What You Need to Know About a Fountain Pen Nib

If you love all things stylish and timeless, then youclog the nib, making it unusable. In addition, if you lay
have probably already considered buying a fountainit down flat, the ink can surge back up toward the
pen. But you should know all of the little details thatcapsule and you will then have to wait about twenty
make a fountain pen glamorous; firstly, they are notminutes with the pen in its correct position for ink to
terribly easy to use and require some practice. Notflow back down again.
everyone has the luxury of time to use them. TheThey are known to be messy instruments. You can
old pens were even worse and required being dippedthrow a ballpoint pen in any bag or backpack and it
in an ink well. If you buy one with a fountain pen nib,will be fine. You must be very careful with these,
you will not have to worry about that.though. Even the most conscientious get their fingers
These pens comes with little plastic capsules whichcovered in ink on a regular basis.
you must attach to the nib inside the pen. YouIf you write hard, pressing the tip of a pen roughly
puncture the capsule on the nib so the ink can slowlyonto the paper, these pens are not for you. They
drain into the nib. Once the capsule runs dry, yourequire far lighter hands, because the nibs can be
unscrew the pen, take it out, throw it away, and useeasily broken. The nib is very finely split in two so
a new one. Another option you have is to use athere is a place for the ink to run down to the paper.
syringe or eyedropper to refill and empty capsule willPressing to hard will for the split apart, even to the
more ink from an ink well.point of the pen never working again unless you buy
You must be careful with the nibs, though, becausea new nib.
they can be much more difficult to use than aThese pens do write beautifully, though, once you
ballpoint pen. For example, you should always leaveget the hang of them. You have to hold it a certain
your pen standing with the nib facing down. Never layway at a certain angle, but with a little practice, you
it down flat.will hate writing with anything else. They do lovely
These pens really require the use of gravity in ordercalligraphy--something which other pens could never
for you to write. If you lay it down flat, especiallydream of doing.
when the ink is running low, the ink could dry up and