# making fountain pen work
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-fountain-pen-work/179311
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 3, 2003, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-fountain-pen-work/179311 "2003-06-03T04:35:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2003, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-fountain-pen-work/179311/1 "2003-06-03T04:35:09Z")
I have two fountain pens, neither very expensive. When they work, they work great…for a few minutes. Then they just run dry. What’s the deal? Should the be stored (in my pen holder on the desk) with the nib down, up, or on their side? When I dip the end in water, or flush it out, it works again, and keeps working when the water is gone and the ink writes darkly (I use a blue-black ink). But after no more than a few paragraphs it’s out. I use cartridges instead of dipping.
Thoughts? 😕 :mad: :dubious: :smack:
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### Author:  [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2003, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-fountain-pen-work/179311/2 "2003-06-03T09:40:19Z")
You could try taking a look at this [fountain pen site](http://pw1.netcom.com/~danhle/home.html#care), perhaps emailing the author for tips.
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### Author:  [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2003, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-fountain-pen-work/179311/3 "2003-06-03T12:59:17Z")
When you’re not writing, store the pen nib-end up. I’m no expert; I went through this a few weeks ago. If the pen gets clogged, clean under running water (a messy deal.) When you put it back together, you’ll have to do a lot of test-writing as the watered down ink comes out.
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### Author:  [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-fountain-pen-work/179311/4 "2003-06-03T14:32:21Z")
I used a cheap $3 fountain Schaffer (sp?) pen all through high school and college. If found that the black ink dried too quickly on the nib for note-taking. Blue ink was too bright. Blue-black ink **rules**. So the first thing I’d suggest is buying some blue or blue-black ink catridges and trying those out.
You _are_ capping the pen when you pause in writing for more than a few seconds, right?
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### Author:  [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-fountain-pen-work/179311/5 "2003-06-03T18:54:03Z")
Ok, you last two guys. You are telling me what I already said.
I DO use black-blue and I DO wash it out…but why are they “clogging” or skipping so often?
Ice Wolf: thanks for the website!
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### Author:  [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-fountain-pen-work/179311/6 "2003-06-03T19:17:13Z")
um… are you using the ink cartridges recommended for this pen? Is it possible the ink is subtly incompatible (I’m not sure this is even possible, to tell you the truth)
I used a $3 fountain pen daily for 8 years and never had this problem. Now that I’m a grown-up, I also have a Waterman. It also has never exhibited this problem. Maybe it’s your paper? What kind of stock are you writing on? Could fibers be clogging the nib? Perplexed, I am.
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### Author:  [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2003, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-fountain-pen-work/179311/7 "2003-06-03T20:19:12Z")
I’m a big fan of cheap fountain pens. That said, I’ve used some cheap-ass fountain pens that ran dry all the time, and some cheap-ass fountain pens that were fine.
What brand are you using? Penache was the brand that gave me fits, while I’ve had very good luck with A&W and Parker. I avoid cheap Sheaffers because they leak (though their calligraphy pens and higher-end models are okay.)
Always store fountain pens nib up. That way if you don’t use it for a while, the ink won’t dry in the nib and clog the works up completely.
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### Author:  [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-fountain-pen-work/179311/8 "2003-06-03T20:31:13Z")
I find that this usually happens with inexpensive inks. The ink dries up and flakes, causing a clog.
I use bottled ink for my pens. It runs about 10.00 a bottle but it lasts forever.
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### Author:  [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-fountain-pen-work/179311/9 "2003-06-03T22:37:17Z")
It’s a cross pen, but on the low end of their prices. The ink is cross ink in their own cartridges.
Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to keep a little cup of water near by to just touch to the end. ;-(
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### Author:  [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2003, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-fountain-pen-work/179311/10 "2003-06-04T02:32:54Z")
Did you ever let the ink dry in the pen?
If so, you may have detritus in the flow path that scales off and routinely clogs the nib. You may want to break down your pen to the component level and give the whole thing a good scrubbing. Use a pipe cleaner or the like to get the tubes and what have you all nice and clean again.