A favorite writing utensil can be repaired at home, with some care.
A good pen is an important tool, whether you write with it or simply collect attractive writing utensils. Even the most diligently cared-for tool can break, however, and a pen is no different. Be it a jam, a leakage, or a bent tip, sometimes your writing partner just won't work. Repairing these fine pens may be a rewarding part of the hobby or a necessity for you, and there are certain things that may correct all but the most recalcitrant tools.
Instructions
1. Check your writing style and paper. Sometimes a shift in the way your hold your pen can cause it to write differently, since years of daily use can put wear on even the toughest writing tip. Remember that pushing down hard, as you would with an inexpensive ballpoint pen, can cause a fountain pen to stop writing. Certain types of paper can also cause a pen to stop working. These papers tend to be high in pulp, like newsprint paper used in doodle pads for children.
2. Clean your pen. Some writing problems are caused by the pen needing a good cleaning. Even if you do not change colors in a refillable pen, clean it to keep the working parts in good order and to clear out old, dry ink. Fibers from cheap paper can also build up in the pen-tip. To clean a pen, fill it with cool water and empty it until the water comes out clear. Most fine pens cannot be submerged, especially those made from hard rubber or casein, so only soak your pen if you are certain it will not damage the materials.
3. Correct any alignment problems with the nib. A common cause of issues in fancy pens is the nib. This is the metal part that touches the paper when you write. Skipping and irregular ink flow is often caused when the two halves of the tip are not aligned properly. This can be fixed by changing the nib, if your pen allows it, or by bending the unaligned half into place. Bending the nib is delicate work and can take effort to get right. Use a magnifying glass to enlarge your view of the nib while you work. If you need to use a gripping tool on your pen to hold it or any parts of it in place, do not use pliers with serrations or grooves. This can cause marks and damage to the pen.
4. Smooth rough tips to correct scratchy writing. If your pen feels scratchy when you write, the tip might be rough. This can be corrected with coarse cardboard or sandpaper. Write on a coarse material for a few seconds to smooth the damaged tip. Usually a cardboard, like the back of a legal pad or even construction paper, will be enough to fix this. For a particularly rough tip, get the finest-grain sandpaper you can locate in a home-improvement store, wet it slightly, and write on it. Do this for only a few seconds at a time, checking the pen in between, because it can wear down the tip too quickly and cause your pen to become unusable.
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