Why Lukewarm Water?

[Autococker07]

Hi y'all,

 

For today's "I'm an absolute moron, please keep me from screwing this up" question, why does Montblanc suggest cleaning with "lukewarm" water? (I thought I saw somewhere, cold water only, but cannot find that reference).

 

I have a tankless water heater that we keep set to 115F (46C), because we have little ones and don't want to scald them.... would that temperature damage a fountain pen? it is just a bit higher than comfortable, but will not burn skin at that temp....

 

I have noticed that it flushes pens out MUCH better than colder water (all of our water here is no colder than 68F (20C), ever.

 

I'm not going to melt the magic out of my nice pens am I?

[kandarp]

Thanks! Your post put a smile on my face.

 

Here is another discussion that I found. However, I don't think they came to a conclusion.

[meiers]

Perhaps you are overthinking this.

Cool or tepid tap water is fine.

Edited May 13, 2018 by meiers

[niksch]

It's chemistry. You can dissolve more sugar in hot water/tea than cold water/tea, right? Same with ink.

 

I think lukewarm water is a holdover from the days of hard rubber. Hot water (not clearly defined) discolors hard rubber. I'm sure I learned that the hard way.

 

I think the more modern materials on today's pens could withstand warmer temps, but why push luck?

[Autococker07]

Thanks! Your post put a smile on my face.

 

Here is another discussion that I found. However, I don't think they came to a conclusion.

 

Posted 20 January 2013 - 04:41

 

I cleaned my Pelikan 140 with warm water; a lot more old ink came out than with cold water, but the piston rapidly became less smooth so I quickly switched to colder water again...wereafter the piston retained is normal function.

So warm water cleans very well, but does strange things to your pen.

This is a quote from that conversation (thank you very much!) and it is exactly why I asked..... I also rinsed my pelican 140 with "warmer than lukewarm" water and noticed a bit of stickiness in the piston..... it doesn't happen with cold.....

Back to the cold water dungeon.... errrr. sink with the lot of you! Now how to explain to momma that I need a new pen for every color..... can't have the inks mixing now can we

Thanks again y'all.... more dumb questions soon, I promise....

Edited May 13, 2018 by Autococker07

[meiers]

I enjoy your questions and the discussions they spark. Thank you.

[Chrissy]

I tend to use lukewarm water because it's easier on my hands than very cold water. Tepid or lukewarm won't damage your pens. Very hot water might.

[kandarp]

This makes sense too. I avoid cold or hot water just for this reason.

 

I tend to use lukewarm water because it's easier on my hands than very cold water. Tepid or lukewarm won't damage your pens. Very hot water might.

[hari317]

I use room temperature tap water. Here in Bombay tap water is at a temperature very comfortable to use directly.

 

Waters surface tension reduces as its temp is increased. This is why you see more effective dissolution of ink residue during flushing.

 

Too high water temperature might destroy the set of plastic feeds to the nib and compromise seals.

Edited May 13, 2018 by hari317

[Ghost Plane]

Another denizen of the tropics where the tap water (especially in the summer - just had my first 93F/34C day of the year) is definitely warm. I suspect the recommendation is for all the folks living in climates where the pipes freeze or come close to it in the wintertime.

[blottingpaperforlife]

Ghost Plane, I am wondering if more care is needed to protect the pens themselves because of the relatively high temperatures in your area. It would be helpful to know what has been your experience with the Blue Hour and other Montblanc pens.

[niksch]

Ghost Plane, I am wondering if more care is needed to protect the pens themselves because of the relatively high temperatures in your area. It would be helpful to know what has been your experience with the Blue Hour and other Montblanc pens.

 

This is a great question. I cannot speak for GP, but at altitude here in CO where I live, I take precautions to protect my pens from direct sunlight. I have Eversharp and John Holland glass counter/sales cases full of my vintage FPs on display, and I move them periodically throughout the year to avoid direct sunlight.

[Tom Kellie]

Another denizen of the tropics where the tap water (especially in the summer - just had my first 93F/34C day of the year) is definitely warm. I suspect the recommendation is for all the folks living in climates where the pipes freeze or come close to it in the wintertime.

 

~ Ghost Plane:

 

A 34ºC day sounds sweltering.

Here it's 20ºC in mid-morning, a pleasant temperature.

Pipes don't freeze here, yet it's never excessively warm.

Tepid water seems to be adequate for flushing pens, with no adverse consequences thus far.

I feel for you having to work in such heat.

Tom K.

[niksch]

 

~ Ghost Plane:

 

A 34ºC day sounds sweltering.

Here it's 20ºC in mid-morning, a pleasant temperature.

Pipes don't freeze here, yet it's never excessively warm.

Tepid water seems to be adequate for flushing pens, with no adverse consequences thus far.

I feel for you having to work in such heat.

Tom K.

 

Never feel sorry for someone who chose to live in Florida. I heard they condition their air now.

[kandarp]

Do you have a picture handy of this display case? I'll be interested to see what treasures it contains.

 

 

This is a great question. I cannot speak for GP, but at altitude here in CO where I live, I take precautions to protect my pens from direct sunlight. I have Eversharp and John Holland glass counter/sales cases full of my vintage FPs on display, and I move them periodically throughout the year to avoid direct sunlight.