Fountain Pens

Most suppliers will include one or two ink cartridges with a fountain pen when you first buy it. However, they soon run out, and you will have to order more.  A fountain pen goes through ink quicker than a ballpoint because the ink is water-based, so it’s best to buy a box of cartridges with your pen.

Fountain pens can bleed, but they don’t always do. Various inks interact with paper in different ways, and the type of paper also affects the ink’s penetration. The paper thickness and fiber size, together with the ink’s viscosity, determine the level of ink absorption and whether bleeding occurs.

Fountain pen ink cartridges do dry out. Opened cartridges can last up to a year inside a pen, but unopened cartridges can last much longer. Dry cartridges can be revived with distilled water or refilled with fresh ink. How the cartridge is stored determines how long it lasts before drying out.

Fountain pens use more ink than ballpoints because the ink is less viscous. A standard cartridge will last the average regular writer about a week before needing to be replaced, while a ballpoint can go for many months. However, fountain pens last for decades, and bottled ink is not that expensive.

The difference between fountain pens and calligraphy pens is primarily found in the nib, the pointy end dispersing ink. Fountain pens tend to have pointed nibs and store ink inside the body of the pen. Calligraphy pens, or dip pens, generally have broad and flat nibs that must be dipped into ink.

Remove the cap and barrel and empty the pen of ink. Remove the converter or cartridge and hold the nib under cool, running water until it is clear. Soak the nib in a cup of distilled or tap water for 10 to fifteen minutes. Flush the parts with clean water, dry them well and then reassemble the pen.

It is possible to write fast with a fountain pen, but it takes practice. Your writing speed with these pens depends on how often you use them, how long you have been using them, and the writing style that you use. To write faster, get comfortable, practice, and build muscle memory.

There are waterproof inks that can be used for fountain pens, but not all waterproof inks are fountain pen safe. Nano-particle inks and inks that contain cellulose-reactive dyes are waterproof and safe for fountain pens, but the pen must be cleaned and maintained well to prevent clogs and damage.

Most stamp ink is not safe for use in a fountain pen. There are some stamp inks that are water-based that may be safe, but most stamp inks are heavily pigmented or use thickeners like gum arabic. Thick, heavily pigmented ink will ruin a fountain pen. 

You can’t use fountain pen ink for stick and poke. These inks are water-based and will dissolve in plasma and blood, flushing the ink out of the skin during the tattooing process. Apart from the fact that the tattooed image won’t hold, fountain pen inks can be toxic and may lead to nasty infections.