If you’re the type of person who loves pens, then you’ll definitely want to know more about fountain pens. Fountain pens are the ultimate in writing instruments – they’re classy, elegant, and come in a variety of styles and materials. They can be a great addition to any writer’s collection. Here is an overview of what you should know before using a fountain pen for the first time.
What is a Fountain Pen?
A fountain pen is an elegant writing instrument that comprises three parts:
- Nib
- Barrel
- ink reservoir
The nib is where the ink comes out of when you write; this part can be made from a variety of materials including gold or steel.
The barrel holds all of these components together and also acts as an ink reservoir; it typically has a cap that prevents the nib from drying out when not in use.
Finally, the ink reservoir holds liquid ink that flows through the pen when it is used for writing. It's important to note that there are two types of reservoirs: internal ones (which are usually located inside the barrel) and external ones (which are located outside).
How to Fill Your Fountain Pen With Ink
The process for filling your fountain pen up with ink may vary depending on its type; however, most pens will use either cartridges or converters. Cartridges are small plastic tubes filled with ink that fit directly into your pen's barrel; often, these cartridges come pre-filled but can also be refilled with bottled ink if necessary.
Converters are refillable reservoirs that attach to your pen's nib and allow you to fill your pen up with bottled ink without having to buy new cartridges each time it runs dry. To fill your converter up, simply unscrew it from your fountain pen's barrel and fill it with bottled ink using either an eye dropper or syringe. When you're finished filling it up, screw it back onto your fountain pen and start writing!
Varying Nib Sizes For Different Writing Styles
Fountain pens come in different sizes so you can find one that suits your particular writing style best. Nib sizes range from extra fine (EF) all the way up to broad (B), so choose one based on how thin or thick you want your lines to be when writing on paper.
Extra fine nibs produce thinner lines while broad nibs produce thicker lines; if you're just starting out and aren't sure which size would work best for you yet, try experimenting with different ones until you find one that feels comfortable in your hand!
For our first collection, all eight trims have a medium (M) nib. You can see our full catalog here.
Tips for Writing with a Fountain Pen
Writing with a fountain pen can take some getting used too since there is no ballpoint or rollerball tip like most other pens on the market today. To get started, try using light pressure as you write and make sure each stroke is even and consistent across all letters in order to ensure that each letter looks neat and uniform in size.
Additionally, when using thicker papers such as cardstock or watercolor papers be sure not press too hard while writing as this could cause damage or clogging of your nib over time. Finally, if your writing seems shaky or uneven at first don’t worry – practice makes perfect! Just keep practicing until your handwriting feels more natural with your new fountain pen.
Ink Types
Fountain pens use different types of ink depending on their design and intended purpose. Water-based inks are often used in fountain pens due to their low viscosity which allows them to flow easily through the nibs without clogging up or drying out too quickly.
Other types of inks include pigment-based inks which offer higher levels of opacity, dye-based inks which offer vibrant colors but also tend to bleed more than water-based inks, and shimmering/metallic inks which provide a glittery effect when applied on paper surfaces.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Fountain pens should be regularly cleaned after each use by flushing them out with warm water using a syringe or eyedropper (for piston fillers). This helps prevent any build up from clogging up your nibs or preventing your pen from functioning properly over time.
In addition, certain parts such as feeders may need occasional lubrication depending on how often you use your pen so make sure you read through your manual carefully before attempting any repairs yourself!
Using a fountain pen is a great way to add some elegance to your writing experience - whether you're jotting down notes for work or journaling at home! They come in many shapes, sizes, colors and materials so there's sure to be one out there that fits perfectly into your lifestyle.
Before using one though, make sure you understand how they work - what type of filling system works best for them as well as which nib size suits your handwriting style best - so that you can get maximum enjoyment out of this timelessly classic piece of writing technology!
So go ahead – give it a try – we promise you won’t regret investing in quality time spent honing this timeless craft!