A well-made fountain pen can outlive its owner, and almost all the care it needs takes five minutes once a month. Here is the routine we recommend for STEX pens, and for fountain pens in general.
How often to clean a fountain pen
- Every two to four weeks with everyday dye-based inks
- Every one to two weeks with shimmer, pigment or iron-gall inks
- Whenever you change ink, so colours don't mix
- Before storing the pen for more than a few weeks
Flushing with a converter
- Empty the ink back into the bottle by twisting the converter knob.
- Fill a glass with clean, room-temperature water.
- Draw water up through the nib, then push it out. Repeat until the water comes out clear. With strong colours this can take ten or more cycles.
- Pull off the converter and flush it on its own.
- Stand the section nib-down on a folded paper towel for a few hours. The towel wicks out the last water from the feed.
- Reassemble and refill.
For stubborn ink, add a single drop of washing-up liquid to the water for the first few cycles, then finish with plain water.
Flushing a cartridge pen
Remove the empty cartridge, hold the section under gently running water nib-down until the water runs clear, then dry it on a paper towel as above. A rubber bulb syringe from a pharmacy makes this faster.
Reviving a pen that has dried out
If a pen has been left inked for months and won't write:
- Remove the converter or cartridge.
- Soak just the section (nib and feed) in water overnight. Don't soak the metal body.
- Flush as above.
- If ink is still caked in, repeat with a drop of washing-up liquid.
Never use hot water, alcohol or solvents on the feed; they can warp it.
Cleaning the body
The body of a STEX pen never touches ink, so it only needs a wipe with a soft, dry cloth. Copper and brass will darken over time; that patina is harmless and many owners love it. If you want the shine back, follow our guide to cleaning a copper pen, and keep any polish well away from the nib. Titanium needs nothing but a wipe.
Storing your pen
- Keep it capped whenever you're not writing.
- Store it horizontally or nib-up in a pen case or sleeve, away from keys and coins that can mark the metal.
- Avoid hot cars and windowsills. Heat expands the air in the converter and can push ink out.
- Empty and flush any pen you won't use for a month or more.
Travelling with a fountain pen
Air pressure falls as a plane climbs, which can push ink out of a part-filled pen. Fly with the pen either completely full or completely empty, carry it nib-up, and wait until you've landed to uncap it, nib up. Cartridges make travel even easier; here is how to fill a fountain pen either way.
When to ask for help
If a nib is bent, the tines are uneven, or ink leaks from the threads even after cleaning, don't force it. Write to us with a photo and we'll help. STEX pens that arrive with a manufacturing defect can be exchanged within seven days of delivery; see the exchange policy.
Questions people ask
How do I clean a fountain pen without a converter?
Remove the cartridge and hold the nib section under gently running water, nib down, until the water runs clear. A bulb syringe speeds this up. Dry the section on a paper towel before refitting a cartridge.
Can I clean a fountain pen with alcohol?
No. Alcohol and solvents can damage the feed and seals. Use clean water, with a single drop of washing-up liquid for stubborn ink.
Why is my fountain pen leaking?
Common causes are a converter that isn't seated fully, a pen left in the heat, or a flight with a half-full converter. Reseat the converter, keep the pen out of the sun and fly with it full or empty.
