Pelikan guarantees its customers a lifetime of writing pleasure with a Pelikan writing instrument. To ensure this writing pleasure in the long term, it is important that you keep your noble writing instrument clean. But this is also quite simple. To clean a piston fountain pen, all you need is pure water.
There are a couple of things you should have in mind when filling the reservoir of a piston filling fountain pen. The following instructions will show you how to fill your piston filler in four steps without dripping.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
We recommend you the following:
- Do not buy ink in too large amounts and use it up within 12 to 18 months.
- Always close your fountain pen using its sealing cap.
- Do not expose your writing instrument to extreme temperatures (frost or extreme heat).
- Never use additives such as liquid soap or detergents to clean your pen!
INK 4001 ROYAL BLUE
Cleaning fountain pens that are used every day
If you use your fountain pen every day, it is quite sufficient to rinse it once a year under lukewarm, running water (avoid using additives). To do this, draw up some water through the nib by twisting the knob of the piston filling mechanism to the right, and then release the water again by turning the knob in the other direction.
Cleaning fountain pens that are used irregularly
If you use your fountain pen only once in a while, please try to clean it every six months. Otherwise, please empty the ink reservoir and rinse it with cold or lukewarm water.
In case of irregular use, we recommend filling the fountain pen only halfway. If you have not used the fountain pen for a long time, please make sure to clean it before using it again.
COLORED INKS (except for Royal Blue)
Colored ink contains a higher amount of pigments than only blue ink. So, in case you are using colored inks, your fountain pen will need to be cleaned more often.
SPECIAL INKS/INK
Due to its characteristics, this special ink is also called “India® ink for fountain pens”. Among other things, it contains a higher ratio of soot, which settles in the fine capillaries of the ink regulator. Leaving the pen open, without putting the cap back on when you are finished writing, will anticipate the process. What happens is that the watery carrier fluid evaporates much faster and the solids, e.g., the soot, sediment in the fountain pen. Consequently, the ink becomes thicker and gathers in the capillary grooves of the ink regulator and the fine capillaries of the piston filling mechanism. To make a long story short: it will stop up your fountain pen. Therefore, if you only need your fountain pen every once in a while, we recommend you to only partly fill up the ink reservoir and best rinse it under lukewarm water every 3 to 5 months (leaving away additives).
