{"id":706,"date":"2014-01-13T21:38:31","date_gmt":"2014-01-13T21:38:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/?p=706"},"modified":"2019-01-10T10:13:07","modified_gmt":"2019-01-10T10:13:07","slug":"simple-fountain-pen-maintenance-beginners-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/pens\/fountain-pens\/simple-fountain-pen-maintenance-beginners-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Simple fountain pen maintenance – a beginners guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Fountain<\/p>\n

Whether you own a simple Parker Pen or a fabulous Caran d\u2019Ache<\/a>, the truth is that no matter how expensive your pen is, you are still going to have to maintain it to ensure its quality.<\/p>\n

Here is a simple guide to looking after and fixing your fountain pen<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Cleaning<\/b><\/p>\n

If you use your pen on a day-to-day basis, flushing the system at least once a month could well save your pen a trip to a specialist.<\/p>\n

To do this, you can simply flush the ink through with one part ammonia and two parts water.<\/p>\n

Repeat the process three our four times to ensure a clean flush. By doing this, you can avoid the most common clogging problems.<\/p>\n

Bear in mind however, if your pen is particularly old, it is important that you only use water, as ammonia can eat through the aluminium.<\/p>\n

Cartridge\/ Converter Pens<\/b><\/p>\n

If your pen uses cartridges, it is important that you clean your pen regularly, and it is very important that you never put your pen away for a long period of time with ink in the cartridge.<\/p>\n

Solutions you should not use<\/b><\/p>\n

Avoid any contact with the more aggressive substances, as they can degrade, discolour and damage the workings of your pen. Aggressive substances can include:<\/p>\n