Using A Fountain Pen

Fountain pens remain popular in Europe and elsewhere, but for day-to-day usage they have been supplanted by the ball point pen (also known as a biro), due to the extreme advantages the ball point offers in cost and maintenance. Compared to the fountain pen, a ballpoint pen is only a fraction of the price, and requires no special care - a disposable fountain pen would be almost unthinkable. Nevertheless, Pilot produces its Varsity line of disposable steel-nibbed fountain pens, priced comparably to good rollerballs.

Using a fountain pen requires more skill than a ball point pen, due to the nature of the ink and the care with which a fountain pen must be maintained. Nevertheless, they remain popular in some sectors due to tradition and aesthetics. Schoolchildren in Europe, for example, are still expected to write their homework with a fountain pen, and legal documents are still signed with fountain pens due to the superior ink in a fountain pen.

To use a fountain pen, assuming that it is in good repair, first fill it either by inserting cartridges(newer) or by operating its filling mechanism while the nib and section are inserted into a bottle of ink(old pens, can be a lever on the side, unscrewing the top, pressing a piston etc.) Excess ink should be wiped with a soft cloth. Writing with a fountain pen should be effortless, no pressure is needed and too much pressure can damage the nib. Storing a pen should be either with nib upright or horizontally. Do not drop a pen, especially with the cap off, the nib can be damaged and at the least ink will get everywhere. Do not shake a fountain pen, if it is not flowing correctly it may need cleaning or repair.