Seven mistakes when using a fountain pen and how to avoid them. How to use a fountain pen How to make a fountain pen with your own hands

A fountain pen is always more than just a pen, it is a faithful companion that follows you everywhere when you make a to-do list for today, cross off completed items from your work plan, write down your phone number beautiful girl person you just met, signing a greeting card or business documents. On our website you can purchase the original one. The attitude towards a fountain pen is always special - it is not at all the same as a simple ball pen, which can be thrown away if it breaks.

A fountain pen is the same as Zippo lighter – it fits comfortably in the hand and pleasantly tightens the pocket. If your loved one breaks down, you will first think about the possibility of repair, rather than replacement.

Usually experienced fountain pen owners know everything about how to handle their pen, how to care for it, how to put it in order if something happens to it. So our article is primarily addressed to beginners who are faced with an important problem for the first time. Why a fountain pen may require repairs? After all, any Parker product is reliable and designed to last! Most often, it is the pen that is bent as a result of a fall that needs repair. No one is safe from accidents! So, the pen is bent, and this is not a reason to panic. What to do in such cases?

There are three ways to deal with the problem.

Method one, official

Contact the company service center. The Parker brand has official services in Russia. If there is such a service center in your city, consider that the problem has already been solved - specialists will be able to cope with almost any damage. In a pinch, it's easier to replace a bent nib than to try to repair it. The main advantage of contacting a service center is the quality service that they will provide you with. Typically, branded services employ professionals who already have experience in solving such problems. A significant disadvantage is the high cost of services. If we are talking about a cheap pen, it’s easier to buy a new one or try to fix the situation better first. available means. And if you do not live in the capital, there is a high probability that there is simply no official service center in your city. Then you will inevitably have to look for other options.

Method two, available

A jewelry workshop can help out if there is no service center in your city, or the specialists have asked for too high a fee for their services. Jewelry workshops different levels available in any city. Jewelry tools are quite suitable for repairing a gold pen, and good master You probably have the necessary skills. It would seem that this method has no disadvantages - it is easier to find a jeweler, and the cost of the work will be significantly lower than in the service. However, you should still be very careful when choosing a specialist. This must be good specialist, ideally, already having experience in such work. Otherwise you'll have to do it again. Keep in mind that the cost of repairs from a jeweler can be up to 50% of the cost of the pen itself, so think: maybe repairs don’t make sense at all, unless the pen is dear to you as a memory?

Method three, do it yourself

This method is suitable for fearless owners of fountain pens who are not afraid of completely ruining their favorite thing. If you learn how to fix a bent nib yourself, you'll be able to use your skills many times in the future.

The main difficulty with self-repair– removing the pen from the pen. Here it all depends on the model - with some pens you can remove the nib in no time, with others you need to tinker and find out exactly how this is done so as not to break the pen. Of course, when you are getting ready, you will not be interested in how easy the feather is to remove, and certainly not predict that after a while you may need repairs. Therefore, you will have to comprehend the theory in practice. In some cases, repairs can be made without removing the pen.

There are two ways to straighten a bent feather at home using available tools. Experienced owners of fountain pens advise using ordinary chopsticks. The first repair method is as follows: place the pen on a hard surface ( ideal solution will form a rubber or silicone mat on which the pen will not slide), and then gently smooth the bent part using the sharp end of a stick until you achieve the desired result. The second method is used only if you have removed the pen from the pen. Place a chopstick on the table in front of you, place a feather on its surface, placing it lengthwise, with the tip towards the sharp end of the chopstick. The feather should adhere to the surface of the stick as tightly as possible. Then take a second stick and gently smooth the damaged area, as with the first method. Food sticks - perfect option for such repairs as they are hard enough to repair damage without scratching the pen. The choice of sticks also matters - it is best to choose not round, but slightly ribbed sticks, the narrowing of which has a rectangular shape.

If you think that your Parker pen is not valuable enough to contact a service or jeweler, try to fix the damage yourself. If you succeed, it will give you valuable experience that can be useful in the future. As a last resort, you can always buy a new pen and try to handle it more carefully. you also can buy a Zippo lighter and practice refueling it yourself.

Many modern people prefer to use ballpoint pens, but there are those who still prefer the grace, clarity and individual style of fountain pens. Instead of a ball, a sharp nib is installed at the end of such a pen, leaving behind lines of varying thickness depending on the pressure on the pen, writing speed and the direction of specific strokes. Plus, the fountain pen can be refilled with ink multiple times, so it can last a lifetime. However, fountain pens are used a little differently compared to ballpoint pens. Once you learn proper writing technique, you will find it noticeably easier to write with a fountain pen.

Steps

Part 1

How to write with a fountain pen

Hold the pen correctly. Remove the cap from the pen and hold it in your dominant hand, gently holding it between your thumb and index finger. In this case, the body of the handle should rest on the middle finger. Place your remaining fingers on the paper to stabilize your hand position.

Place the pen nib on the paper. This may seem simple enough to do, but the design of a fountain pen is somewhat more complex than that of a ballpoint pen. Because of the pointed nib instead of a ball at the end, the pen must be positioned correctly on the paper to be able to write with it. This is the so-called optimal position.

Hold the pen firmly. When writing, there are two ways to control the pen: with your fingers or with your hand as a whole. When you work with a ballpoint pen, it is quite possible to use only your fingers, since thanks to the ball the pen will write in any position. But the fountain pen must be controlled with the whole hand so as not to miss the optimal position. Therefore, use the recommendations below.

With the pen in your hand, keep your fingers and wrist still, using your entire arm to move the pen as you write. Practice writing in the air first and then on paper to gradually get used to writing with your whole hand.

Press lightly on the pen as you write. There is no need to apply a lot of pressure to the fountain pen, however, you should apply some pressure to the nib to get ink into it. Gently press down on the pen and start practicing writing with a fountain pen.

Part 2
How to fill a fountain pen with ink
1. Determine the type of fountain pen. Today you can find three types of fountain pens on sale: with cartridges, converters and built-in piston system. The difference between the two is the ink supply system and the way the pen is refilled with ink when it runs out.
  - Nowadays, cartridge fountain pens are the most common because cartridges are the easiest to change. To write with this type of pen, you will need to buy ready-made ink cartridges and periodically replace them in the pen when the ink runs out.
  - Converter pens are equipped with a reusable cartridge that is inserted inside. They are suitable for you if you don't mind having to refill the ink cartridge yourself every time you run out of ink.
  - Piston pens are similar to converter pens, except that they have a built-in refill system, so you don't have to replace the refillable cartridge with a converter purchased separately.
2. Replace the fountain pen cartridge. First, remove or unscrew the cap from the pen, then unscrew its body. Remove the empty cartridge from inside. Then follow the steps below with the new cartridge.
  
  Fill the piston handle. Remove the cap from the pen and, if necessary, the additional cap on the back of the pen that covers the piston mechanism. Turn the piston position adjuster (usually counterclockwise) so that the piston is positioned at the writing end of the pen. Then follow the steps below.
  - Dip the pen nib completely into the ink bottle so that the ink covers the hole in the base of the nib.
  - Start turning the plunger clockwise to draw ink into the pen.
  - When the ink tank is full, remove the pen from the ink bottle. Rotate the plunger slightly counterclockwise again to release a few drops of ink back into the bottle. This will allow you to get rid of any air bubbles.
  - Wipe the pen from ink with a napkin.
3. Fill the converter pen. Converters in fountain pens come in two types: with a piston mechanism or with a dropper refill system. To fill a dropper pen, remove the cap, unscrew the barrel, dip the pen into ink, and then follow these steps:
  - Slowly press down on the ink tank and wait until air bubbles appear on the surface of the ink.
  - Slowly release the ink tank and wait for it to fill with ink.
  - Repeat these steps until the reservoir is full.

with your own hands.

“Nowadays, few people write by hand. The age of computers, mobile phones and other gadgets seems to have completely atrophied the ability to write with a pen. All the more beautiful. Moreover, with a pen. This is why calligraphy skills become a valuable skill.

Imagine how nice it would be for your loved one to receive a postcard written in a special font and even by hand. You can purchase a fountain pen at an art store. But the above product is rare. We are not talking about companies and types of metal pens here.

We bring to your attention the most ancient natural writing instrument – the kalam (or kalyam). It was used by the ancient Persians and Indians. You will get it absolutely free if reed grows in your area.
Interesting? Well, then be patient and go for the reeds.

Late autumn is the time. At this time it matures completely. Green doesn't suit us.

The prey must be cleared of leaves. Let it dry for a couple of days.

Ready? Take sharp knife. A pocket bag is enough. Cut one segment first.

Measure from the edge a gap the length of your thumb.

Very carefully, without demonstrating force, we cut one layer of the stem to half its diameter.

We cut again at an angle of about 30 degrees, stepping back a little.

Then we make the cutting angle even sharper.

We give the appearance of a wide flat feather.

We cut off the tip so that it is even. Like this.

We clean up all the irregularities. Then we turn the feather over and cut off the layer, retreating 1.5 mm at an angle of about 45 degrees.

It is better to do this on a table or any other convenient flat support. The finishing touch. Be careful. You need to make a cut right in the middle of the feather.

But first, to prevent the crack from spreading across the entire reed, you need to make a small hole. Ideally used thin drill. But you can pierce it with an awl.

Kalam is ready. Now you will need ink or ink. If possible, you can try to replicate the famous fonts of the Middle Ages. But this is optional. Try writing a few letters and maybe you will get your font.

With the help of kalam and ink, you can beautifully sign a card, a note for a gift, or the packaging itself. And what are the possibilities in decor... Good luck!”

Thanks Dmitry! I’ll add on my own that I saw a scribe with a calligraphic pen at the Medieval Festival in Spain. It cost him 3 euros to write a name beautifully on a prepared sheet of paper...

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Fountain pens were used in the 19th century because they were very convenient. But the old pens had one drawback: they wrote with ink that got dirty. But if you insert a ballpoint into the pen, the pen will be both comfortable and stylish.

To make a ballpoint pen from a bird feather, you will need old pen, pen and a little patience.

What is a pen made of?

An old ballpoint pen (Bic is better, as they have a thin refill),
- bird feather (goose, swan, peacock, stork or any other),
- scissors,
- yarn.

How to make a pen

Find a bird feather. This can be any pen that you feel comfortable holding in your hand. But keep in mind that the best feathers are the long feathers from the bird's tail. The larger the pen, the better. Then the pen shaft will fit inside more easily.

Always wash feathers found outdoors. You can wash the pen under running water, carefully removing bugs and dirt from it. It should be beautiful, without flaws.

Disassemble the ballpoint pen. Take the rod out of it. Cut off the tip of the feather with scissors. Try inserting the rod inside. If it is too long, cut off the tip with scissors and try inserting it into the pen again. It's good if there is a little ink in the refill, because then you won't get dirty with it.

Take the yarn and cut about 50 cm. Place the tip of the yarn on top of the end of the feather, where the shaft is inserted, and leave a piece approximately 7 cm long. Start wrapping the second, longer end of the yarn around the feather and the short end.

Try to wrap as tightly as possible. Once the handle is wrapped tightly enough, tie both ends of the yarn. Five knots will be enough. To prevent the tips from sticking out, they can be glued to the feather.

The pen is ready.

Other fountain pen options

You can use glue instead of tape. Glue should be applied to the inside of the pen. If the feather is too narrow, it can be cut from the side. Then you should add super glue, insert the rod inside the pen and let the pen dry. Instead of glue, you can use tape, wrapping it around the bottom of the pen, but then the pen will not look so beautiful.

To make the feather more comfortable to hold, you can shave it a little from the fluff, which is usually attached to its lower part. To do this, you can use the usual stationery knife. The feather can be given a different shape if desired, using the same tool. Carefully run the knife along the feather, from bottom to top, being careful not to break it.

It all depends on personal preference and appearance pen. Peacock feathers are so beautiful that it is better to leave them as is. To make the feather softer, you can leave it in water overnight.

The feather can be dyed using hair dye. Dilute the paint in plastic dishes and dip the pen into it several times. Then rinse the pen with water.

In fountain pens, atmospheric pressure prevents the ink from flowing out. If you fill a cocktail straw with water and pinch one end, the water will be locked securely inside. But this technology works as long as the pressure is stable. If you board a plane with such a straw, some time after takeoff some of the water will still spill out, since at altitude the pressure in the cabin drops by about 25%. In the case of a fountain pen, an ink stain would form in the pocket area.

The most an important part non-leakage fountain pen - feeder - partially or completely hidden under the nib. At the top there are one or, as in Monblanc pens, two capillary channels through which the ink flows to the nib. The feeder ribs act as a kind of buffer on which excess ink accumulates and from which, in the event of increased ink consumption, reserves are taken. The ink is retained on the ridges by capillary effect. Despite its apparent simplicity, the solution is very non-trivial, requiring extraordinary knowledge of mechanics and physics.

However, for a disaster with inkblot it is not necessary to take off - a normal oscillation is enough atmospheric pressure or a slight concussion. To prevent this from happening, a rather ingenious solution was invented - a feeder with a ribbed collector. All excess ink was retained on the ribs due to the capillary effect. The feeder also performed other functions - ink came to the pen through a channel, cross section which determined the speed of their arrival. Since ink consumption was inconsistent when using a pen, the collector also served as a kind of buffer.

There are a huge variety of nibs available to suit a variety of writing styles. Classic ones, with a spherical tip, differ in diameter - from EF (Extra Fine - 0.3 mm) to BB (Extra Bold - over 0.8 mm). Feathers with a flat end, which can also be beveled to the left or right hand, used for calligraphic writing.

An equally important part of the pen is the nib; the comfort of using the tool and the beauty of writing depend on its quality. The best Montblanc nibs are made from gold alloy sheets with varying thicknesses - from 0.18 mm at the base of the nib to 0.52 mm at the tip. This provides a light spring force, well known to Montblanc owners, which enhances writing comfort. The body of the pen is stamped, bent, polished, engraved and a tip made of a harder metal is welded on. It is then shaped to suit the style of writing, from a traditional sphere to a beveled flat tip for calligraphy. Some Montblanc boutiques have computerized systems that allow you to test task give unique parameters of your writing style, according to which you can choose a pen that is suitable for you, and if you have a strong desire and budget, make a unique pen especially for you.

One of the final operations is performed with the finest diamond saw. It is this almost invisible cut that delivers the ink to the tip and paper through capillary action. All that remains is to manually polish it and insert it into the handle.