Ask The Pen Guy – Your Most Common Fountain Pen Questions

There are few things I enjoy more than talking about fountain pens.

I love making them, writing with them, talking about them, looking at them, and, on occasion, staring at a particularly nice piece of wood for far too long while wondering whether it would make a good pen.

But over the years, I’ve also been asked quite a few questions about fountain pens.

Some are sensible.

Some are surprisingly sensible.

And some make me question mankind, and I end up wondering whether people think fountain pens are small, complicated animals that need feeding.

So, I thought it was about time I answered some of the questions I’m asked most often.

And yes, I’ve included some of the dafter ones.

“Are fountain pens difficult to use?”

No. They can look complicated, particularly if you’re used to grabbing a biro and attacking a piece of paper with it.

But a fountain pen is actually remarkably simple.

Ink flows from the reservoir, through the feed, onto the nib and onto the paper. That’s it.

There are no batteries, no apps, no Bluetooth and no firmware updates.

Frankly, that last point alone makes fountain pens rather appealing.

The trick is to let the nib do the work. You don't need to press down hard.

If you find yourself gripping a fountain pen like you're trying to win an argument with it, you're probably doing it wrong.

“Do I have to write joined up?”

Absolutely not. You can write however you like.

Joined-up writing, print, block capitals, tiny scribbles that only you understand — it's all perfectly acceptable.

A fountain pen doesn't sit there judging your handwriting.

Although occasionally I do.

Only joking.

Probably.

“Can I use any ink?”

This is one of the important questions. No — not quite. Fountain pens need fountain-pen-safe ink.

Avoid using things like India ink, acrylic ink, drawing ink or anything else that isn't specifically designed for fountain pens.

Those inks can contain pigments, binders or other materials that can clog or damage the pen.

There are hundreds of wonderful fountain pen inks available, so there's really no need to experiment with something that comes out of a bottle labelled “WARNING: DO NOT PUT THIS IN A PEN.”

I mention this because apparently some people need reminding.

“Can I put red wine in it?”

No. I really wish I could say this is a joke.

It isn't.

I've been asked.

And while I admire the enthusiasm, your fountain pen is not a miniature wine dispenser.

Besides, if you're drinking the wine, you'll eventually run out.

If you're putting it in the pen, you'll eventually regret it.

Probably both.

“Why does my fountain pen sometimes skip?”

There are several possible reasons. The nib might be dirty. The feed may have an issue. The ink may not be flowing properly. The pen may have been sitting unused for a while.

Or — and this is surprisingly common — you might simply be holding the pen at the wrong angle.

Fountain pens like a relatively consistent writing angle. Unlike a ballpoint, you shouldn't need to press down to make the ink appear.

Try relaxing your grip and adjusting the angle slightly.

Sometimes the simplest solution is the right one.

“Do fountain pens leak?”

They can, but a properly functioning fountain pen shouldn't routinely leak all over your shirt, desk or important paperwork.

Changes in temperature, air pressure, damaged seals, loose components and incorrect storage can all cause problems.

And then there's the classic:

“I put it in my pocket nib-down.”

That's less a fountain pen problem and more a tiny, ink-based cry for help.

If you're carrying a fountain pen around, keep the cap securely fitted and avoid exposing it to unnecessary heat.

Your shirt will thank you.

“Can I take a fountain pen on an aeroplane?”

Yes, you can. But flying with a fountain pen does require a little common sense.

Changes in cabin pressure can cause ink to expand or move through the feed, which can sometimes result in a leak.

My advice is simple: keep the pen capped and, ideally, carry it nib-up.

And perhaps don't fill it completely to the brim immediately before boarding.

There are few things more disappointing than arriving at your holiday destination with your favourite shirt decorated in your favourite ink.

Although it would technically be a unique tie-dye design.

“Why are fountain pens so expensive?”

This is another good question. The answer is that fountain pens can range from a few pounds to many thousands.

A handmade pen involves considerably more than simply putting a bit of material on a piece of metal and hoping for the best.

There's the blank, the fittings, the nib, the machining, shaping, sanding, polishing, assembly and finishing.

And then there's the bit that doesn't appear on the invoice:

time.

When I make a pen, I'm not simply making an object.

I'm making something that someone might use every day for years.

That matters to me.

“Are handmade pens actually better?”

“Better” is a dangerous word. A handmade pen isn't automatically better than a mass-produced pen.

But it can be more personal.

That's what I love about making them.

When I make a pen, I get to choose materials, colours, shapes and finishes. Every piece of timber, resin or other material has its own character.

And sometimes a pen turns out slightly differently from what I imagined.

That's often when the magic happens.

“Can I use bottled ink in a rollerball?”

This one catches people out. Generally, no.

A fountain pen is designed to use fountain pen ink, while a refillable rollerball is designed around a specific refill system.

Some rollerball systems can use liquid ink cartridges or refills, but they aren't simply fountain pens without a nib.

If you're after bottled ink, a fountain pen is the obvious choice.

If you're after the writing feel of a ballpoint or rollerball, stick with the appropriate refill.

“Does the colour of the pen affect how it writes?”

No. But it may affect how much you stare at it instead of getting on with your work.

A beautiful blue resin doesn't make the nib smoother.

A gorgeous piece of burr wood doesn't make the ink flow faster.

A spectacularly shiny finish doesn't improve your spelling.

Sadly.

Although I have tested this extensively.

“Can I leave my fountain pen uncapped?”

You can. But whether you should is another matter.

Most fountain pen inks will begin to dry on the nib if the pen is left uncapped for too long.

Some pens are more tolerant than others, but if you've finished writing, putting the cap back on is generally a good habit.

It takes about two seconds.

Which is considerably less time than cleaning a dried-out nib.

“Why do some people get obsessed with fountain pens?”

Ah. Now we're getting to the important question.

Because there is something wonderfully satisfying about putting pen to paper.

We live in a world where so much of what we do happens on screens.

Messages disappear upwards.

Emails vanish into inboxes.

Documents live in clouds.

Photos sit on phones.

But handwriting is different.

It is physical.

It is personal.

And when you write something by hand, there's something unmistakably human about it.

A letter written with a fountain pen isn't just information.

It's time.

Someone sat down, picked up a pen and decided that what they wanted to say was worth writing.

That's a rather lovely thing.

“Do I need a fountain pen?”

No. Probably not.

Nobody needs a fountain pen in the same way that nobody technically needs a nice watch, a handmade wooden bowl or a particularly good cup of coffee.

But sometimes life isn't entirely about what we need.

Sometimes it's about the small things that make ordinary moments better.

Writing a shopping list.

Signing a birthday card.

Making notes.

Writing a letter.

Jotting down an idea before it disappears.

A good pen can make those little moments feel just a bit more special.

“Can a fountain pen make my handwriting better?”

I'm afraid there isn't a magical nib that turns your handwriting into the work of a medieval monk.

Although if anyone invents one, I'll have several.

A fountain pen can, however, encourage you to slow down.

Because they require a slightly different approach, people often become more conscious of how they're writing.

And when you slow down, you may find your handwriting naturally becomes neater.

Or at least more legible.

Which, frankly, would be a good start.

“Can I put my fountain pen through the washing machine?”

Please don't. I'm not even going to explain this one.

If you've genuinely been wondering whether you can wash your fountain pen at 40 degrees with a gentle spin cycle, please put the laundry basket down and step away slowly.

“What happens if I drop it?”

That depends. If you drop it onto a carpet, it may survive perfectly well.

If you drop it onto concrete nib-first, you may discover a fascinating new branch of fountain pen repair.

The nib is a precision component, so it's worth treating your pen with a little care.

That said, fountain pens are made to be used.

They're not museum pieces.

A few signs of use are part of the story.

“Which fountain pen should I buy?”

Now that is a question I love. The answer depends entirely on you.

What do you like?

Do you prefer wood or resin?

Something colourful or understated?

Something traditional or unusual?

A fine nib or something broader?

A pen that's light and discreet or something that feels substantial in your hand?

And perhaps most importantly:

Do you actually like the pen?

Because that's what matters.

There are plenty of excellent pens in the world.

But the best fountain pen for you is the one that makes you want to pick it up and write.

“Do fountain pens make good gifts?”

Yes. Very much so.

Especially when the pen has been chosen with the recipient in mind.

I've made pens for birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, new jobs, graduations and simply because someone wanted to give another person something meaningful.

And that's one of my favourite parts of making them.

A pen can become associated with a particular moment in someone's life.

Years later, they may still pick it up and remember who gave it to them and why.

You can't really put a price on that.

“What's the most important thing to know about fountain pens?”

Don't be frightened of them. They're not complicated.

They're not precious.

And they certainly don't require you to join a secret society where everyone wears tweed and discusses nib widths over cucumber sandwiches.

Although, admittedly, that sounds rather nice.

A fountain pen is simply a tool for putting your thoughts onto paper.

Find one you love.

Put some good ink in it.

Give it a little care.

And then use it.

Actually use it.

Don't leave it sitting in a box because you're worried about scratching it.

Don't save it for a “special occasion”.

Everyday writing can be a special occasion if you enjoy it.

A final question from me…

Perhaps the question I get asked least often is: “Why do you make fountain pens?”

The honest answer is because I love it.

I love taking a piece of material that might otherwise sit unnoticed on a shelf and turning it into something that someone can hold, use and enjoy.

I love the little surprises that appear as the material is shaped and polished.

I love the moment when a pen finally comes together.

But most of all, I love knowing that something I've made might become part of somebody else's story.

A pen might sign a wedding card.

Write a first novel.

Be given to a child starting university.

Sit on someone's desk for twenty years.

Or simply write the weekly shopping list.

And that's okay.

Because sometimes the most meaningful things we own aren't the things we only use on special occasions.

They're the things that quietly become part of our everyday lives.

So, if you've got a fountain pen sitting in a drawer somewhere, take it out.

Fill it.

Write something.

And if you have a question about fountain pens — sensible, silly or somewhere gloriously in between — Ask The Pen Guy.

I'll do my best to answer.

And if I don't know the answer, I'll probably make a pen while I think about it.

Guy – The Pen Guy