Tuesday

How to Keep Fountain Pens in Good Condition

Fountain pens have got much popularity in recent years as the most stylish pen in India. The users have found it very interesting as it helps to improve your handwriting and the various designs and various inks would provide much pleasure. Unlike any normal pens, fountain pens need to be handled carefully. So here are some tips that would help you to keep your fountain pen safe and in the best condition.

Cap the Pen:
From ballpens to fountain pens, naturally, every pen has got caps (though there are some retractable pens). The caps are given for two main reasons, one to resist the ink from drying. Second and the most important is to prevent the nib from getting damaged and to keep it safe. Though there are some moments where you do not know how much time the pen can be capped, still cap it whenever you remember.
Keep Using the Pen:
To keep a pen in good condition, there is no best way than using it. Keep writing, that would help the ink to flow otherwise the ink might get dried out. There is no specific time limit for the ink to dry out. It depends on the ink and on the condition. Using the pen once in a few days or hardly once in a week is safe, but if you keep the pen unused for more than that, then there would be a very prominent chance for the ink to dry out.
Flush While Changing Inks:
Surely it is very interesting to use inks of different colors, but while swapping from one color to another, do not forget to flush the nib. Mixing two different colors of inks may not be safe, so wash the nib before putting another ink in. If you use one converter then washing it would be good for you. Never use hot water for washing, the feed which possesses some delicate parts, may get damaged by the hot water. So, avoid it.
Flush a Dry Pen:
When your pen is dried up, some encouragement can induce your pen to run properly. The nib needs some moisture to run again finely. You can moisture the nib by water or some ink. If you see that the pen is not running in any condition then remove the converter and pass some cold or slightly warm water throughout the nib until the water clears the path. Sometimes dried ink prevents the pen from working but a little extra care can give you a fine performance in return.
Being so popular, fountain pens are not just good for use but it can also be one of the best gifts for men.

Wednesday

How to prevent a fountain pen from writing scratchily

Fountain pens are known for smooth and crisp writing. Nevertheless, sometimes you may get literary pissed off with the quality of writing of your favorite fountain pen too. This usually happens when fountain pens write dry due to improper flow of ink from their ink cartridges.Such a problem can be solved by means of these tips. Watch them out.

  • Flushing clean the cartridge
Most of the times, lack of ink flow from the fountain pen indicates that ink inside the cartridge has dried up.  When this happens, dried up ink inside the pen tends to clog the feed system. Eventually, it disrupts the natural flow of ink. Situation like this demand that thorough cleaning of ink cartridge has to be done. For this, you would require some warm water to flush clean the feed. Running warm water through this feed will gradually flush out the small particles and dried up chunks of ink inside the cartridge, and encourage its smooth flow again.
  • Priming the pen
This is the second step in the process of cleaning ink cartridge of fountain pen. Now the process of priming has to be carried out, which is different for different types of fountain pens. In case of cartridge converter style fountain pen, the ink itself can be primed. In cartridge style pens, the grid section has to be unscrewed and slight pressure has to be applied for pressing the ink out of the cartridge.  In case of converter style pen, slightly twisting the converter will make the ink disappear.
  • Select ink carefully
At the third stage, when the internal parts of the fountain pen have been thoroughly cleaned up, you need to refill it with ink again. Here, a vital advice is that you must be very choosy about the quality of ink that you select for the purpose.   While most of the ordinary inks comprise of tiny suspended particles which tend to create clogging effect in the pen, there are some inks that come with self lubricating properties. Moreover, the consistency of ink also varies. While some are very dense, some might be too runny, and some others might have the right consistency that encourages smooth flow specifically in a fountain pen. Hence, adequate information on the variety of inks available for fountain pens has to be gathered while choosing the right product.
  • Pay attention to nibs
Even after cleaning the feed and the cartridge, you might find that it writes a bit scratchy.  If this happens, you need to investigate the nib of the pen immediately.  If you find that it is a fine tipped nib then accept it that lack of ink flow to the tip makes this nib glide scratchily.  If you do not like it, you have to replace it with a wider tipped nib.


Monday

Tips for making a new fountain pen work smoothly

Are you fascinated with fountain pens? Then you might love to know about the secret tips by virtue of which you can write more smoothly with a newly bought fountain pen. If you have already started feeling inquisitive, start reading ahead right now.

  • Making the nib smooth
During the initial phases when you purchase of new fountain pens for students and start writing with it, the nib feels slightly rough and scratchy. It also appears as if the ink from the ink barrel inside the pen is not flowing properly.   The simplest solution for this frustrating situation is to keep on using the pen over and over again. With repeated use, the edgy surface of the nib will become smooth and it will eventually glide smoothly. Sometimes, it is also advised that the nib should be kept dipped inside a filled up ink bottle when not in use. This tactic becomes especially handy in the very preliminary phases when the ink from the barrel has not started flowing out through the nib smoothly.
  • Ensuring maintenance measure
Most of us hardly pay attention to the maintenance measure of our pens. But you might find it surprising that the smoothness of a fountain pen has a lot to do with its maintenance regime. Thus, if you wish to experience smooth writing experience then you must clean the nib regularly to ensure that there is no ink buildup there which might hamper the flow of ink. As periodic maintenance, you can also dismantle the nib from the body of the pen and soak it in hot water and vinegar solution.  This technique will help in melting stubborn caked up ink inside the nib which might otherwise be very tough to clean.  When the cleaning process is over, dry the nib and mantle it again. It is an assurance that this regime will help you experience a smoothly gliding fountain pen with excellent writing quality.
  • Stop lending
You will be shocked to know that a fountain pen is an exclusive possession. So, if you have the habit of lending your pen often then you will never find a smoothly gliding pen! Basically, the general characteristic of these fountain pens is that the metal by which the nib is made tends to rub on the paper and deform over periodic use and gradually adjusts with the control of the user. Eventually, the user finds it smooth while writing. But if you keep on lending it to others, this procedure never takes place. Rather, the nib gets badly deformed and fails to adjust with your specific control over the instrument. As a result, you end up finding the writing experience with it rough and uneven.

The best that you can get from a fountain pen

Fountain pens are said to improve your handwriting if you start writing with them from the very beginning. However there are many people who use fountain pens throughout their life. Also there are much more to these pens which will simply amaze you. Fountain pens were used almost 5000 years ago. They are nib pens that hold the ink in it so that it can be used further for writing purpose.
How a fountain pen is designed?
Fountain pens have a reservoir in it where the ink is stored as the nib draws the ink with the help of a feed using capillary action and gravity. Some pens have the option to fill ink through a Pasteur pipette like an eye dropper or with the help of a syringe. There is another way of filling ink in the fountain pen. It has an internal filling mechanism that creates suction similar to that of piston mechanism and draws the ink directly from the ink pot. In the advanced version of fountain pens, pre filled cartridges are given and you can simple change the cartridge when the ink is over. In the advanced version of fountain pens, pre filled cartridges are given and you can simple change the cartridge when the ink is over. 


What are the advantages of writing with a fountain pen?
  • Writing with a fountain pen feels good. It offers you a nice and comfortable grip section and is more comfortable to use.
  • Very little or no pressure is required to write with a fountain pen as compared to roller balls and ballpoints to write a fully saturated line.
  • Less hand fatigue and easier to write using arm motion rather that just wrist and fingers.
  • It gives consistent solid lines.
  • The writing properties are always the same with Fountain pen.
  • No need to throw it away. You can reuse it by refilling it.
  • No worries of discontinued pen models or out of stock pens as you will always get ink and you just have to refill the pen.
With so many advantages of writing with fountain pen¸ there are many others advantages which you will come across. It is proved that writing with fountain pens is the best and it helps you get a good handwriting as you take times to write and give more emphasis on writing.

Thursday

Kaweco Pens Are Your Perfect Companions For Writing


Kaweco pens are made with attention and love and they ideally cater to all your writing requirements. Kaweco pens are mostly fountain pens, but now they are also available in different forms ranging from ballpoint pens to clutch pencils.

About Special Kaweco Pens

Kaweco Special pens have simple and octagonal designs with gripping push buttons. They are slim, long and extremely durable pens available at very reasonable prices. They are made up of celluloid, hard rubber, and high-quality brass and aluminum with the help of reliable and efficient mechanics. Due to the success of these special pens, fountain pens were later added to this variety.
Types Of Special Kaweco Pens
There are several varieties of special Kaweco pens that are available in the market:

  • Special Black Fountain Pens: These are classic octagonal designed fountain pens made up of high-quality aluminum. The aluminum offers these pens a classy feel and a luxurious glossy surface. With a diameter of 10mm, the special black fountain pens are very easy to grip and they do not tire out your hands while using it.
  • Special “S” Ballpoint Pens: Made up of high-quality aluminum, these pens have glossy surfaces and the classic octagonal formats. The standard thicknesses of these pens are 0.8mm, 1mm, and 1.2 mm. They are available in the colors black and blue.
  • Special Brass Ballpoint Pens: These varieties of pens are made out of good quality brass and have their typical octagonal format. They have a shiny texture that acquires with time, a natural sheen of its own. These pens are available in both blue and black variants and their thicknesses include 0.8mm, 1mm, and 1.2 mm.
  • Special Brass Fountain Pens: These pens are made out of high-quality brass. Having their typical octagonal design, these pens have a luster and polish of their own. Their diameter is 10mm which does not make it exhausting while writing.
  • Special Pencils: These pencils are ideally suited for precise graphical drawing. Made out of quality aluminum, these pens are glossy and have the typical octagonal design and a robust mechanism.  Their 10mm diameter makes these pencils easy to grip and use.
  • Special Dip Pens: With a length of 19 cm, these pens are perfect for ink drawings and imprinted texts. These are made out of aluminum in their typical octagonal design and contain spring retainers.
  • Special Brass Pressure Pens: Made out of brass, these octagonal designed mechanical pens are perfectly suited for graphical drawings. They are made using precise mechanics and are easy to grip and use.
Kaweco pen manufacturers are famous worldwide due to their high-quality pens and pencils. They are an ideal requirement when it comes to smooth and precise writing.

Monday

Worth considering top selling pen brands in India

Have your experience about buying the perfect pen always ditched you? We presume that the basic reason for this might be that you might not be taking into account the brand of the pen while making the purchase. Let us tell you; brand name the pen is always associated with reliability of performance. So, next time when you think of buying a good quality pen never forget to consider the Top selling penbrands in India. Names of some of these brands have been enlisted here for you. Check them out!


  • Parker
Parker happens to be one of the world class names for quality pens. This US based company is mostly known for manufacturing luxury pens. But the best thing about the luxury pens manufactured by Parker is that they come with such an affordable price tag that even a college going girl or boy can afford to buy it from his or her pocket money.
  • Sheaffer 
This brand of pens is known all over for its quality. Thus, if you are looking for fine writing experience which will never make you confront incidents of outflow of ink then you should not think anything other than Sheaffer pens. One more treasure worthy aspect of this brand of pens is that they are designed aesthetically so that your fingers do not ache while writing. The brand also ensures that its excellent grip will prevent slippage of the pen while writing. You will additionally be happy to know that fine writing experience offered by the pens of Sheaffer come with surprisingly pocket friendly prices.
  • Camlin 
Camlin happens to be a purely Indian pen manufacturing company which has gained mass appeal for the quality it offers through its writing instruments.  The pens manufactured by Camlin come in a great array of varieties that range from fountain pens, to marker pens, to gel pens.  You will be astonished to know that the price range of these high quality Camlin pens starts below Rs. 100!
  • Reynolds 
If you have any plan of buying a pen made by a US brand that comes within your reach then Reynolds can fulfill your dreams. Besides superb functionality, brilliant aesthetics and excellent grip, Reynolds pen gives great competition to luxury pens of other brands that fails to compete with its price too.
  • Mont Blanc 
If you are in a mood to spend lavishly on a signature pen then you can consider Mont Blanc.   This German company has gained worldwide acclaim for manufacturing luxury writing instruments that do not compromise on quality. As for the price, an average pen from this brand starts at approximately around Rs.1500.


Thursday

Things you never know about sketch pens


Sketch pen is perhaps among the first pens that we are introduced to during our tender years. It is undeniable that every child in his or her preliminary school going years finds a sketch pen handy for scribbling and playing with colors. However, as we grow old our companionship with these colorful pens gradually fade away. But we assure that if you know some unspoken truth about these pens, you would surely feel interested to take a second look at them. Here are these unspoken truths.
  •     Who introduced the first sketch pen
It is sure that you have never given any thought about the person who first invented sketch pencils. Theoretically, it was Benjamin Paskach who first launched a pen with sponge tip in the year 1926. However, some sources also say that this variety of pen was first patented in 1910 by Lee Newman.
  •     When it was first used
This is another fact that would surprise you. Although discovery of this pen was done quite long back, the one truth that remains universally accepted is that this pen became popular somewhere around 1950s.
  •     Why were they used initially
Just like today, sketch pen was never considered as an instrument for general writing. It was always associated with creative uses. Thus, as it is prevalent today, these pens were widely used for creating colorful texts on posters and labels.
  •     What is there inside the sketch pen
As we know, these felt tipped sketch pencils comprise of a felt based refill inside.  The ink that makes this felt refill moist and ready for use initially comprised of  xylene and toluene  which would impart a distinctive smell. This tradition of making sketch pen inks with the mentioned components continued until 1990s. However, today the basic components of the ink of these pens are varieties of alcohol such as butanol and propanol.
  •     What are the characteristic features of this pen which makes it different
The first major attribute of this pen is its felt tip and felt based refill. The next feature is that they are provided with a tip on the bottom part of the barrel inside which the ink refill is inserted. This wise mechanism controls backflow of ink and makes it immune against leakage. This mechanism also serves a lot in keeping the nib moist because of unperturbed flow of ink through the refill to the tip. As the ink refill is prone to get dry very fast, so an additional cap further helps in ensuring that the nib will remain moist if the maintenance regulations are followed meticulously. Thirdly, the tip of the nib is thicker as compared to ball point pen. Sometimes, the nib is also made elongated and flattered with a pointed tip on one side so that it can serve well as a highlighter.  Next feature is that the ink of these pens can both be permanent as well as non-permanent.


Tuesday

Tips that help you buy a functionally and aesthetically ideal pen

Do you need a pen that would serve you functionally as well as aesthetically? Then you have to be methodical in your buying approach right from the beginning.  Here is a guideline that you can follow for buying a pen that is both aesthetically and functionally superb and ideally attuned to your needs. Do watch out!
  • Consider the purpose
Taking into account the purpose for which you are buying the pen will serve a lot in helping you finalize a product that complements with your needs. For instance, if you write a lot then a light weighted pen with easily flowing ink will be your best pick. In case you undertake great deal of field work that keeps you outdoors for most part of the day, you would find it ideal to use a pen that comes with multiple functions.  It must be sturdy enough to withstand sudden fall. It will be an additional advantage if your pen comes with combo functions such pen and pencil together in a case or a number of ink barrels within the same case. So, give a deep insight on this factor while purchasing pen.

  • Consider gender
You might be astonished to know that the gender of the owner has a determining role to play when you buy a pen. Actually, if the owner of this writing tool is a woman then she will be fond of pens that have feminine attributes such as sleek contour and subtle curves. On the other hand, if the pen is supposed to be owned by a man of young age then chunky pens are most ideal. In addition,  if the writing instrument is offered by top selling pen brands in India then it will be a plus point because men are a bit more brand conscious in this matter as compared to women. Thus, never forget to have clear idea about the person who is supposed to use it. However, if the person is you then you would not have to worry about this factor at least.
  • Consider the type
The term ‘pen’ is actually a broad umbrella terminology which includes a great deal of pens that come with different functions and features. For instance, ballpoint pen comprises of viscous ink that comes out through a small ball inserted at the tip of the nib while writing. On the other hand, when you use a fountain pen the liquid ink present in it comes out through the specially manufactured nib that is attached with the ink barrel inside the case of the writing equipment. Again, roller pen features water based liquid ink that is as smooth as that of fountain pen but smudge proof like the ink of ballpoint pen.

Sunday

Three types of pens we use everyday


There is an old proverb which says that a pen is mightier than a sword.  The statement cannot be rejected out rightly because we need pens for various purposes. While a housewife would require a pen for calculating the monthly expenses she has made on groceries, a journalist can bring down a ruling government with the power of his pen! Thus, a pen finds innumerable uses in daily life.  Due to the assorted nature of usage, pens differ from each other in their functional features and fundamental attributes. They vary according to their functionality. Three of the most common varieties of pens in India used by us have been presented here. Watch out.

  • Ball point pen
This is the most common variety of pen that is used by majority of people. As the name suggests, the ink cartridge of this category of pens comprise of a small ball at the tip of the refill. When a writer rubs the tip of the ballpoint pen while writing,  ink starts flowing from the cartridge through the ball and creates words and letters on a piece of paper. Usually, the ink present in a ballpoint pen differs from that of a fountain pen and a gel pen. While in case of fountain pen the ink is watery, gel pen have gel like ink. But the distinctiveness of ballpoint pens is that the ink is not too runny not too gel-like 
  •  Fountain pen
The fountain pen is considered as the most classic variety of writing instrument. It is also said that fountain pens improve the quality of handwriting because the ink is free flowing and the body of the pen is usually quite heavy. A conglomerate of these two features gives a writer better control over the pen and eventually improves handwriting. Due to this reason, a student starts with a fountain pen when he makes his first transition from pencil to pen. Besides these two attributes, the third attribute of pens under this category is that the cartridge where the ink is stored functions as a reservoir and stores the runny ink inside it. When the writer holds the pen adjacently while writing, ink starts flowing from the cartridge through the nib and creates scripts that the writers aspires to write on a paper.
  •  Gel pen
Gel pen is perhaps the most superior variety of writing instrument in comparison to ballpoint pen and fountain pen. One reason for this is that gel like ink used in the cartridge of these pens offers smooth glide that is easily comparable with the fountain pen. Another reason is that gel pen is as user friendliness as that of ballpoint pen. Thirdly, the ink does not get washed away when in contact with water as it is common in case of fountain pens.