How To Clean A Fountain Pen Nib

Part of being a fountain pen owner is maintaining your writing instrument, and one of the best ways to do this is with regular fountain pen cleaning. This keeps your fountain pen writing well and performing at its best to give you the most enjoyable writing experience. 

While a general flushing usually gets the job done, there are some situations where you need to do a more thorough cleaning. This involves taking your fountain pen apart to inspect every component and ensure it is free of dried ink or other residue. Here, we’ll be talking about how you can clean a fountain pen nib. 

Unscrew the section from the barrel

First, uncap your pen and unscrew the grip section from the barrel. This will make handling your nib much easier while you clean it. 

Remove ink cartridges or converters 

Once you have done this, it’s time to clear your pen of any ink. Remove the ink cartridge or converter from the section and set it aside. 

Flush or soak the section, feed, and nib

Place the opening of your pen’s grip section under a stream of cool water. This should flush any excess ink and residue out of your nib. Fountain pen brands like Sailor also offer maintenance kits that have washing nozzle attachments to flush water or a cleaning solution through the nib. 

Soaking the nib in water overnight can thoroughly clean out any leftover stains. 

However, there are times when flushing and soaking may not be enough to clean all the particles and stains from your fountain pen’s nib. This is where dismantling your pen completely may be necessary. 

Remove the nib from the section and feed

There are two ways to remove your pen’s nib from the feed and section. Making sure your hands are clean and dry, grip the nib firmly and pull. In most cases, it should come straight out of the pen. A trick that makes this step easier is to put a piece of tape on top of the nib before gripping it and pulling it out. You may also use a rubber nib grip to do this. 

Clean the nib

Once you have separated the nib, you can run it under water again to wash away any ink and particles that are stuck, such as those present in sheening and shimmering inks. Wipe gently with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove the residue. 

If there are stubborn bits of ink or shimmer that the water won’t wash away, then you may use a soft bristled toothbrush to gently scrub the nib. Be very gentle with this step as you don’t want to damage your fountain pen nib, especially if it is made of more delicate materials. 

Once you’ve cleaned the nib thoroughly, repeat the process for the feed. This is to ensure that all leftover ink and particles are removed and will not clog the nib again. 

Dry the nib

Using a clean, lint-free cloth, lay out the nib, feed, and section to dry completely. Once dry, reassemble your pen carefully. 

Reinsert your cartridge or converter, wait for a few minutes for the ink to flow, and then test your pen. If the nib is clean and has been inserted properly, then it should write smoothly with no issues. 

And there you have it! Cleaning your fountain pen nib may require a little more extra work and care, but it is fairly simple to do. 

Written by EndlessPens Blogger Ramona Kabigting