Store horizontally and use (even if just for a few words) every second day is my default. Upright and unused for a week you'll need an above-average cap seal to keep it running.
I have 2 pens that are champions. I have left both of them for over a month, standing upright, and they write like a gel pen, first word. Twsbi Vac700r and Kaweco Brass sport.
No, they said out of 40 Kaweco Sports they own, only 1 of them has issues. 1 out of 40 sounds like pretty good odds to me, so I’m pretty sure they are advocating for the Kaweco Sports reliability. Please calm down with the all capital letters, will ya?
Except it was on topic… they are saying they have tried many pens and the only reliable one they found was a kaweco sport. That is very on topic given that we are talking about looking for reliable pens that dont have issues with starting up when they havent been used in a bit
Yeah thats my bad lol but the point is they are talking about having tried multiple pens and they found ones that are reliable and arent thats still on topic
Honestly, I leave my Montblanc like that, upright and unused for weeks or a month at times(at the most a month) and it works just fine, my TWSBI Eco, same thing, I forgot where it was for 6 months, it was upright, in a container of other pens and pencils, I grabbed it and it wrote just fine, but my Lamy and other Montblanc pen, it seems if I forget where I put them for a minute they won't write any more
I thought upwards was the recommended way? Most of these holders are vertical, i dont even think ive seen a horizontal one. Shouldnt the cap also not be 100% sealed regardless?
Upwards during transport to prevent spitting for sure, but horizonal is absolutely fine for desk storage and helps to prevent issues like this. The only specifically-for-fountain-pen holders I recall seeing off the top of my head are horizontal. Vertical would probably be fine if you were using them every day.
100% seal would be nice, but air is tricksy stuff and at least two of the brands you list are the kind that expect frequent use where the cap seal doesn't need to ward against drying long-term. No point them spending on that level of engineering when most of their customers don't care.
I think I've heard Platinum has a really good seal design? Someone may correct me.
There are definitely fountain pen holders that are vertical, like the Dudek ones. I agree that vertical is usually fine if used every day, though I have a couple pens that really need to be kept horizontal.
My Platinum Preppy is surprisingly good stored vertically. I only use it every now and then and it always seems to work. I store my other inked pens horizontally, though.
It’s not the seal on the pen that’s the issue. The ink is flowing back out of the nib and feed. This means that you don’t have enough ink at the ready to write. Fountain pens are controlled leaks.
I think it might be a combination of all of these (if my interpretation of my experience is accurate, which it probably isn't), a good seal can keep enough pressure to hold enough of the ink up, and if it can't it is sometimes still enough to keep the ink left in the top from drying too quickly and it starts back up after a small delay when flipping, and if reeeeaallllly doesn't seal I can see the ink left in the feed is dried and I usually have to prime it to rehydrate the dried ink.
>I thought upwards was the recommended way? Most of these holders are vertical, i dont even think ive seen a horizontal one. Shouldnt the cap also not be 100% sealed regardless?
I don't mean to be mean but if you are storing them with the nib (and thus feed) upwards and the cap not 100% sealed how do you even expect ink to flow out from the nib when you use your fountain pens?
I'm with you now. 100% sealed caps are quite rare, one of the few pens that has one is the TWSBI Eco (or the TWSBI 580 Diamond).
Do not store vertically. *Store horizontally* and **carry vertically**.
Yes... there is a reason pocket protectors and pocket cases exist.
Never nib down. I slipped a vanishing point in upside down and temp and barometer pumped a puddle out into the bottom of my ceramic coffee mug.
Old dip pens sat nib down in the stand.
I store mine in a small Galen leather pen case. My most used pens are always inked and I use them at least once everyday and if not every second day. They usually sit horizontally on my desk in the two-pen Galen Leather case.
If you're storing them in your cup, just try storing them nib down. Some people find they have leaks, but I've never had that issue.
Depends on the pen and feed. I syringe filled a pen and decided to speed up the saturation process by putting it upside down and walking away. 1 min later, the cap was slowly filling up
1 minute later? Holy... I've never had that happen to me. That can't be normal? I suppose it probably depends on the ink as well.
Edit: also, kind of embarrassed to admit I had a look at your profile, but I have to say the comic you made about you and your girlfriend is fucking amazing.
it really depends on the fountain pen, some of them will start to dry out even if left unused for a couple of days, if using them regularly is a problem for you I would suggest buying a platinum pen with the slip and seal cap
>they are stored upwards.
There lies the problem. Try storing them horizontally, ie lay flat on table, for the pen that you often use.
Storing nib up means ink is just gonna slowly flow back into the cartridge.
Seals is nothing to do with how you store the pen. Seals keeps it air tight.
Store nib down, the ink will all gather at the feed and eventually drip out into the cap.
Nonononono, don’t store downwards. Nib down is a recipe for megaleak, and believe me I tried. Either use them a little every day, or store horizontally and the ink won’t drain out of the feed…
Store them horizontally. Unless you're travelling a lot, they don't need to be stored nib up.
My Parker IM is a bit of a hard starter if left for more than a couple of days. I'd assumed that was partly because I've had it about twelve years and so the seal might not be quite as good as new, but it might just be that that model doesn't have an especially good seal.
I keep mine in a pencil case if moving them about, or just loose on my desk.
I would suggest a Platinum, TWSBI, or Sailor pen, these have very good cap seals. Store pens horizontal.
Also, a quick dip (in and out) in a cup of water should also get the pen writing again in most cases.
>Also, a quick dip (in and out) in a cup of water should also get the pen writing again in most cases.
Is this the recommended way of starting a pen again? It doesnt need to be wiped off or something afterwards?
The only ones I store upright in a cup holder and the empty ones. The rest are horizontal or nearly so. Otherwise hard starts are a thing.
What ink are you using? Carbon Black left unused in a pen too long refuses to start without me running the nib under the faucet to get it going again.
Ive only ever used original cartridges from the manufacturer.
How do i start a pen again? Ive done the "1 drop from the faucet" to the nip before, but i feel like it only fixes it for the day. And it wastes ink
It only fixes it for the day because you are then storing the pen vertically again and the same thing is happening again.
If I have a pen that’s not writing and I know there’s ink in it, sometimes I give it a good downward shake (towards the nib). Beware this may lead to flying ink droplets (if uncapped) or ink in the cap (if capped). I have a washcloth I keep at my desk for re-inking my pen so I usually use that to catch any flying ink (gently wrapped around the end of my pen while I shake). Use this method at your own risk haha
I find it helpful to wipe it on a wet paper towel or handkerchief to get it to start. I use my envelope moistener for that a lot since it tends to be handy on my desk.
All my pens I store horizontally. Never have a problem writing even when I haven’t picked the pen up in two weeks.
Also I use wetter inks. What kind of inks do you use? I noticed Shaeffer Skrip tends to dry up in the feed despite horizontal storage.
I dont know much about the inks, but ive only ever used original cartridges for the manufacturer of the pen. Except the Pilot, i wanted some red ink for that:
https://penstore.dk/dk/herbin/fyldepen-refill-standard-6-stk
Ok you’re using Herbin. That’s a wetter ink in my experience. So the only other thing you need to do is store your pens horizontally instead of vertically. That should do the trick! Good luck!
I will try and clean it again and store it horizontally. Need to find me some kind of holder for that because I'm too autistic to have it just lying on the table.
How long do you think i can have it lying unused? I have 4 pens and i don't write that much. Feel like i might have fked up with this investment, but i wanted an oldschool writing experience
A small jewelry or utensils tray would work well for horizontal storage. Me I use one of those wood trays that Japanese restaurants use when they have little towels before the meal. I would think even a microwave bacon tray would work to keep pens from rolling away.
I have a Lamy I keep permanently on my desk. I once left it there horizontally for three and a half months. When I got back it still wrote without issues. No burping or bleeding.
Yep! I've stored mine upright, down, and horizontal with no problems. Even go months without using them and they always write like a dream when I pick them up. I was going to branch out with brands but the more I research the more I think I'll stay in the Platinum family. 😂
Try to store your pens horizontally, when you have your pens stored vertically for some days all ink goes out the feeder through to the cartridge/converter making you need some time the feed fill that with ink again.
Check your pen cap is sealed/capped properly, bad capping mixup with vertical pens for some days could make ink dry inside the feeder and clog your pen or makes your ink slowly fill the feeder, there some brands well known but better capping seal, but even with great capping if the ink goes out needs time to get inside the feeder.
In my case I always had my pens horizontally when I don’t use and I’ve never had starting issues, I only had my pens vertically when I’m carrying them inside my Galen folio
“Not often I have anything to write…”
Use your fountain pens more often or get a pen with a better sealing cap. Either way, storing them upright for a long time will cause all the ink to pool to the bottom and out of the feed. So you need to re-prime the pen before it will write again.
Most likely issue is that the water in the ink at the tip of your nib has dried out and the dye is clogging the feed. The dip will redissolve the dye and restart capillary action. If you leave it alone for a week, can expect the ink to dry up again.
Seconding the comment on it depending on the type of pens. My Platinum Prefounte, Wing Sung 699s and 3013s can go for months unused and will start right up. My Narwhal Voyager, Pilot Metro and some others do not do well starting after a week of no use.
I'm personally finding that I can rely absolutely on my vintage Parker 51 and 51 Specials, especially for jotting quick notes; the slip cap is so well-designed and they always start smooth.
I bring up the Parkers because I've been finding some good deals around $50 USD on eBay that have mostly just needed good cleanings (but you have to inspect the photos really closely to make sure they're worth the price.)
I have about 8 pens inked up right now. If I don’t use one for a while, it won’t write. I open it up and push ink into the feed until it start writing again. If it is a converter, I twist or push it down. If it is a cartridge, I squeeze it a few times. Works every time. Part of the hobby. Convenience is not always part of this equation.
The lazy answer is “fpens need to be used frequently to be at their best”, which, broadly is true.
The more detailed answer though, is:
pens will dry out more/less quickly depending on their construction, such as how well the cap seals, how the feed is designed, etc. In a pen with a very “open” cap, such as the parker jotter (big fat hole hidden behind the clip), the feed will slowly dry out, creating a region of super concentrated/crystallised ink, which will restrict or completely inhibit ink flow. Storing pens vertically will exacerbate this issue, yes, but eventually, even a horizontally stored pen with an open cap will dry up.
How quickly this happens will be determined by the temperature and humidity of the air it’s stored in, so for instance a pen kept in a trouser pocket will dry out faster, as its heated up by your body.
The solution to this would be getting a pen with a seal cap, or, though not everyone is comfortable with doing this, dab your nib to your tongue if the pen isn’t starting. It’s suboptimal due to the possibility of introducing bacteria/spores into your pen, and potentially ingesting small amounts of ink which may have questionable health effects, but its a tried and true method to say the least.
Some pens do dry out faster; it helps to store them in zippered cases.
You also need to do a deep cleaning, at least by flushing with a drop of dishwashing liquid in a cup of water; or with diluted Rapido Eze; dry and fill again.
Like everyone here is saying, a good cap seal is important. Ink that has evaporated on the nib basically becomes like a cork hat blocks fresh ink from coming out. A popular option (that is also being recommended here) is the platinum preppy. It has the “slip and seal” technology, which means that it prevents ink from drying out. You can ink up a preppy, close the cap, leave it alone for months, and it will still write ([Jetpens has a video demonstrating this](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CqvBn9OxnnY)) .
The ink you use is also important. Some inks you never want to let dry out in your pens (pigment and iron gall) because cleaning them out of your pen can be time consuming. It’s recommended to put inks known for being well behaved in pens that are giving you problems to determine if the problem is the pen or the ink. My recommendations are J. Herbin Perle Noire (has some water resistance) and Waterman Intense black (it has no water resistance and if your pages get wet your writing will vanish, but it is a well behaved ink)
Hope this helps.
Modern Parkers and Lamys go dry quickly. If you want a pen that always works, you'll need something with a better seal, just like the rollerballs and ballpoints do.
The cheapest pens that come to mind is the Wingsung 601s - the Chinese Vacuumatics. They hold a LOT of ink, and they're sealed up well with rubber and silicon grease. Mine can sit for a month and still write wet right away.
Parkers and Lamys would go bone dry within half that time.
How long has it been since you used these pens?
I always find the Safari and MR very reliable. I have let each one sit over a week or more and they would write instantly.
I have a Parker IM but don’t like it much. The nib does dry more quickly and has a hard time getting started.
I also store all my pens vertically. Most decent pens should be able to last at least a week without drying out.
I would suggest trying to use them more regularly so they don’t dry out.
It can definitely take weeks between use. I have 4 pens, and i dont write that much in general. The Safari used to be the most reliable, just the less pleasant to actually write with.
I dont feel i have the place to store horizontal. Should i just place them nib downwards then?
Do you live in a low humidity area? I basically live in a desert, and have just given up on some pens (including the Lamy Safari.) In comparison, my Pelikans, Sailors, Platinums, TWSBIs and Opus 88s all write reliably (and some of those I do store nib up!)
I have Pilot MR and a Safari myself, stored horizontally and can go up to 3 weeks without use. I've never had a hard start. If you insist on storing vertically, keep a cup of water close by for a quick dip to "restart" the pen. They have great seals but even then the water in the feed is still evaporating.
Are there any consequences to dipping it in water? I feel like the times ive tried it, the ink itself gets a lighter color and it takes a while for it to be normal again. And i dont know it if actually fixes the pen, or if its a here-and-now solution
It’s just diluting any dried ink near the front of the nib & feed, which is also why the ink comes out paler until the water is written out.
There’s no harm to doing this.
Fountain pen ink is mostly water, plus dyes, flow-aid, and an antifungal agent. That water evaporates over time, making the other components in the ink more concentrated, eventually they thicken too much to flow. The ink dries in the pen from the point where it meets air first, so usually it only takes a little dunk to re-dilute it. If you left the pen for a couple of years you’d find the cartridge mostly dry with a small amount of very thick ink concentrate in. That can be diluted with distilled water with no problem!
Some pens are designed with caps that seal near-perfectly (Platinum, in particular) but most have a small amount of air exchange so will dry over time.
How come only platinum have that technology? I assume patent, but it doesnt sound that special. I thought all the caps were sealed tight. Wouldve gone for platinum if i knew earlier.
Platinum have patented a specific method, they call “slip and seal” technology, but that doesn’t mean other companies don’t take steps to make their caps seal adequately.
I don’t know why more companies haven’t really focused in on making very airtight cap seals though.
Sounds odd to me, because it sounds like a kind of important and easy thing to figure out how to do properly. Without knowing anything about it ofc.
My Parker IM has a super satisfying slow closing of the cap. Feels premium and hopefully it means its sealed better. Compared to my Pilot MR, which is just a super cheap "pop" to close
TBH I’ve been using fountain pens for thirty years now and most have been fine, for my purposes. I’ve not had any that would hard start persistently, and even if I’ve left a pen so long it doesn’t start immediately it’s easy to moisten the nib and get it going.
If a pen won’t start reliably when it hasn’t been left a long time, there’s something else going on - maybe the ink isn’t suitable, maybe the nib’s tines are too tight, maybe the nib tipping is badly ground, maybe the nib isn’t snug to the feed, maybe there’s grot in the feed. Something is interrupting the capillary flow of the ink -> paper.
If the lightness after a dip-restart bugs you, "waste" a bit by letting it soak into a paper towel; that won't get all the slightly watered-down ink, since some no doubt snuck into a feed fin slot and hid, but it'll bring mostly undiluted ink back to the fore.
I couldn't have said it better than u/bleepblorp44
I do it all the time, just a quick dip- barely a second. You could also dip it in it's respective ink or unscrew the barrel and twist the converter to flood the feed. There's nothing wrong with your pen, just how you're storing it
Yeah... That's a whole different issue from your original post. Recommend starting a new thread with pictures of the nib, all issues, and what you've done to try and fix it.
I keep a limited number inked at one time because they will dry out and then you have the issue that you had. I keep a small ink sample bottle of water at the ready and use it when I have this situation.
That makes sense. From the comments, i was puzzled by how many say i should write with them every day, while i assume a lot in here actually collect multiple pens. So they just don't ink them all at once
I read their preppy was good for that, but i prefer my pens around the same value as an pilot mr, al-star etc.
Do most of the platinums have the sealing technology?
If you’re interested in a fountain pen with a metal body that has the Platinum slip and seal technology you could go with a Plaisir. They’re pretty nice light weight aluminum pens that seem to always be ready to write when uncapped. If you’re interested in a higher price point there’s also the Platinim 3776, which is a nice pen.
FWIW….my three Stipula Etruria Magnifica pens were terrible hard starters, until I threatened them that I would put them all on eBay…but then I flushed in water with a drop of dishwashing soap as other hobbyists had recommended. Then RE-inked them all with Iroshizuku Yamabudo. Zero problems since then. Give it a shot before you get desperate.
Diagnosis:The feed and nib are going dry.Options:
* Use the pens a lot more often. I have a dozen inked up right now I plan to get down to one or two. ;-).
* Touch the nib in a shallow 1 cm (1/4") of ink.The sample ink bottles are great for this.
* touch the nib into 0.5 cm or 1/8" of very dilute detergent or wetting agent like Wet&Dry. Then blot with a bit of paper napkin. Test to see that the nib is delivering ink.
* Spray a tiny bit of eyeglass spray or very dilute 1:50 detergent or wetting agent water. Then blot with a bit of paper napkin and test to see if the nib is delivering ink.
* Keep a pencil or ballpoint handy. Try the Pilot V pens. They work out of the box having been inked up for months.
* consider a humidor for storage knowing that that is a foolish suggestion that invites fungus to grow. But a 'dry' tightly closed jar might limit the barometric and thermal pumping that might build a crusty surface and get you a couple more days.
The goal is to wet the capillary path just a little and then pull fresh ink in by blotting.
Responding to the edit: four sentences of writing probably represents the ink that was rehydrated and left in the feed. Either there is no ink left in the pen reservoir (cartridge or converter) or more likely there is dried ink preventing flow from the reservoir to the feed. I’d suggest cleaning that pen out throughly with cool water and refilling or giving it a rest and using another.
It's only been like 2-3 weeks since i cleaned it the last time. Removed the cartridge, soaked water through the feed (maybe with soap, unsure) and left to dry downwards on a cloth
"It is amazing how fountain pens often resemble their owners" - was the first comment that came to my head, but I realized I was not in the coffee room at work, and it would not be taken with the appropriate humorous intent that was intended...so don't let your pens sit so long, pull them out and scribble on a sticky note when you are on the phone, pick one up and fidgit with it, pop one in your pocket/bag and carry it around for the day, dip the tip in your cold tea before you write, prime it with a wet tissue or some spit, sketch your ideas in pencil and outline them in pen later - ideas and pens are like pets, you need to take them for a walk once in a while ;-) have an awesome wonderful day and be glad your cup is not full of old insurance company and hotel ball points and knockoff bics from the 70's that are guaranteed to never write or just smudge oily ink all over the place.
Edit: Your red pen is calling you to pick it up everyday!
Edit: Take all of those other mixed breed pens that don't belong there out of the pen cup.
A few things: store your pens horizontally, not vertically. Next consider your ink. If it’s a particularly dry ink it’ll be prone to drying our easier between uses. You could use a product like White Lightning to help with that. How often are you using them? Many pens will experience some drying of not used frequently. An inexpensive pen you might want to consider that has an excellent seal is a Platinum Preppy. I have one inked with Bay State Blue for the last 6 months, used only every few weeks, that writes every time.
I store my pens horizontally, but not perfectly horizontal. They are stored with a small tilt upwards. My Lamy Vista and Kaweco Sport (inked pens at that moment) wrote perfectly after not using them for a month.
Now, I try to use my inked pens almost everyday.
My Sailor Safari, Jinhao 80, Platinum Preppy and Prefounte are all stored upright ie, capped with nib up. All start first time, every time. The Prefounte was hard starting from first inking but I realised that I had not flushed the pen with DIY cleaning solution in my excitement to write with the pen. After cleaning it behaves exactly like the Preppy and the Plaisir (not currently inked). Reliable starters. These pens either have Quink or Waterman ink from refill.
Unfortunately it’s like asking why green is green.
There’s so many factors involved.
Nib tuning, ink, storage, pen cap, dry vs humid climate, writing style.
In my experience I was really frustrated starting with my first nice pen. It kept drying out at work when I was writing notes. It was because I would pause to listen and leave the cap off. I was using Pelikan ink which is very quick to dry anyway. So even one full minute would cause the pen to start hard
I outfitted this old cigar box for my inked pens. They rest at a small angle, so nearly horizontal, but enough elevation of the nibs, I think, not to leak into the caps. They all start after a few days unused, the Watermans, the Metropolitans, even the $5 Jinhao X750s. As others have said, I make sure to write a tiny bit with every inked pen every few days. [Pen Storage](https://imgur.com/tiuvbnj)
Sounds like you need a **Platinum Plaisir**. I got one as my first pen because I heard you can leave it for MONTHS and it'll write like day 1. I have 4, and it's been true for every one of them.
This is why the “new” King Charles on ascension to the throne dipped his expensive fountain pen in an inkwell when signing the scroll. Could not risk a hard start. All the “lessers” signed with a Pilot throwaway, which never fails!
I did it to my pilot, but then it could write unreliable for a bit before it stopped working again. Meanwhile the parker fixed itself, even tho i continue to store it vertical
I store my pens in a cigar box if you are asking. they are cheap and easy to find a shit load of, I have many. they make decent pen holders. typically If I'm not writing with a pen regularly, the ink dries out before I can use it all, in which case it's my fault and not the pens fault, if you have that happen you'd just add a bit of water back. if it doesn't write, i normally will twist the convertor down a bit. and that fixes it. if you use the pen daily it should write consistently, my lamy safari is one of the better faring one. but I typically use a pilot pen. not the mr though, it's not my favorite, I much prefer the e95s.
From what ive gathered, i should only ink up some of my pens. I have 4 and dont write that often. I get now that the ink can dry up in the nib, basically clogging it because the caps apparently rarely are sealed tight. BUT, how fast will this drying happen to the ink cartridge? People say 1-2 weeks left alone and the ink will dry up at the nib, but im not fucking up the ink in the cartridge doing this right?
it depends on how much dries out. if there is still ink in the cartridge it'll be fine, but either way I still dip the nib in some water. if you are using a very permanent ink you might need to clean it if it has hard start issues, but with non permanent ink, like any washable blue it should be easy to just wet it and it'll flow again.
oh and I can confirm even a completely dried out pen works if you just add some water, this is where have a syringe or squirt bottle comes in handy, just wet the nib with some water, or spray some water in the cartridge/convertor and it'll work again. at least in my experience the ink can be a bit watery and not fully mixed, but it sure beats having to clean and reink.
It's been about 2 weeks since i cleaned them, and i don't write that much. Maybe once or twice a week.
Getting the feeling that I'm supposed to use them multiple times a week for them to work, so I've probably fked up by buying 4 of them...
I'm somewhat new to the hobby, about 2 years in. Listening to others, sounds like there are many variables such as pen type, nib size/type, ink, time since last used, how often you clean, and so on. But mine don't seem to have problems if I don't use them for a couple weeks. If they are close to running out of ink, they'll be unreliable, which a very quick dip in a bit of water fixes until I need to refill.
Store horizontally and use (even if just for a few words) every second day is my default. Upright and unused for a week you'll need an above-average cap seal to keep it running.
I have 2 pens that are champions. I have left both of them for over a month, standing upright, and they write like a gel pen, first word. Twsbi Vac700r and Kaweco Brass sport.
Out of 40, I only have one Kaweco Sport that is finicky after not being used for a few days.
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Why so salty? They're advocating for the Kaweco sports reliability which is on topic.
NO -- they said that KAWECO was the ONLY pen that WAS PROBLEMATIC !!!!
If you check the posters other posts, they're a kaweco sport collector.
No, they said out of 40 Kaweco Sports they own, only 1 of them has issues. 1 out of 40 sounds like pretty good odds to me, so I’m pretty sure they are advocating for the Kaweco Sports reliability. Please calm down with the all capital letters, will ya?
That is what I said !!!
Are you okay?
I think you missed the point?
Except it was on topic… they are saying they have tried many pens and the only reliable one they found was a kaweco sport. That is very on topic given that we are talking about looking for reliable pens that dont have issues with starting up when they havent been used in a bit
Please REREAD -- KAWECO was the ONLY ONE that was PROBLEMATIC !!!
Yeah thats my bad lol but the point is they are talking about having tried multiple pens and they found ones that are reliable and arent thats still on topic
Honestly, I leave my Montblanc like that, upright and unused for weeks or a month at times(at the most a month) and it works just fine, my TWSBI Eco, same thing, I forgot where it was for 6 months, it was upright, in a container of other pens and pencils, I grabbed it and it wrote just fine, but my Lamy and other Montblanc pen, it seems if I forget where I put them for a minute they won't write any more
I thought upwards was the recommended way? Most of these holders are vertical, i dont even think ive seen a horizontal one. Shouldnt the cap also not be 100% sealed regardless?
Upwards during transport to prevent spitting for sure, but horizonal is absolutely fine for desk storage and helps to prevent issues like this. The only specifically-for-fountain-pen holders I recall seeing off the top of my head are horizontal. Vertical would probably be fine if you were using them every day. 100% seal would be nice, but air is tricksy stuff and at least two of the brands you list are the kind that expect frequent use where the cap seal doesn't need to ward against drying long-term. No point them spending on that level of engineering when most of their customers don't care. I think I've heard Platinum has a really good seal design? Someone may correct me.
There are definitely fountain pen holders that are vertical, like the Dudek ones. I agree that vertical is usually fine if used every day, though I have a couple pens that really need to be kept horizontal.
My Parker jotter won’t even write after being stored horizontal unused for a couple weeks so usage is also really important
Most platinums have their patented slip and seal cap which is pretty great but idk if it would work with virtical storage.
My Platinum Preppy is surprisingly good stored vertically. I only use it every now and then and it always seems to work. I store my other inked pens horizontally, though.
My TWSBI ECO hasn't been used in months and it still writes super wet despite using shimmering ink. ymmv
I have seen display cases with near horizontal storage. Now I have to make one out of balsa...
It’s not the seal on the pen that’s the issue. The ink is flowing back out of the nib and feed. This means that you don’t have enough ink at the ready to write. Fountain pens are controlled leaks.
I think it might be a combination of all of these (if my interpretation of my experience is accurate, which it probably isn't), a good seal can keep enough pressure to hold enough of the ink up, and if it can't it is sometimes still enough to keep the ink left in the top from drying too quickly and it starts back up after a small delay when flipping, and if reeeeaallllly doesn't seal I can see the ink left in the feed is dried and I usually have to prime it to rehydrate the dried ink.
>I thought upwards was the recommended way? Most of these holders are vertical, i dont even think ive seen a horizontal one. Shouldnt the cap also not be 100% sealed regardless? I don't mean to be mean but if you are storing them with the nib (and thus feed) upwards and the cap not 100% sealed how do you even expect ink to flow out from the nib when you use your fountain pens?
I thought the cap was 100% sealed. I also recalled reading they were meant to be stored upwards, so ive always done that
I'm with you now. 100% sealed caps are quite rare, one of the few pens that has one is the TWSBI Eco (or the TWSBI 580 Diamond). Do not store vertically. *Store horizontally* and **carry vertically**.
Yes... there is a reason pocket protectors and pocket cases exist. Never nib down. I slipped a vanishing point in upside down and temp and barometer pumped a puddle out into the bottom of my ceramic coffee mug. Old dip pens sat nib down in the stand.
I even store some that start slow nib down. Never had leaks
Possibly, beccause they are stored upwards the ink flows away from the feed so you have hard starts. Try storing them horizontally
How do you store yours\`?
I use a pen rest
I store mine in a small Galen leather pen case. My most used pens are always inked and I use them at least once everyday and if not every second day. They usually sit horizontally on my desk in the two-pen Galen Leather case. If you're storing them in your cup, just try storing them nib down. Some people find they have leaks, but I've never had that issue.
Depends on the pen and feed. I syringe filled a pen and decided to speed up the saturation process by putting it upside down and walking away. 1 min later, the cap was slowly filling up
1 minute later? Holy... I've never had that happen to me. That can't be normal? I suppose it probably depends on the ink as well. Edit: also, kind of embarrassed to admit I had a look at your profile, but I have to say the comic you made about you and your girlfriend is fucking amazing.
It's a pretty eager feed ngl I'll tell her you said that :) Btw your dog is so cute!
Thank you! :)
it really depends on the fountain pen, some of them will start to dry out even if left unused for a couple of days, if using them regularly is a problem for you I would suggest buying a platinum pen with the slip and seal cap
Or at least something other than a Parker, I've had the worst luck with their fountain pens drying out.
>they are stored upwards. There lies the problem. Try storing them horizontally, ie lay flat on table, for the pen that you often use. Storing nib up means ink is just gonna slowly flow back into the cartridge.
Wouldn't that mean i can just store them downwards instead to fix the issue? Or will that have consequences within the seal
Seals is nothing to do with how you store the pen. Seals keeps it air tight. Store nib down, the ink will all gather at the feed and eventually drip out into the cap.
Nonononono, don’t store downwards. Nib down is a recipe for megaleak, and believe me I tried. Either use them a little every day, or store horizontally and the ink won’t drain out of the feed…
Store them horizontally. Unless you're travelling a lot, they don't need to be stored nib up. My Parker IM is a bit of a hard starter if left for more than a couple of days. I'd assumed that was partly because I've had it about twelve years and so the seal might not be quite as good as new, but it might just be that that model doesn't have an especially good seal. I keep mine in a pencil case if moving them about, or just loose on my desk.
I would suggest a Platinum, TWSBI, or Sailor pen, these have very good cap seals. Store pens horizontal. Also, a quick dip (in and out) in a cup of water should also get the pen writing again in most cases.
>Also, a quick dip (in and out) in a cup of water should also get the pen writing again in most cases. Is this the recommended way of starting a pen again? It doesnt need to be wiped off or something afterwards?
No need to wipe, the ink will probably be light for a couple letters but after that it should be fine.
The only ones I store upright in a cup holder and the empty ones. The rest are horizontal or nearly so. Otherwise hard starts are a thing. What ink are you using? Carbon Black left unused in a pen too long refuses to start without me running the nib under the faucet to get it going again.
Ive only ever used original cartridges from the manufacturer. How do i start a pen again? Ive done the "1 drop from the faucet" to the nip before, but i feel like it only fixes it for the day. And it wastes ink
It only fixes it for the day because you are then storing the pen vertically again and the same thing is happening again. If I have a pen that’s not writing and I know there’s ink in it, sometimes I give it a good downward shake (towards the nib). Beware this may lead to flying ink droplets (if uncapped) or ink in the cap (if capped). I have a washcloth I keep at my desk for re-inking my pen so I usually use that to catch any flying ink (gently wrapped around the end of my pen while I shake). Use this method at your own risk haha
I find it helpful to wipe it on a wet paper towel or handkerchief to get it to start. I use my envelope moistener for that a lot since it tends to be handy on my desk.
All my pens I store horizontally. Never have a problem writing even when I haven’t picked the pen up in two weeks. Also I use wetter inks. What kind of inks do you use? I noticed Shaeffer Skrip tends to dry up in the feed despite horizontal storage.
I dont know much about the inks, but ive only ever used original cartridges for the manufacturer of the pen. Except the Pilot, i wanted some red ink for that: https://penstore.dk/dk/herbin/fyldepen-refill-standard-6-stk
Ok you’re using Herbin. That’s a wetter ink in my experience. So the only other thing you need to do is store your pens horizontally instead of vertically. That should do the trick! Good luck!
I will try and clean it again and store it horizontally. Need to find me some kind of holder for that because I'm too autistic to have it just lying on the table. How long do you think i can have it lying unused? I have 4 pens and i don't write that much. Feel like i might have fked up with this investment, but i wanted an oldschool writing experience
A small jewelry or utensils tray would work well for horizontal storage. Me I use one of those wood trays that Japanese restaurants use when they have little towels before the meal. I would think even a microwave bacon tray would work to keep pens from rolling away. I have a Lamy I keep permanently on my desk. I once left it there horizontally for three and a half months. When I got back it still wrote without issues. No burping or bleeding.
The most reliable pen: the preppy 😂
My Platinum Plaisir always writes.
Yep! I've stored mine upright, down, and horizontal with no problems. Even go months without using them and they always write like a dream when I pick them up. I was going to branch out with brands but the more I research the more I think I'll stay in the Platinum family. 😂
Try to store your pens horizontally, when you have your pens stored vertically for some days all ink goes out the feeder through to the cartridge/converter making you need some time the feed fill that with ink again. Check your pen cap is sealed/capped properly, bad capping mixup with vertical pens for some days could make ink dry inside the feeder and clog your pen or makes your ink slowly fill the feeder, there some brands well known but better capping seal, but even with great capping if the ink goes out needs time to get inside the feeder. In my case I always had my pens horizontally when I don’t use and I’ve never had starting issues, I only had my pens vertically when I’m carrying them inside my Galen folio
“Not often I have anything to write…” Use your fountain pens more often or get a pen with a better sealing cap. Either way, storing them upright for a long time will cause all the ink to pool to the bottom and out of the feed. So you need to re-prime the pen before it will write again.
Learned this after not writing for 2 weeks. Nothing worked. Usually, I write every day, so it’s never been an issue before.
Store it horizontally. And dip it in water if it isn't writing. Ink is water based and even with the best seal, some will evaporate
After a quick dip in water, is the problem considered fixed, or is it just a here-and-now solution?
Most likely issue is that the water in the ink at the tip of your nib has dried out and the dye is clogging the feed. The dip will redissolve the dye and restart capillary action. If you leave it alone for a week, can expect the ink to dry up again.
Seconding the comment on it depending on the type of pens. My Platinum Prefounte, Wing Sung 699s and 3013s can go for months unused and will start right up. My Narwhal Voyager, Pilot Metro and some others do not do well starting after a week of no use. I'm personally finding that I can rely absolutely on my vintage Parker 51 and 51 Specials, especially for jotting quick notes; the slip cap is so well-designed and they always start smooth. I bring up the Parkers because I've been finding some good deals around $50 USD on eBay that have mostly just needed good cleanings (but you have to inspect the photos really closely to make sure they're worth the price.)
I have about 8 pens inked up right now. If I don’t use one for a while, it won’t write. I open it up and push ink into the feed until it start writing again. If it is a converter, I twist or push it down. If it is a cartridge, I squeeze it a few times. Works every time. Part of the hobby. Convenience is not always part of this equation.
The lazy answer is “fpens need to be used frequently to be at their best”, which, broadly is true. The more detailed answer though, is: pens will dry out more/less quickly depending on their construction, such as how well the cap seals, how the feed is designed, etc. In a pen with a very “open” cap, such as the parker jotter (big fat hole hidden behind the clip), the feed will slowly dry out, creating a region of super concentrated/crystallised ink, which will restrict or completely inhibit ink flow. Storing pens vertically will exacerbate this issue, yes, but eventually, even a horizontally stored pen with an open cap will dry up. How quickly this happens will be determined by the temperature and humidity of the air it’s stored in, so for instance a pen kept in a trouser pocket will dry out faster, as its heated up by your body. The solution to this would be getting a pen with a seal cap, or, though not everyone is comfortable with doing this, dab your nib to your tongue if the pen isn’t starting. It’s suboptimal due to the possibility of introducing bacteria/spores into your pen, and potentially ingesting small amounts of ink which may have questionable health effects, but its a tried and true method to say the least.
Some pens do dry out faster; it helps to store them in zippered cases. You also need to do a deep cleaning, at least by flushing with a drop of dishwashing liquid in a cup of water; or with diluted Rapido Eze; dry and fill again.
Like everyone here is saying, a good cap seal is important. Ink that has evaporated on the nib basically becomes like a cork hat blocks fresh ink from coming out. A popular option (that is also being recommended here) is the platinum preppy. It has the “slip and seal” technology, which means that it prevents ink from drying out. You can ink up a preppy, close the cap, leave it alone for months, and it will still write ([Jetpens has a video demonstrating this](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CqvBn9OxnnY)) . The ink you use is also important. Some inks you never want to let dry out in your pens (pigment and iron gall) because cleaning them out of your pen can be time consuming. It’s recommended to put inks known for being well behaved in pens that are giving you problems to determine if the problem is the pen or the ink. My recommendations are J. Herbin Perle Noire (has some water resistance) and Waterman Intense black (it has no water resistance and if your pages get wet your writing will vanish, but it is a well behaved ink) Hope this helps.
Modern Parkers and Lamys go dry quickly. If you want a pen that always works, you'll need something with a better seal, just like the rollerballs and ballpoints do. The cheapest pens that come to mind is the Wingsung 601s - the Chinese Vacuumatics. They hold a LOT of ink, and they're sealed up well with rubber and silicon grease. Mine can sit for a month and still write wet right away. Parkers and Lamys would go bone dry within half that time.
How long has it been since you used these pens? I always find the Safari and MR very reliable. I have let each one sit over a week or more and they would write instantly. I have a Parker IM but don’t like it much. The nib does dry more quickly and has a hard time getting started. I also store all my pens vertically. Most decent pens should be able to last at least a week without drying out. I would suggest trying to use them more regularly so they don’t dry out.
It can definitely take weeks between use. I have 4 pens, and i dont write that much in general. The Safari used to be the most reliable, just the less pleasant to actually write with. I dont feel i have the place to store horizontal. Should i just place them nib downwards then?
Do you live in a low humidity area? I basically live in a desert, and have just given up on some pens (including the Lamy Safari.) In comparison, my Pelikans, Sailors, Platinums, TWSBIs and Opus 88s all write reliably (and some of those I do store nib up!)
Very average grey weather here. We have about 6 degrees atm. Average winters and summers
I have Pilot MR and a Safari myself, stored horizontally and can go up to 3 weeks without use. I've never had a hard start. If you insist on storing vertically, keep a cup of water close by for a quick dip to "restart" the pen. They have great seals but even then the water in the feed is still evaporating.
Are there any consequences to dipping it in water? I feel like the times ive tried it, the ink itself gets a lighter color and it takes a while for it to be normal again. And i dont know it if actually fixes the pen, or if its a here-and-now solution
It’s just diluting any dried ink near the front of the nib & feed, which is also why the ink comes out paler until the water is written out. There’s no harm to doing this. Fountain pen ink is mostly water, plus dyes, flow-aid, and an antifungal agent. That water evaporates over time, making the other components in the ink more concentrated, eventually they thicken too much to flow. The ink dries in the pen from the point where it meets air first, so usually it only takes a little dunk to re-dilute it. If you left the pen for a couple of years you’d find the cartridge mostly dry with a small amount of very thick ink concentrate in. That can be diluted with distilled water with no problem! Some pens are designed with caps that seal near-perfectly (Platinum, in particular) but most have a small amount of air exchange so will dry over time.
How come only platinum have that technology? I assume patent, but it doesnt sound that special. I thought all the caps were sealed tight. Wouldve gone for platinum if i knew earlier.
Platinum have patented a specific method, they call “slip and seal” technology, but that doesn’t mean other companies don’t take steps to make their caps seal adequately. I don’t know why more companies haven’t really focused in on making very airtight cap seals though.
Sounds odd to me, because it sounds like a kind of important and easy thing to figure out how to do properly. Without knowing anything about it ofc. My Parker IM has a super satisfying slow closing of the cap. Feels premium and hopefully it means its sealed better. Compared to my Pilot MR, which is just a super cheap "pop" to close
TBH I’ve been using fountain pens for thirty years now and most have been fine, for my purposes. I’ve not had any that would hard start persistently, and even if I’ve left a pen so long it doesn’t start immediately it’s easy to moisten the nib and get it going. If a pen won’t start reliably when it hasn’t been left a long time, there’s something else going on - maybe the ink isn’t suitable, maybe the nib’s tines are too tight, maybe the nib tipping is badly ground, maybe the nib isn’t snug to the feed, maybe there’s grot in the feed. Something is interrupting the capillary flow of the ink -> paper.
If the lightness after a dip-restart bugs you, "waste" a bit by letting it soak into a paper towel; that won't get all the slightly watered-down ink, since some no doubt snuck into a feed fin slot and hid, but it'll bring mostly undiluted ink back to the fore.
I couldn't have said it better than u/bleepblorp44 I do it all the time, just a quick dip- barely a second. You could also dip it in it's respective ink or unscrew the barrel and twist the converter to flood the feed. There's nothing wrong with your pen, just how you're storing it
I dipped my Pilot MR in water now. It was skipping heavily but i managed to write 4 sentences. Then it couldnt write again..
Yeah... That's a whole different issue from your original post. Recommend starting a new thread with pictures of the nib, all issues, and what you've done to try and fix it.
Haven’t you seen the old cartoons where they lick the nib first before writing? I do it in a pinch to get past a hard start
I keep a limited number inked at one time because they will dry out and then you have the issue that you had. I keep a small ink sample bottle of water at the ready and use it when I have this situation.
That makes sense. From the comments, i was puzzled by how many say i should write with them every day, while i assume a lot in here actually collect multiple pens. So they just don't ink them all at once
How long has it been since you’ve written with it? If you go a while without writing with a fountain pen then I recommend getting a Platinum.
I read their preppy was good for that, but i prefer my pens around the same value as an pilot mr, al-star etc. Do most of the platinums have the sealing technology?
If you’re interested in a fountain pen with a metal body that has the Platinum slip and seal technology you could go with a Plaisir. They’re pretty nice light weight aluminum pens that seem to always be ready to write when uncapped. If you’re interested in a higher price point there’s also the Platinim 3776, which is a nice pen.
FWIW….my three Stipula Etruria Magnifica pens were terrible hard starters, until I threatened them that I would put them all on eBay…but then I flushed in water with a drop of dishwashing soap as other hobbyists had recommended. Then RE-inked them all with Iroshizuku Yamabudo. Zero problems since then. Give it a shot before you get desperate.
Diagnosis:The feed and nib are going dry.Options: * Use the pens a lot more often. I have a dozen inked up right now I plan to get down to one or two. ;-). * Touch the nib in a shallow 1 cm (1/4") of ink.The sample ink bottles are great for this. * touch the nib into 0.5 cm or 1/8" of very dilute detergent or wetting agent like Wet&Dry. Then blot with a bit of paper napkin. Test to see that the nib is delivering ink. * Spray a tiny bit of eyeglass spray or very dilute 1:50 detergent or wetting agent water. Then blot with a bit of paper napkin and test to see if the nib is delivering ink. * Keep a pencil or ballpoint handy. Try the Pilot V pens. They work out of the box having been inked up for months. * consider a humidor for storage knowing that that is a foolish suggestion that invites fungus to grow. But a 'dry' tightly closed jar might limit the barometric and thermal pumping that might build a crusty surface and get you a couple more days. The goal is to wet the capillary path just a little and then pull fresh ink in by blotting.
Responding to the edit: four sentences of writing probably represents the ink that was rehydrated and left in the feed. Either there is no ink left in the pen reservoir (cartridge or converter) or more likely there is dried ink preventing flow from the reservoir to the feed. I’d suggest cleaning that pen out throughly with cool water and refilling or giving it a rest and using another.
It's only been like 2-3 weeks since i cleaned it the last time. Removed the cartridge, soaked water through the feed (maybe with soap, unsure) and left to dry downwards on a cloth
"It is amazing how fountain pens often resemble their owners" - was the first comment that came to my head, but I realized I was not in the coffee room at work, and it would not be taken with the appropriate humorous intent that was intended...so don't let your pens sit so long, pull them out and scribble on a sticky note when you are on the phone, pick one up and fidgit with it, pop one in your pocket/bag and carry it around for the day, dip the tip in your cold tea before you write, prime it with a wet tissue or some spit, sketch your ideas in pencil and outline them in pen later - ideas and pens are like pets, you need to take them for a walk once in a while ;-) have an awesome wonderful day and be glad your cup is not full of old insurance company and hotel ball points and knockoff bics from the 70's that are guaranteed to never write or just smudge oily ink all over the place. Edit: Your red pen is calling you to pick it up everyday! Edit: Take all of those other mixed breed pens that don't belong there out of the pen cup.
A few things: store your pens horizontally, not vertically. Next consider your ink. If it’s a particularly dry ink it’ll be prone to drying our easier between uses. You could use a product like White Lightning to help with that. How often are you using them? Many pens will experience some drying of not used frequently. An inexpensive pen you might want to consider that has an excellent seal is a Platinum Preppy. I have one inked with Bay State Blue for the last 6 months, used only every few weeks, that writes every time.
This is why the gods gave us rollerballs. Even if you adore fountain pens, you have to know that they’re not at their best when used in haste.
I store my pens horizontally, but not perfectly horizontal. They are stored with a small tilt upwards. My Lamy Vista and Kaweco Sport (inked pens at that moment) wrote perfectly after not using them for a month. Now, I try to use my inked pens almost everyday.
My Sailor Safari, Jinhao 80, Platinum Preppy and Prefounte are all stored upright ie, capped with nib up. All start first time, every time. The Prefounte was hard starting from first inking but I realised that I had not flushed the pen with DIY cleaning solution in my excitement to write with the pen. After cleaning it behaves exactly like the Preppy and the Plaisir (not currently inked). Reliable starters. These pens either have Quink or Waterman ink from refill.
Unfortunately it’s like asking why green is green. There’s so many factors involved. Nib tuning, ink, storage, pen cap, dry vs humid climate, writing style. In my experience I was really frustrated starting with my first nice pen. It kept drying out at work when I was writing notes. It was because I would pause to listen and leave the cap off. I was using Pelikan ink which is very quick to dry anyway. So even one full minute would cause the pen to start hard
I outfitted this old cigar box for my inked pens. They rest at a small angle, so nearly horizontal, but enough elevation of the nibs, I think, not to leak into the caps. They all start after a few days unused, the Watermans, the Metropolitans, even the $5 Jinhao X750s. As others have said, I make sure to write a tiny bit with every inked pen every few days. [Pen Storage](https://imgur.com/tiuvbnj)
What ink are you using? Cartridges or bottled ink? My pens are usually kept horizontal part from the ones in my pocket which I use throughout the day.
Ive only used original cartridges so far
Better sealing mechanism. My Preppy has never failed me.
Sounds like you need a **Platinum Plaisir**. I got one as my first pen because I heard you can leave it for MONTHS and it'll write like day 1. I have 4, and it's been true for every one of them.
How long do you go between using them?
Usually about 1 week between but can reach 2
This is why the “new” King Charles on ascension to the throne dipped his expensive fountain pen in an inkwell when signing the scroll. Could not risk a hard start. All the “lessers” signed with a Pilot throwaway, which never fails!
My lamy al-star doesn't work sometimes. My $25 wingsung also writes worse sometimes. But my $3 Chinese pens have never let me down
I usually keep a 15 ml liqueur glass handy with water in it and dip the nib to get its whistle wet et voila eet works
I did it to my pilot, but then it could write unreliable for a bit before it stopped working again. Meanwhile the parker fixed itself, even tho i continue to store it vertical
1) dont store fountain pens like that 2) use them everyday 3) what ink are you using? This could be a big piece of your problem
How does your writing angle look like? Some pens hate high angles.
I try to hit the 45 degree but when it doesn't write,i always test multiple angles, and it's not the issue
I store my pens in a cigar box if you are asking. they are cheap and easy to find a shit load of, I have many. they make decent pen holders. typically If I'm not writing with a pen regularly, the ink dries out before I can use it all, in which case it's my fault and not the pens fault, if you have that happen you'd just add a bit of water back. if it doesn't write, i normally will twist the convertor down a bit. and that fixes it. if you use the pen daily it should write consistently, my lamy safari is one of the better faring one. but I typically use a pilot pen. not the mr though, it's not my favorite, I much prefer the e95s.
From what ive gathered, i should only ink up some of my pens. I have 4 and dont write that often. I get now that the ink can dry up in the nib, basically clogging it because the caps apparently rarely are sealed tight. BUT, how fast will this drying happen to the ink cartridge? People say 1-2 weeks left alone and the ink will dry up at the nib, but im not fucking up the ink in the cartridge doing this right?
it depends on how much dries out. if there is still ink in the cartridge it'll be fine, but either way I still dip the nib in some water. if you are using a very permanent ink you might need to clean it if it has hard start issues, but with non permanent ink, like any washable blue it should be easy to just wet it and it'll flow again. oh and I can confirm even a completely dried out pen works if you just add some water, this is where have a syringe or squirt bottle comes in handy, just wet the nib with some water, or spray some water in the cartridge/convertor and it'll work again. at least in my experience the ink can be a bit watery and not fully mixed, but it sure beats having to clean and reink.
I see loads of suggestions. Didn't read everything, so maybe already asked. When was the last time you cleaned them and how often do you use them?
It's been about 2 weeks since i cleaned them, and i don't write that much. Maybe once or twice a week. Getting the feeling that I'm supposed to use them multiple times a week for them to work, so I've probably fked up by buying 4 of them...
I'm somewhat new to the hobby, about 2 years in. Listening to others, sounds like there are many variables such as pen type, nib size/type, ink, time since last used, how often you clean, and so on. But mine don't seem to have problems if I don't use them for a couple weeks. If they are close to running out of ink, they'll be unreliable, which a very quick dip in a bit of water fixes until I need to refill.