I have an old Parker fountain pen that my grandpa (he passed away) gave me years ago, and I was never able to start it. It only took a bit of pressure on the cartridge to pop it in, but I was scared to break something, so it had been living on my table unused for like 3 years till this day. Thanks for the video man.
What I find helps is to hold the pen vertical, nib side pointing downward which of course gets gravity to do what it does and run a napkin/cloth across the breather/vent hole. Does the trick 90% of the time and quickly. The only times it takes a bit longer is if I've had the ink sitting in the pen for quite some time.
Thank you for the golden tip: point it downwards and give it some time. It did wonders for me. I used to waste a drop of ink by forcing it through the feed. Very useful video!
Thank you. My rotring 600 fountain pen which as not been used for 15+ years is writing now. Had it soak in cup of water for a day, cleaned it, clear water flow through it... but new cartridge but would not write. I just had to give it a little squeeze to assist ink flow down to the tip few times and wait few minutes. Now, it's back!
What I normally do for new fountain pens are wash them with warm water with a drop of dish soap. this is to make sure all oil residue from manufacturering will be wash away. Then let it dry afterwards. Pop in the new cartridge. If the ink still not flowing, a quick dip of the nib into water should do the trick most of the time. If it still doesn't, the pen pretty much has flow issue.
I was placing my pen nib side down for a few minutes, and it didn't work. I then watched this video, did absolutely nothing new, and tried my pen again. It miraculously worked! I credit this video nonetheless 😂
I have a pen that was working just fine and it ran out of ink and when I replaced the cartridge I could not get it to work. I tried all the tricks. Finally I decided to just clean out the nib and soak it in water until all the ink was removed and then tried again and it worked no problem.
I was about to give up as nothing had been working until you suggested putting a little bit of water on the nib where the dot and separation are, and that worked really well. Thank you very much!
To install a new cartridge, try this... Set the cartridge upright on the table, then place the pen assembly on top of the cartridge, and push straight down.
I couldn't get my new Preppy to work. My other fountain pens use the body of the pen to push the cartridge in. I followed your directions and voilà -- my pen writes! Thanks for the video Unsharpen!
Thank you so much for this video. I had to apply much force in the model I purchased. (The firm click type really made me think the thing didn’t work.) Now I can delight in my pens!
My cartridge will not pop. No matter what. Its so annoying. But you made it clearer then any other UA-cam video I've seen that I need to pop the cartridge. Thanks 😊
I have the weirdest problem. So I have a fountain pen but when I try to write on paper it doesn't work I even changed the ink but I noticed that I write on my hand it works perfectly so like on my skin it works but not on paper
Thank you SO much i have been watching other videos and trying to figure out how to do this an easy way but your video is tge only one that helped this is greatly appreciated 👍🏼
thank you so much for recommending that water trick i literally tried every other trick but that one finally did it!! my two fountains pens finally work again ahhh
2 minutes into the video and my problem is already fixed..turns out I was dumb not apply enough pressure for the ink to flow out for the last 2 years. I feel like a donkey now lol
Apparently I don't learn by following the directions on the package -- sheesh. I thought slipping the cartridge into the back end of the pen and the screwing on nib end would do the trick. Not so much. On the other hand -- your method (and what is recommended on the package) of pushing to attach the cartridge to the nib end of the pen works like a charm. Sheesh, again!! Thanks!
touching the nib to a bit of rubbing alcohol will get the flow going pretty fast as well on a tough pen. then just scribble for a minute to clear it out.
If you have a handy bottle of compatible ink you can dip the nib in that to get the ink flowing. Don't go into any significant examination or test with a pen that you haven't used recently.
I've simply run cool tap water over the nib to get it started, but as you stated the ink in the feed will initially be diluted. I wish all cartridges had directional arrows on them, and I hate when they are so hard to pierce, as I'm afraid I will break the little plastic spear. I like the cartridges with the metal ball that gets pushed in and works as an agitator. Thanks for the video Sal.
I have the same SHEAFER ORANGE PEN BUT IN BABY BLUE sense that's all they had and I bought the last 2 and have stocked up on them for the last 2 years:(... mine no longer have a flow ink 😢
Wow just got some fountain pens from 5Below. You know just fun to try out and they didn’t work. So what do you do? To the internet! Thanks for helping me out.
Welcome to fountain pen community.. First , did it come with ink cartridges; just pop in the cartridge and place the pen pointed down capped in a cup / pen holder like the video says. Second, make sure the cartridge in snapped into place tightly. If that doesn't work, run some warm water from the back of the grip section and clean the nib section and feed out.. this was you clean out some of the oil in the nib and feed. You should be able to see water coming out the tip of the pen.. if not, I would suggest return the pen. Defective product
Thank you for this. It's heartening to know that cartridge frustration is a shared malady. I like my ink cartridges like I like my grandchildren - as far away from my pens as possible. My collection (sixty or so pens) is home to half a dozen styli with nothing in common save for a collective unwillingness to deliver ink from a cartridge. Four of these recalcitrant little purists are my favourite writing instruments. I don't really have a point to make, I simply wonder if this is at all common. And since I'm wondering about things...does anyone else recoil from 'hooded' nibs as I do? They offend me aesthetically and in practice. If I can't see the nib I can't see the point. Is that a bit funny or a lot redundant? I am flexible and unbiased on the tradition elsewhere in life, but give me a circumsized pen or send me back to Crayola.
Unsharpen, I cringed when i saw what you did at 2:40. In case you're unsure which end of the cartridge to insert, here's what you can do. When you see a new cartridge, one end is usually transparent and the other end usually is colored (black or blue in your video). The transparent end always goes to the nib. This end usually has a smaller radius too.
Many are translucent on both sides ( unsharpen.com/fountain-pen-cartridge-guide/ ) but yeah, the do normally taper towards the back end. That's a good tip! Thanks
"U would think it would be obvious why it doesn't work" 🙄 proceeds to show only the obvious methods to get it to work... thanks for showing me nothing outside the obvious
Learn more about filling fountain pens here: unsharpen.com/how-to-fill-a-fountain-pen/
Applying little water from the top of the nib, to down did the trick! Hats off to your video!
And it worked in seconds for my new fountain pen!
this helped me sm afte I left my ink in for like 6 months in my Lamy thanks Xx
I have an old Parker fountain pen that my grandpa (he passed away) gave me years ago, and I was never able to start it.
It only took a bit of pressure on the cartridge to pop it in, but I was scared to break something, so it had been living on my table unused for like 3 years till this day.
Thanks for the video man.
Get a converter so you don't have any seals to break.
Buddy same with me just now i tried the water method dibbed the nib in water and it really works.
Thank you for showing me how to do this . Greatly appreciated and I will subscribe to your channel
What I find helps is to hold the pen vertical, nib side pointing downward which of course gets gravity to do what it does and run a napkin/cloth across the breather/vent hole. Does the trick 90% of the time and quickly. The only times it takes a bit longer is if I've had the ink sitting in the pen for quite some time.
Thank you for the golden tip: point it downwards and give it some time. It did wonders for me. I used to waste a drop of ink by forcing it through the feed. Very useful video!
Glad it helped!
The “hitting” motion at 6:10 worked for me. Nothing else worked and I thought I had a dud. Thanks!
Very helpful. Thought my cartridge pen was done for good. Now works great.
Thank you. My rotring 600 fountain pen which as not been used for 15+ years is writing now.
Had it soak in cup of water for a day, cleaned it, clear water flow through it... but new cartridge but would not write.
I just had to give it a little squeeze to assist ink flow down to the tip few times and wait few minutes.
Now, it's back!
Awesome pen to get going again! They have become quite the collectible.
What I normally do for new fountain pens are wash them with warm water with a drop of dish soap. this is to make sure all oil residue from manufacturering will be wash away. Then let it dry afterwards. Pop in the new cartridge. If the ink still not flowing, a quick dip of the nib into water should do the trick most of the time. If it still doesn't, the pen pretty much has flow issue.
I was placing my pen nib side down for a few minutes, and it didn't work. I then watched this video, did absolutely nothing new, and tried my pen again. It miraculously worked! I credit this video nonetheless 😂
Lol that’s funny😂😂😂😂
The only thing that worked for me was taking out my blind rage on the cartridge and actually Twisting while pushing it into place.
😄😄😄
I tried your method as I was reading your comment while I waited for the ads to finish. It worked so thank you!!!
Omg this video was so helpfully my fountain pen is working now yay
I have a pen that was working just fine and it ran out of ink and when I replaced the cartridge I could not get it to work. I tried all the tricks. Finally I decided to just clean out the nib and soak it in water until all the ink was removed and then tried again and it worked no problem.
The water trick worked for me, thanks!
Thank you very much the water dipping trick worked for me
I was about to give up as nothing had been working until you suggested putting a little bit of water on the nib where the dot and separation are, and that worked really well. Thank you very much!
Amazing. Glad it helped!
To install a new cartridge, try this... Set the cartridge upright on the table, then place the pen assembly on top of the cartridge, and push straight down.
I couldn't get my new Preppy to work. My other fountain pens use the body of the pen to push the cartridge in. I followed your directions and voilà -- my pen writes! Thanks for the video Unsharpen!
Glad to help! Enjoy.
Thank you!! Water trick worked great for stubborn pen
Thank u for the video!! Just ordered a Kaweco Liliput and this was something i have been thinking about while waiting for it to arrive.
Thanks! You gave the exact encouragement I needed that it was ok to press down hard on the nib.
Exactly! I was so scared at first.
Thank you so much for this video. I had to apply much force in the model I purchased. (The firm click type really made me think the thing didn’t work.) Now I can delight in my pens!
All you need is patience❤️It works but ufffhhhh..I doubted my choice..Thank you 👍
thank you!!! i thinklearning to pop it on and then let it sit facing down helped a lot hopefully i didnt break it from tap it on paper
Thank you, this helped some. Still have a bit of skipping but much better after hitting it 👍🏾
God bless you all
My cartridge will not pop. No matter what. Its so annoying. But you made it clearer then any other UA-cam video I've seen that I need to pop the cartridge. Thanks 😊
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! YOU SAVED MY LIFEEEEEE!
thank you! this was really helpful :) I was panicking and thought I broke my pen before even using it yet
Thank you for showing me how to do this . Greatly appreciated
I’ve been trying for over an hour and it’s still not working 😭
I have the weirdest problem. So I have a fountain pen but when I try to write on paper it doesn't work I even changed the ink but I noticed that I write on my hand it works perfectly so like on my skin it works but not on paper
Thank you SO much i have been watching other videos and trying to figure out how to do this an easy way but your video is tge only one that helped this is greatly appreciated 👍🏼
Awesome. Glad it helped
thank you so much for recommending that water trick
i literally tried every other trick but that one finally did it!! my two fountains pens finally work again ahhh
Glad it helped!
Thanks! I am brand new to fountain pens and all I needed was some patience!
it’s worth the wait!
Squeezing the cartridge worked for me. Thanks
Great!
Drop of water worked!! I recall, back in the day, when we used to wet the tip of the nib with our tongue!! LOL.
Dipping nib in water worked, It had been days that pen was not working. Thanks.
2 minutes into the video and my problem is already fixed..turns out I was dumb not apply enough pressure for the ink to flow out for the last 2 years. I feel like a donkey now lol
I just got one and I had it upside down like they said, then I had it on it’s side for five minutes, why does it stop working?
SAME XD then when I found out I screamed IM KIRA
Does the parker cartdriges can be use in the first pen?
Thanks god that I chose this video.. Thanks brother my fountain is working after the water trick 🔥🔥🔥
hitting it worked! thank you!
Thanks for the information, it worked instantly when left in wet kitchen paper. 🙂
Yeah, a bit of wet paper towel totally works
Apparently I don't learn by following the directions on the package -- sheesh. I thought slipping the cartridge into the back end of the pen and the screwing on nib end would do the trick. Not so much. On the other hand -- your method (and what is recommended on the package) of pushing to attach the cartridge to the nib end of the pen works like a charm. Sheesh, again!! Thanks!
Same with me!
i just say "please" and the pen gives me my ink !
First, I did the blind rage, then saying please. My new pen responds to kindness, though the blind rage may have got its attention. 🤭
touching the nib to a bit of rubbing alcohol will get the flow going pretty fast as well on a tough pen. then just scribble for a minute to clear it out.
What other refills does the Zebra fountain pen use? Have you tried the Pilot Namiki on it? I want one if it takes my favorite refill.
I have the press in ones but the part that pops off blocks the ink
Thanks a Ton !
If you have a handy bottle of compatible ink you can dip the nib in that to get the ink flowing. Don't go into any significant examination or test with a pen that you haven't used recently.
I've simply run cool tap water over the nib to get it started, but as you stated the ink in the feed will initially be diluted. I wish all cartridges had directional arrows on them, and I hate when they are so hard to pierce, as I'm afraid I will break the little plastic spear. I like the cartridges with the metal ball that gets pushed in and works as an agitator. Thanks for the video Sal.
or you could put the start of the nib into the cartridge for a little bit and it also gives the quickest ink flow
I have the same SHEAFER ORANGE PEN BUT IN BABY BLUE sense that's all they had and I bought the last 2 and have stocked up on them for the last 2 years:(... mine no longer have a flow ink 😢
I bought several Zebra fountain 301 pens. I opened two and both do not maintain a steady flow. I'm not happy with that model.
Wow just got some fountain pens from 5Below. You know just fun to try out and they didn’t work. So what do you do? To the internet! Thanks for helping me out.
Welcome to fountain pen community..
First , did it come with ink cartridges; just pop in the cartridge and place the pen pointed down capped in a cup / pen holder like the video says.
Second, make sure the cartridge in snapped into place tightly.
If that doesn't work, run some warm water from the back of the grip section and clean the nib section and feed out.. this was you clean out some of the oil in the nib and feed. You should be able to see water coming out the tip of the pen.. if not, I would suggest return the pen. Defective product
Great video!!!
Thank you, and I am not kidding!
Thank you for the kind words
useful, thank you!!
If you had not used the pen awhile, showing the nib under small stream of tap water briefly and then writing, will start the flow.
Yes, great call. I did this yesterday
Thank you for this. It's heartening to know that cartridge frustration is a shared malady.
I like my ink cartridges like I like my grandchildren - as far away from my pens as possible.
My collection (sixty or so pens) is home to half a dozen styli with nothing in common save for a collective unwillingness to deliver ink from a cartridge. Four of these recalcitrant little purists are my favourite writing instruments. I don't really have a point to make, I simply wonder if this is at all common.
And since I'm wondering about things...does anyone else recoil from 'hooded' nibs as I do? They offend me aesthetically and in practice. If I can't see the nib I can't see the point. Is that a bit funny or a lot redundant?
I am flexible and unbiased on the tradition elsewhere in life, but give me a circumsized pen or send me back to Crayola.
Seconding your feelings about hooded nibs. They might have been practical or interesting at one point but now seem more like a cost cutting measure
What is the name of orange one ?
Schaffer
😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
How do you manage to not get ink all over your hand because when I use mine taking notes my hand is black afterwords.
@@unsharpen well that explains it I just use notebook paper
thank you.
You're welcome
Dang I just splatter ink after hitting 😂😂
Just give it 10-15 mins inverted.. Nothing else works .. unless the feed is clogged !
I cracked my Lamy cartridge trying to press the Ink in.
Super bowl and video from Sal. Day made.
Unsharpen,
I cringed when i saw what you did at 2:40. In case you're unsure which end of the cartridge to insert, here's what you can do. When you see a new cartridge, one end is usually transparent and the other end usually is colored (black or blue in your video). The transparent end always goes to the nib. This end usually has a smaller radius too.
Many are translucent on both sides ( unsharpen.com/fountain-pen-cartridge-guide/ ) but yeah, the do normally taper towards the back end. That's a good tip! Thanks
Mines not starting no matter what I try?
Same it only writes with water sometimes
@@cpmonkey27derpo60 do u know what to do? I'm at a loss
Mera nhi ho raa hai
I have my grand mothers ink pen
Thank you
thank you
my brother almost broke my pen
(i hate him)
Does it really take a ten minute video to clean a fountain pen?
Bro can you be more clear like I can nearly understand you TALK LOUDER speak up if you were in my class you would get drop kicked 🙄
Thanks for the feedback
"U would think it would be obvious why it doesn't work" 🙄 proceeds to show only the obvious methods to get it to work... thanks for showing me nothing outside the obvious
Perhaps obvious to you but not to everyone. What methods did I miss?
Broke my thumb nail in half to try get the ink cartridge to go in👍
I did it though 🥲
thank you
Thank you