Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “How To”
One of the ways I enjoy using my fountain pens is doodling with them. I have never considered myself to be good at drawing images, but I really find drawing shapes and patterns to be relaxing and fairly easy. I sometimes get asked to do videos or tutorials on how to do some of my doodles, so I figured it …
Since I’ve started my Ink of the Week project, I have been cleaning a lot more pens than usual. Using a different ink in five pens each week leads to quite a few pens that need to be cleaned and I try to stay on top of it so I don’t fall too far behind. Each time I do another …
Have you ever cleaned a fountain pen, but found that it’s still not as clean as you’d like it to be? I know I sure have. With some inks, getting them completely out of a pen with a normal cleaning can seem impossible. It’s times like this when you may need to take your pen cleaning to the next level …
If you’re just getting started in the world of fountain pens, choosing which nib is best for you can be completely overwhelming. There are different nib materials, nib sizes, grinds and manufacturers to sort through. Even I get overwhelmed just thinking about it. Still, I’m here for you. In this article I want to go over some of the more …
Writing letters can be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding ways to use a fountain pen. It gives you a chance to choose a pen, ink and paper that highlights your personal preferences and write something that someone else gets to enjoy. The first time you sit down to write to someone new can be a little daunting, though. …
If you’ve ever tried to photograph your fountain pen nib using a macro lens, you’re probably aware of how frustrating it can be trying to get everything in focus. It seems like no matter what you do, a small part of the nib is in focus, while a big part of the nib is out of focus. Unfortunately, due to …
Fountain pen blotting paper can be very useful, especially if you enjoy using inks or papers that have higher dry times. What is blotting paper? Essentially, it is a highly-absorbent paper that can be used to soak up excess ink on the surface of your paper. If you’ve never used blotting paper or don’t know anything about it, there are …
From time to time, you might see Rakuten Global Market mentioned as a place where you can get great deals on fountain pens or find pens that aren’t normally available in the United States. Indeed, Rakuten has a huge, almost overwhelming, selection of fountain pens and supplies. If it’s your first time visiting the site, there’s no doubt you’ll be …
Writing with fountain pens can give your written words a lot of character. Some properties of fountain pen inks can give them even more character. In this post I want to discuss shading and suggest a few ways that you can get better shading from your fountain pen inks. What Is Fountain Pen Ink Shading? If you’re not clear on …
One of the most important aspects of using fountain pens is cleaning them. With regular and proper cleaning, your fountain pens should last for a very long time without any issues. Without regular and proper cleaning, you will likely experience skipping, ink flow issues and possibly even mold. If you’re new to the world of fountain pens, in this article …