Pen Care

Wooden Pen Care
Avoid leaving your pen in either extreme hot or cold temperatures as this can cause splitting of the timber. Avoid dropping your pen onto hard surfaces as this will often result in damage to your pen.
All pens are buffed with special Polish and finished using different types of hard protective coatings. Use a soft cloth to buff up the pen as needed. Do Not use any cleaning agents not intended for use on wood and never use any cleaning or finishing product that contains abrasives or cleaning agents in the formula.
The plating may be cleaned with a damp soft cloth. Do not use any abrasives on the plating as it may cause the plating to become damaged.

Acrylic / Resin Pen Care
The resins used in our pens are from all over the world and are more tolerant to extremes of heat and cold than timber. However, as discussed above, take all practical measures to ensure that your pen is not dropped. Resins are more brittle and are more likely to crack or chip if dropped. Use a good quality plastic polish to revive the shine if required. A quality rubbing compound can also be used to buff out light scratches.
The plating may be cleaned with a damp soft cloth. Do not use any abrasives on the plating as it may cause the plating to become damaged.

Rollerball Pen Care
The same care should be taken with your rollerball pen as Stated above with the timber or Acrylic again not exposing them to temperature extremes and try to avoid dropping them onto hard surfaces.

Choosing the Correct Rollerball Refill
All Rollerball pens handcrafted by Hunter Valley custom Pens come with either a standard refill a Schmidt or a Private reserve refill. When necessary make sure you replace your refill with a refill that is the same or equivalent.
Rollerball liquid ink is similar to liquid fountain pen ink. It is very different to ballpoint ink, which is waxy and requires thrust to push the ink from the tip. A rollerball liquid ink refill flows the ink like a wick when it is touched to paper. Paper (or a shirt pocket) will literally wick the ink from a rollerball refill in a very short time leaving you with an empty pen and a very messy shirt pocket.

Fountain Pen Basics
Almost all fountain pens comprise of the same basic components: a nib also called a point, this is the decorative metal writing tip of the fountain pen and are available in stainless steel, rhodium gold and other metals, a feed (the ribbed component attached to the back of the nib), and the ink supply (various options here include: cartridge, piston, convertor, plunger, vacuum, and sac). Many people do not realise that there are certain care requirements for Fountain Pens and that if they are followed correctly and on a regular basis many “problems” can be resolved or never happen in the first place.

Cleaning Frequency
A fountain pen should be cleaned after every second filling of either ink from a bottle or cartridge. Which means, if you use the pen and you replace the cartridge, insert another and then run it out before then cleaning the fountain pen prior to installing the third cartridge or fill from an ink bottle.

Cold Rinse Only
Fountain pens should only be cleaned with clean cool water. IMPORTANT: NEVER USE HOT WATER. Hot water can easily damage the feed. If your fountain pen is excessively dirty a teaspoon of ammonia can be added to a cup of water before then soaking the nib section overnight. You can also use a window cleaner like “Windex” just be sure it has ammonia in its contents as this will help break up break up any dry ink and remove any dirt.

Flushing the Nib
Flush the nib section with cool water until it runs clear. You may use the faucet’s power or you may use an ear syringe and force the water thru, this is very effective since it gives more force and cleans the nib out better.

Drying After Washing
Cover the nib section with a soft dry cloth and shake it a few times to force the water out. It is best to do this later in the evening and leave the nib to dry overnight. In the morning just pop in a cartridge and you are ready to write! You could use a toothbrush rack with soft paper towels folded where the nib will rest, with the freshly cleaned pen in one of the slots let the capillary action from the towel draw the wetness out of the nib. This is a very effective way to clean out the nib. If your pens are piston fed only (only bottled ink can be used) you can soak your pens first in water then suck fresh water into the chamber and evacuate the water. Do this about three or more times or until the water runs clear. Most pens have nibs that easily unscrew which makes cleaning the chamber with a “Cotton Bud” very easy.

Storing Your Fountain Pen
Never store your fountain pen lying down. The ink will coagulate and dry in the nib section and make it difficult for the ink to flow and for the pen to write properly. Keep your pen capped with the nib pointed up in a pencil cup or other type of holder. If you are not going to use your pen for a week or more, evacuate the ink or remove the cartridge. Pen cases where the pens lie flat are great ways to store unfilled pens.

Fountain Pen Care
Fountain Pens are a delicate writing instrument that can bring years of enjoyment if properly used and maintained. Below are helpful tips on using,

Ink Cartridges
Fountain Pens handcrafted by Hunter Valley Custom Pens use standard “International size” cartridge refills unless otherwise noted. To change cartridges simply unscrew the nib section and twist off the ink cartridge. Take the new cartridge and press it onto the nib unit until it is firmly seated. Gently write on a scrap of paper until the ink begins to flow.

Ink Convertor
Fountain Pens handcrafted by Hunter Valley Custom Pens will accept a standard size ink converter to allow you to use your favourite brand of bottled ink. Simply remove the ink cartridge and replace with a standard size converter. Make sure the piston is at the bottom of the converter before placing the nib in the ink well. Twist the piston top while the nib is submerged thus filling the converters reservoir.