Pen Care

The whole point of owning a fountain pen is that they are enjoyable and fun to use and, with a little bit of care, will last you a lifetime. They shouldn't be a burden or another thing to worry about.

There is a lot of advice out there on how to care for your pen, but if you follow this simple care advice then you should be fine.

Storing Your Pen - Nib Up or Down?

It is best to store your pen in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. It should be in a vertical position with the nib pointing up or horizontally on a flat surface.

It should never be stored vertically with the nib pointing down. Gravity will pull the ink through the nib housing and feed and will not only lead to leaking but could irreparably damage the pen.

When travelling it is advisable to carry the fountain pen in a traveling case. The ink reservoir should be either emptied or completely full.

If you are not planning on using your pen for more than two-three weeks then it should be emptied of ink to prevent drying out. Pen ink is usually water based and, if unused for long periods, the water can evaporate leaving a residue that will clog up the pen and may lead to damage if left for a long time.

Cleaning Your Pen

The following steps give a basic overview for cleaning your pen. Cleaning should be performed once a month. Rockster pens are provided with a converter and/or a cartridge.

  1. Empty the pen of ink
    1. Unscrew the nib section from the barrel to expose the cartridge or converter.
    2. Cartridge: remove the cartridge (pull it away from nib) holding it upright so that ink doesn’t spill out. A piece of tape can be put over the open end of the cartridge to preserve the ink.
    3. Converter: remove the converter (pull it away from nib) and expel any ink by twisting the end screw. Flush water through the converter by repeatedly drawing up into the converter and expelling until the water runs clear. Then soak the converter in warm water for at least one hour and flush one more time.
  2. ​Take the nib section and soak in clean, tepid water, and gently place it on a paper towel to dry.
  3. ​Repeatedly flush the barrel of the pen with warm water until it runs clear.
  4. ​Allow the pen and nib to dry completely before reassembling and filling with ink.