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Why do you release a few drops of ink when filling a piston pen, and how deep should the nib be dipped?

General questions on writing instruments Ink FAQ entry

When drawing up, the capillary chambers in the feed fill completely with ink; pushing out a few drops afterwards creates space so that these chambers can again perform their function (pressure equalisation when flying or with temperature changes) — this prevents blots and leaks and so protects clothing and paper above all. When dipping it is enough for the nib to stand fully in the ink; some collectors dip the grip section a little way in to keep the piston from drawing too much air — that is safer but requires wiping afterwards. It is important to operate the piston slowly so that the ink level reaches as high as possible.

Note: The fountainpen.de FAQ knowledge base is based on collector discussions from over 20 years. Specific market prices may be outdated — the underlying methodology remains valid. Back to FAQ overview ›

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