New to calligraphy and wondering about some of the parts of the calligraphy pen and what they’re for?

Let’s look at the calligraphy pen reservoir. Some calligraphy pens come with a reservoir and some don’t. A calligraphy pen reservoir is a little piece of metal fitted to the calligraphy pen nib to increase the amount of ink it holds. You’ll find that you will get a more even flow of ink.

The calligraphy pen reservoir might be a detachable piece that can be removed for refilling or cleaning while other pens come with the reservoir permanently attached.

If you have a calligraphy pen with a detachable reservoir, take a little care when reassembling the pen and nib so that you’re sure that the reservoir touches the nib but doesn’t stick out beyond it.

Some people find a reservoir mounted on top of the nib a distraction because it can, at times, obscure the vision to the writing edge. There are options available to over come this, such as the Mitchell Roundhand Series which has the reservoir permanently mounted to the holder sitting underneath the nib.

If you’ve got a pen with a reservoir attached you will also have to learn how to refill it. Turn your pen upside down and, either with a paintbrush that has been dipped in ink or with an eyedropper , add the ink to the widest part of the nib. This will allow the ink to fill the space between the nib and the reservoir. Make sure the upper side of the pen nib is ink-free.

Careful application of ink to the nib and reservoir will ensure you maintain a smooth, even flow when lettering and you reduce the risk of leaving large ink blots around your work surface.

To clean the reservoir, slide it off and simply rinse it under running water. Soak the nib in a special solvent (such as Higgins Pen Cleaner) overnight and then take an old toothbrush to it to get it clean. Take the soaking nib the next morning and rinse it in cold running water before drying it thoroughly with a towel.

When buying a calligraphy pen with an attached reservoir make sure that you give it a careful going over to ensure that the tip of the reservoir hasn’t been bent away from the nib. The flange of the reservoir should sit lightly on top of the pen with little excess air space visible.

Your calligraphy pen will last longer and serve you better if you make every effort to perform the right maintenance on it.