Don't Write With Your New Fountain Pen Before Watch This! Changes Everything! 

I’m glad, Aaron! I often forget as well and sometimes I don’t because a wet pen doesn’t look good when filming! But, I find that when I do, it prevents a lot of problems. Thanks!

I love that!!!! Great strategy!

Thanks so much! (Not actually my real name though. Nome de Internet.)

I love how organized you are! I only have scattered embedded journal entries to mark the arrival of my new pens. I love the spreadsheet idea! Hope all is well!

Thanks Simon! I appreciate it!

Glad it was helpful! Congratulations on the VP! Excellent pen!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks very much! I appreciate it. I have found that it helps with preventing false starts, etc. Always a pleasure!

Thank you!

Thank you John! More to come! I appreciate the kind words.

Thanks for the kind words on the Esterbrook! Yes, those towels are great for so many things! I always keep a case on hand.

Thanks Kendall! It is my pleasure! Cartridge Converter are great if there is an issue; so easy to fix. Thanks!!!!

I've seen some new pen users get alarmed when their Lamy's have ink residue, assuming that they were second hand.

Thanks John! Yes, LIVE on Tuesday at our regular time! Plus, typewriter video tomorrow. Bonus Video! Next Saturday Joost!

Thanks very much, My Friend! It is always a pleasure to hear from you!

Do you dilute it?

Yes, a drop or 2 in a cup of water. My pen flush recipe is 1 part ammonia, 9 parts water and 2 or 3 drops dish detergent. I usually mix up about 8oz at a time. Then rinse with clear water

I agree with the soap use. I like to use a few drops of Dawn in slightly warm water, then pump the section three or four times with the bulb syringe. Converters get filled and emptied several times as well. Then everything gets a fresh water rinse the same way.

Thanks Amy! I just watched it myself again and there is a lot going on in there, despite it being kind of breezy. People seem to like it, which is nice. One never knows. This was also one that I only filmed a few days ago. That is rare for me to go right to press! Usually, they are about a month behind. Thanks so much for watching and for being here!

Thanks so much! I am glad that you are here with us.

I did a lot of reading and YT for tips like this and can confirm both work! I've had a couple cheap pens write like more expensive ones just by these two things: cleaning and inspection. Month 3 for me, or so in the hobby 😊 so much fun and tons of helpful folks!

Thank you so much!

That’s a great method. Thanks so much.

Thank you, Richard!

Awesome! Great strategy and genius innovation!

Yes, I do that after every cleaning, and I'm diligent about cleaning new pens. However, after I've gotten the pen cleaned and somewhat dried, I dive right in with filling it and have become used to waiting (sometimes just minutes) for the ink to come through in its full intensity. I don't know if I could wait several hours to write! 😄 Also want to add that I continue to clean my new pens because sometimes they do give off a bit of testing ink. Sometimes they don't, but I don't want to take a chance.

Thanks very much for the kind words! Good luck finding the pen. I hope it you get one soon.

Thanks Kurt! Those towels are great. They are also so handy around the house! Thanks so much!

Those are fantastic and I get some at the dollar store (1.25 now). I originally got as painting rags but they're useful for everything

That sounds like a wonderful plan! Another viewer has a homemade pen flush recipe, which is interesting. All the best and thanks for being here.

I do a bit of that sometimes too. I have this little jar that is perfect. Or at least I did. It seems to have been relocated! I think the little Miss is using it for her water colors!

I do that trick with paper towels/tissue as well. Sometimes it shows me that the pen has been inked before and needs a more thorough rinsing.

That is a very good point! I wish I had included that about Lamy because it makes some people think that they are getting a used pen. Thanks so much!

Thank you, Adrian! Warm Welcome! I am happy to have you here with us.

Thanks very much! I appreciate the admiration for the desk. It has been with me for years. I like the wear. Each one a story. I speak about it in an upcoming video Library Tour!

Thank you!

Thanks so much, My Friend! I appreciate it!!!

Thanks so much! I am glad that you are a fan!

Thank you so much and thanks for sharing your method.

Great suggestions, My Friend! Always great to hear from you!

An excellent regime! Thanks so much.

You’re welcome! I have been meaning to do more of these.

Thanks so much! I am so glad that you like it! Sargasso Sea and it actually smells like the sea, which is interesting.

Thanks so much! Sometimes I dig right in too, but I try to do this. Sometimes when I film a first inking in a video it looks kind of weird if the pen is wet. Thanks!

Hello Rob, I like that too. I like people checking them first.

Thanks very much!

Thank you! I am a NYT fanboy! I have been a subscriber since the mid 1980s! My wife bought this for me for Christmas. Thanks for noticing. I am not usually this casual on camera! I thought it would be nice for the more laid back video. Thanks!

Great reference! Thank you!!!

I can understand that! You want to try it!

I love it! “Live Dangerously!” Awesome. I am glad that has worked out for you. So, the Platinum 3776 is named after Mt, Fuji, right? I just noticed its height. Thanks so much for checking in. Stop by again soon.

@@HemingwayJones I believe you are correct. I have had my two Centuries for such a long time, and they are workhorses. However, one of them has the UEF (ultra extra fine) nib, and it is really sharp on upstrokes, so it can only be easily used on very smooth paper.

Thanks Shane!

Thank you!

This is so very kind of you!!!! Thank you very much!!! I really appreciate your being here with me. All the best!

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!

Nice! I like that too for some shots. It looks more used. Thank!

Most are behind the scenes.

@@HemingwayJones yes I know

@@patrickblindeman5847 Thanks, My Friend! I sometimes want to embed them into a video, but it has to match the tone. I also wish I could save more, but sometimes I need the storage. All the best.

Thanks for watching!

​@@HemingwayJones You're welcome!

Hello Shark, My Friend! This morning, Goulet had a Needlepioint on an Esterbrook in stock, just so you know. Points taken. I don’t know where they are made. I do like when nibs are tweaked with the custom grinds. They are beautiful and the specs, fit, and finish are exceptional. Wish you all the best always, My Friend!

You may know that Krishna is one of my favorite brands of ink. I will have to look into that. Moonview can be hard to clean. Thanks for the tip!

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

I think that is a very good point. I am glad that you said it. Why is it our responsibility? They don’t suggest this either. There is nothing on the packaging or manual I have every seen that says “Wash first.” Great point!

When it's residual ink from the nib being tested at the factory, I don't mind a bit. I'd rather have them test a nub and have stray ink in there than get a defective pen.

@@marilyngardner4269 Valid. But would you accept if a new phone you unbox has thumbprints all over because it's been tested? Maybe or maybe not. I definitely want to have a great writing experience with a pen out of the box and it's ok for pen makers to test it. But why not get it back in pristine condition when they box it? Why put that onus on customers?

I always wash new clothes before wearing them. I figure they’ve been handled by multiple people, possibly sneezed or coughed on, and have some sizing in them to keep the wrinkles away. Any pens I receive have probably been through similar experiences. So washing them, even the caps, makes sense to me.

@@ruthfeiertag Sure. That's a preference and perfectly valid. But the prior handling should not adversely affect the product experience itself . I have had cases where nib feeds carry minor residue materials from the making process. You have to do a thorough cleaning of the item before you use it. That's inexplicable to me.

Hello Random, Welcome! first of all, always be a gentleman, remember that. Always be kind. Never be cruel, protect everyone around you, and always be open and welcoming to people. I just need to say that. Thanks. OK, down to brass tacks dressing like a gentleman is very easy there’s just a few things you need. The most important one is a navy blue blazer and you can decide for yourself whether or not you want to keep the gold buttons or replace them with bone or something else that you like. I would pick this up on eBay since you’re on a budget and perhaps have it tailored to you just make sure you pick up one that’s made in the USA like Brooks Brothers brooks brothers up until about three years ago made their Navy blazers here in the US. You also need three button down. Oxford shirts I preferred J Press. You could also use Brooks Brothers, or LL Bean I would get them in these three colors, one white, one blue and one University stripe blue and white. I would also get to Regatta stripe ties from Brooks Brothers. We don’t wear ties much anymore but you do need them from time You also need two pairs of khakis. I would get one lighter pair, and one pair in British khaki. You can get these from L.L. Bean or Brooks Brothers. Get a nice sensible brown leather belt. A pair of oxford shoes or brogues. I would go with Alden, Crockett Churches, Loakess. or Johnston & Murphy. You can pick these up used. It’s best to look for a full Goodyear welt so that you can have them re-soled. This is really the basis of everything and will get you through 90% of all situations. Overtime you can add some chunky blue cotton, sweaters, a Barbour jacket, an overcoat, and a navy suit for weddings, and any other formal occasion. I hope that this helps. Feel free to ask more questions. All the best! I am proud of you!!!!!

It’s cold. You have to wait around for hot water. Thanks so much for watching!

You are probably referring to casein, a no-longer-used material that is derived from milk and will dissolve if soaked in water. The material was favored because of the ability to add color until celluloid came along to replace it. I have one casein pen and it's gorgeous, but I'm afraid to use it! 😅

Filming doesn't help either! I skip it sometimes too because a pen won't look new after it has been cleaned. It's still a best practice, but... We try and that's the best we can do sometimes. All the best!

Wonderful choice, Michelle!

I just think that the modern Esterbrook pens are really only worth buying with the special custom ground nibs. Of course, the special nibs cost quite a bit extra on top of the already high pricing (MSRP) on all Esterbrook pens sold anywhere. The JR ought to be made compatible with the M-V nib adapter. I don’t know why they haven’t done so yet.

Do you have occasional false starts? If it works for you, all the better!

Been lucky so far, I don’t use fancy inks, mainly Pilot iroshizuku or diamine! And I don’t change colors in any pen! Kon-peki and writers blood are my go to inks, wild strawberry is a close 3rd

@@thedirtygot9570 I don't know Wild Strawberry, but Kon-Peki is awesome! I did an entire video on that one ink, I love it so much. Writers Blood is great too. I prefer Ox by a margin. Great choices!

An excellent suggestion! Personally, I don’t have a water tank and remember, we put ink in these things. Still, I love the extra care and appreciate your getting the message out. Thanks so much, Phil!

True, and many inks on the market have "shimmer" additives too. One might want to be careful putting these inks in your $800 fountain pen. Personally, I would avoid it. Some inks are highly recommended (Iroshizuku) , others - not so much.

Agreed, My Friend! Generally, I don't put shimmer or sheening inks in anything over around $35. TWSBIs are great for this. They are easy to field strip. Great points!

That’s Brilliant! Thanks for this.

@@HemingwayJones thank you.

Clear as a bell on mine. I oft wonder how they play on different phones, tv, etc. Thanks for the feedback.

@@HemingwayJones it is my headphones on my desk top if no one else complains don't worry about it lol

Perhaps taking it down a bit more would be enough.

@@mikej.8885 I really do appreciate the feedback (no pun intended!). I did mix this one a little louder than usual and it’s funny; sometimes I do a mix and it goes up to YT extra quiet, so there are a lot of factors. I wanted a bit more music in this one, but I also wanted the dialogue to be clear. Thanks so much! You are making this channel better!

​@@mikej.8885 Well I, on a fairly recent video, made mention of the background music, I think that was the video with Satie. I found it too loud in parts and suggested mixing down during talk time and back to level as was through the rest. However, here it seems perfectly fine to me. No issues with the music impacting on the dialogue. Interesting...

Hello My Friend! Solvents as you know are very dangerous to many pens, so I steer clear. I always stick to some kind of water. I would go to pen flushes, if I ever had to. I haven't had to yet. I think, that the oils, if indeed there are any -I am assuming based on what one would expect- are trace amounts and that this rinse is sufficient to wash them away. It appears to be; I have had much better performance since doing this method. Regardless of what it is washing away, whether oil, spec of resin, bit of adhesive, a shard of metal, my pens seem to perfomr explonentially better out of the box. It's good to question. I am not immune to a rhetorical flourish and often stray into poetic language! This is, and was, my thought process when approaching this method. Thanks so much for watching and for taking a keen interest into the specifics.

@@HemingwayJones Yes, I'd assume water is sufficient. However, seems many speak of oils as a possible residue. Hence my question above. By solvent I was thinking something as harmless as a tiny droplet of dishwashing liquid or the equivalent. Given a water clean prior to use takes minimal effort it is definitely good practice prior to use. It's a similar procedure I go through with a record before first use.

All excellent points. Thanks very much.

Which kind of pen and which filling system? Some pens need a few minutes for the ink to make its way through the feed.

@@HemingwayJones Sorry yes I didn't specify. I bought the Duke 551 Confucius Fountain Pen

I think he said it is a Medium. Though, the writing looked like a fine line to me.

It feels rather fine, but it is marked medium. So a finish Medium it is!

It’s a medium. Thanks!

They really do! Thanks so much for watching!

I wish I could do something about it. I hit them with Goldbond or Working Hands right before filming and a few minutes in they go back to how they look. I am just old and it seems there isn't much I can do about it. I tried wearing gloves, but you cannot handle the pens.

@@HemingwayJones In my late 60s, my hands are looking old and used. They've been heavily used. My face looks used, too. I've used it on several occasions to break falls, it's stopped a fist or two, it cushioned the blow when I went through a windshield. A few days after a fall on a glacier in Iceland, I walked into a restaurant in Reykjavik and the maitre d commented, "scars on a man's face are sexy." It was an unexpected greeting, but not unappreciated. My wife still likes my face. I'm happy with it, and with my hands. Not so happy with my feet. If I ever make RU-vid videos, I'll keep my bare feet out of them. People will just have to put up with my dry hands and scarred face. I have a friend who swears by Oil of Olay. He still has scars and wrinkles, but they do look nice and soft.

​@HemingwayJones My hands are starting to look like my mom's hands. And since she was the lovliest woman in the world I don't mind a bit! I watch a lot of youtubers who clearly spend a lot of money on their nails at salons, and honestly, I find that more distracting. As long as your nails are clean, it's all good!

@@evilcritter Thanks so much! I try, but I am always doing stuff with my hands too. Chainsawing, cleaning out drains, clearing gutters. I use lotion and it helps for about a minute!

Hello Ruth, I have not, but it certainly sounds interesting. I will look into it. Thanks for making me aware of it. Thanks for watching and for being here.

@@HemingwayJones And I am happy to have found your channel, thanks to Chris Saenz!

@@ruthfeiertag Wonderful! Chris Saenz is the best! Thanks so much!

Thank you so much! I don’t have a Patreon. Perhaps I should get one. You can support me here. I have Memberships available at www.RU-vid.com/hemingwayjones/join or you can hit the “thanks” button on my videos. Thank you very much! I appreciate it.

I'm 6'2" or 188cm. Thanks!

@@HemingwayJones you look taller than that.

Must be the angle!

Hello, very good point on the name. It just feels like such a Jr. I think they are making a pun. I hope so anyway! I’ll take any coverage I can take! It’s a lovely small pen, by the way. Thanks so much for watching! I hope all is well!!!

Thanks Brett! Nice to hear from you.