Writing Tips

Please find below a list of our most frequently asked questions. To help with your search, please select a category that is closely related to your question.

My Fountain pen is skipping when I write, what can I do?

If a Fountain pen skips, the first step should be to give the pen a clean (please see “How do I care for my Fountain pen” within "Fountain Pen Tips") Ink, whether dried up or in use, may leave residue which can clog the feed channels

Some chemically coated papers are not suited for use with Fountain pens, resulting in skipping. After cleaning, try another paper surface.

Skipping can also happen if the writer is pressing too hard on the nib. This makes the nib “splay” creating too big a gap in the nib which then ink cannot flow through. Try decreasing the pressure.

If there is constantly ink on the grip section of the Fountain pen when the cap is removed, check inside the cap. A Fountain pen is an open end system, so vigorous shaking may cause ink to spill into the cap and in turn onto the grip section. Clean the inside of the cap with a cotton swab and try to keep the Fountain pen in an upright position when travelling.

Should this problem continue, your pen may need to be sent to the manufacturer for further analysis, please see our repairs and service page for further details.

How do I select the correct nib width for my Fountain pen?

The most important factor in determining the correct nib size is the style of your handwriting.

If your writing is small and tight, we recommend a fine or extra fine nib. If your writing is large and fast, or you are looking for a signature pen, we recommend a Broad nib. Medium nibs fall in between and are the most common.

For gift giving purposes, we would recommend you purchase a medium size nib and the recipient can change the size of nib to suit themselves, using our nib exchange procedure.

Please note these sizes are just a guide line, some manufacturers nib widths may vary.