Fountain pens are one of the earliest models of the pen. However, the history of fountain pens can be traced far back to the 70s, and the pen concept has been preserved to date.
The fountain pen has a unique design that makes it stand out from the regular pen types we know, like the ball-point pen. The fountain pen ink is more watery than regular pens, and more care must be taken when using a fountain pen.
The use and maintenance of a fountain pen is different from other types of pens, requiring special attention to handle. Unlike normal pens that require almost zero attention when not in use, you need to store your fountain pen to avoid spillage. Let’s look at how to store a fountain pen properly.
Parts of a Fountain Pen
To properly understand how to store your fountain pen, we will show you the parts that make up the pen.
The Reservoir
The ink reservoir is the part of the pen that holds the ink. It is located in the pen’s handle, and an outer cover usually hides it. The ink reservoir of the fountain pen is usually available in two types: the refillable tank and the replaceable cartridge.
The refillable tank allows you to put in more ink when you’re running low, and you don’t have to worry about getting a new pen or replacing the reservoir. On the other hand, the ink cartridge allows you to change your tank when you run out of ink.
The Tube
The tube is the part of the pen that carries the ink from the reservoir to the nib, where it is used. The tube is a narrow path that later forks into three channels just before the nib. The tube ensures that the ink is delivered at a controlled rate.
The Nib
Fountain pen nibs are the part of the pen that the ink comes out of, and it is also the metal tip of the pen applied to the paper or other writing surfaces.
The other parts of the fountain pen include the cap, which is used to cover the nib when you’re not using the pen, and it also has a clip that can be used to attach the pen to your pocket. The collector is another component of the pen, and it is located before the nib.
How to Store a Fountain Pen
Storing your fountain pen is dependent on several factors, such as the length of time you won’t be using your pen, how much ink is left inside the pen, how much you’ve used the pen, and so on.
Some other factors like the general room temperature can also affect the storage of the pen.
Let’s discuss how to store a fountain pen properly.
Clean the Nib
We already described that the nib of your pen is the metal tip that the ink comes out of, and it is common for there to be ink lodged inside the nib after writing. Therefore, if you’re not using your pen for a while, you must clean out the nib.
If you store your pen without cleaning the nib, you may notice the nib becoming clogged, and the ink won’t flow out the next time you need your pen. So, always ensure that you completely clean out any left-over ink in the nib.
Use the Cap
After cleaning the pen’s nib, the next thing is covering the nib. The fountain pen usually comes with a cover or cap meant to cover the nib.
The cap is there to prevent the supply of ink from pouring out of the nib, especially if you plan to use your pen in a short time and don’t want to remove the ink.
The cap is also there to prevent air from getting into your ink and drying it up, particularly if you want to keep your pen for a while.
Ensure that the cap is well placed and locked into position.
Storage Position
The position you place your fountain pen in is very important and can determine whether or not you’ll notice spillage.
Generally, it is not advisable to store your pen with the nib facing down because the ink will get into your nib. Storing your pen with the nib down will cause gravity and capillarity to draw ink down into the nib, and it will eventually clog your nib or flood the cover with ink.
The optimal position to store your pen is with the nib facing upwards or horizontally. If you don’t have ink in your pen, you can use either method.
If you have ink in your pen and plan to store it for a short time, you can place the pen in the horizontal position. The horizontal position will prevent ink from pooling at the nib, but at the same time, it keeps the nib wet, and you can start writing immediately.
You can also store the pen vertically so that the ink will gather at the opposite end of the pen away from the nib. However, your pen won’t be ready for immediate use, and you will need to allow the ink to circulate properly before you can start writing.
If you keep your pen in a vertical position with the nib facing up, you can be certain that there will be no risk of leakage, and your nib won’t be clogged.
Conclusion
The fountain pen is an elite means of writing and is used to create beautiful calligraphy. However, a fountain pen is not like the regular pens we see, and it requires more attention to use and maintain.
Use the basic steps and instructions listed in this article to help you store your fountain pen. It’s not too difficult to do, but if you neglect to store your pen properly, some damage could be done.
