How Do You Clean A Parker Fountain Pen?
A Parker fountain pen can give a lifetime of writing pleasure if the instrument is cleaned from time to time. The piston mechanism for drawing up ink into the barrel, as well as the tube and reservoir for holding the ink can become clogged, especially if the pen is not used every day. Even a newer Parker pen using an ink cartridge needs to be cleaned at the nib. Cleaning a Parker fountain pen takes a few minutes with warm water and household cleaners. Expel all ink from the Parker pen reservoir onto wadded paper towels by unscrewing the back cap and slowly depressing the piston on the back of the pen. For cartridge fountain pens, remove and discard the plastic cartridge. Add a cup of warm tap water to a metal bowl and stir in a tablespoon of ammonia. Dip the nib in the warm water-ammonia solution and hold for five minutes. Pull back the piston to draw cleaning solution into the tube at the base of the nib and up into the ink reservoir. On some Parker pens, the piston will be spring-loa
