My pen!
March 25, 2021 4:50 PM Subscribe
I have fallen for the affordable and lovely to write with the Platinum Preppy pen. It's refillable but the new ink cartridge I put in a few weeks ago stopped working. Hope me?
I have unscrewed the pen, gently squeezed the ink cartridge, and then left it upside overnight, and no dice. (I got that advice from a pen subreddit.) I am not sure what else to do!
And yes, the title is a reference to this.
I have unscrewed the pen, gently squeezed the ink cartridge, and then left it upside overnight, and no dice. (I got that advice from a pen subreddit.) I am not sure what else to do!
And yes, the title is a reference to this.
When you say upside down overnight, you mean with the nib down? Have you tried wetting the underside of the nib with a q-tip? Or shaking (?) the pen. Shaking isn’t the right word.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:22 PM on March 25, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:22 PM on March 25, 2021 [1 favorite]
The ink can dry out. I'd just try a new cartridge, or switch to a refillable "adapter".
posted by kschang at 5:32 PM on March 25, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by kschang at 5:32 PM on March 25, 2021 [3 favorites]
Dip the nib into water and dry it off, then write.
(Check the cap [it's a cap-within-a-cap, the smaller inner cap is spring-loaded, keeps air away from the nib] for cracks.)
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:35 PM on March 25, 2021
(Check the cap [it's a cap-within-a-cap, the smaller inner cap is spring-loaded, keeps air away from the nib] for cracks.)
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:35 PM on March 25, 2021
Best answer: If there’s a converter that will temporarily work with the Preppy, using it to rinse water through the nib will also help. Ink flows to the nib through capillary action, and it’s my understanding that this works best on a wet clean nib. Old ink can gum it up. I have a refillable Lamy Safari, and if I don’t flush the nib with water between cartridges, I have the issues you’re having with your Preppy.
Just soaking the nib in a little jar of cool water for a few minutes will also probably do the trick. I don’t think you necessarily need to start with a new cartridge: just set the current one aside for a few minutes in a position where the ink won’t flow out.
This is a really quick fix, in my experience.
posted by verbminx at 8:42 PM on March 25, 2021
Just soaking the nib in a little jar of cool water for a few minutes will also probably do the trick. I don’t think you necessarily need to start with a new cartridge: just set the current one aside for a few minutes in a position where the ink won’t flow out.
This is a really quick fix, in my experience.
posted by verbminx at 8:42 PM on March 25, 2021
Best answer: One more thing: I found this: Platinum Preppy: A Comprehensive Guide.
A converter is indeed available, and the procedure for using it to install bottled ink in the pen (where it becomes the “cartridge”) is also the procedure for flushing/cleaning the nib: just fill a small jar with water, use the piston to drag water through the nib and up into the converter, then reverse the procedure so all that water goes back out through the nib. Then replace the ink cartridge. You’ll want to do some test writing until the ink is flowing again, because you’re going to get watery writing initially, but it won’t take long.
It’s always useful to have the converter for any fountain pen you own, and I thought the link might be more helpful to you in the long run than my initial answer!
posted by verbminx at 11:11 PM on March 25, 2021
A converter is indeed available, and the procedure for using it to install bottled ink in the pen (where it becomes the “cartridge”) is also the procedure for flushing/cleaning the nib: just fill a small jar with water, use the piston to drag water through the nib and up into the converter, then reverse the procedure so all that water goes back out through the nib. Then replace the ink cartridge. You’ll want to do some test writing until the ink is flowing again, because you’re going to get watery writing initially, but it won’t take long.
It’s always useful to have the converter for any fountain pen you own, and I thought the link might be more helpful to you in the long run than my initial answer!
posted by verbminx at 11:11 PM on March 25, 2021
And I endorse Jetpens 100%. They have EVERYTHING a pen nerd will need, from pencils to pens to fountain pens and much more, including all the accessories, converters, ink, and much much more.
posted by kschang at 12:44 AM on March 26, 2021
posted by kschang at 12:44 AM on March 26, 2021
I've had luck with a few controlled snaps of the wrist while holding the pen over a garbage can to get ink started again.
posted by Dmenet at 7:36 AM on March 26, 2021
posted by Dmenet at 7:36 AM on March 26, 2021
Best answer: I would also try rinsing the pen and then changing or refilling the cartridge. (If you don't want to spend money on a converter, you can also buy an ink syringe on jetpens and use that to wash out and refill your empty cartridges with any ink you like.)
posted by darchildre at 10:15 AM on March 26, 2021
posted by darchildre at 10:15 AM on March 26, 2021
Response by poster: Update: I have tried flushing the pen repeatedly and it will work for a few moments and then nothing. I will try changing out the cartridge next. I don't want to spend money on converter or an ink syringe so I may just be SOL if this doesn't work.
posted by Kitteh at 7:41 AM on April 13, 2021
posted by Kitteh at 7:41 AM on April 13, 2021
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by chromium at 5:02 PM on March 25, 2021