing it at school as I would likely not lend it out. And when its not use, it immediately goes into its case.

 

Good to know about the ink. I've been looking for an excuse to buy another pen lol.

 

Luckily for me, I've saved a week and just had my pen resaced for a fresh start with its new owner. As for when I actually clean it myself, i'll probably make a salad spinner centrifuge to help facilitate the cleaning process. Im thinking when the collector gets clogged and needs disassembly that I can use my ultrasonic cleaner to really clean it as well. But hopefully, the need for that wont come soon.

[El Psy Congroo]

The good thing is if you hold the fountain pen behind the big knuckle, at 45-40-35 degrees, you don't have to go weight lifting any more for your ball point which is like plowing the south forty with out the mule.

Fountain pens skate on a small puddle of ink, so no force is needed.

Hold your pen like you are holding a featherless baby bird.......don't make baby bird paste.

 

A P-51 is a medium-long pen that if posted has great balance. All vintage pens had to have great balance......modern ones don't.

I let the pen rest naturally at 45 degrees just after the big index finger's knuckle, or at the start of the web of my thumb at 40 degrees, some pens are heavier and rest well in the pit of my thumb at 35 degrees. I just let the pen decide where it wants to rest.

 

Vintage pens are made to post. Wax your pen and you don't have to worry about mars.

 

There were very few Large pens back in the day when one wrote 8 hours a day. The sleek Snorkel is thin, very well balanced and I was shocked to find out it was a Large pen. It posts well...if posted has great balance.

 

 

I tend to be a bit heavy on my pens so thanks for letting me know. and im guessing you meant "marks" and not "mars". Unless the fourth planet from the sun is really out to get me. D:

And yes, i'll make sure to get some wax.

[carlc]

I have never used anything stronger than warm tap water when cleaning a pen. Have there been times when I could have used a pen flush? Probably. Patience and water works well for me.

 

Enjoy your new pen!

 

Me too and I've used most filing systems over the years with no problems.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Yep, Mars is not mars. A mar is also a mark.

A P-51 has the perfect sac....they are still perfect after millions of words or 70 years in the back of a drawer.

In they are mostly a nail, that would be good for you, you baby bird paste maker you.

 

By and by your Hand will get lighter.

Do go look up 'death grip' in advanced search in this section.

Some folks also have the dreaded 'Kung Fu Crab Pinch'

[max dog]

If you use your pen everyday and ink is always flowing, then an occasional flush with water once very couple of months should be all you will ever need. It's only when you let ink sit in your pen unused, deposits can develop over time and cause blockage in the feed requiring more agressive cleaning. If you are not going to be using your pen for more than a few days, empty the ink and flush it out with water before storing it.

[ac12]

I second max dog

When ink dries in the collector, an ultrasonic cleaner (USC) will NOT get that ink off. Maybe you will get some off, but a lot will be left behind.

I know this because I have tried using a USC MANY times on used 51s from eBay. After the USC, I have to soak it off, and I always get a huge cloud of ink in my soak.

 

The hood of the 51 is normally sealed so it is very difficult for the user to remove without damage. So I would not try to remove the hood to get to the collector.

Edited February 27, 2014 by ac12

[Sandy1]

If you use your pen everyday and ink is always flowing, then an occasional flush with water once very couple of months should be all you will ever need. It's only when you let ink sit in your pen unused, deposits can develop over time and cause blockage in the feed requiring more agressive cleaning. If you are not going to be using your pen for more than a few days, empty the ink and flush it out with water before storing it.

 

Hi,

 

I very much agree with your suggestion to match pen use with maintenance practices.

 

However, unless the pen is thoroughly cleansed, I wouldn't let the pen dry-out. If I were to set aside a pen for a short time, then fill with the same ink, I'd leave the pen full of water during the interval.

 

When time comes to charge the pen, I'd expel as much of the the water as is practical, then fill with ink - giving the 51 squeeze bar a few extra squeezes to further dilute any residual water in the collector & reservoir. The ink is slightly diluted, though in practical terms, it would be highly unlikely for that to make a noticeable difference in appearance or performance. (Most inks can be diluted ~5% without blinking or blushing.)

 

Bye,

S1