The most simple way to clean your calligraphy pen is to remove the nib and place it in a glass of water, leaving it to soak and changing the water until it eventually remains clear.

Similarly, if you have a converter that is caked in ink you can simply draw clean water in and out until the water runs clean.

A quicker method of cleaning your calligraphy pen is to go out and buy a rubber ear syringe from the local pharmacy. With the syringe you can fit it over the cartridge-piercing nipple of the pen and hold it under water. When you squeeze the syringe you will be forcing water into and out of the nib. As with the other methods you can repeat this process until the ink has been completely removed and the water runs clear.

To give the process an added boost you can dilute a very small amount of ammonia, say, one part ammonia to 10 parts water and use the above techniques on the pen. After the pen has been cleaned, give it a flush out with clean water.

For an even more thorough clean or to remove the most stubborn dried ink you can get yourself an ultrasonic cleaner which uses ultrasound and cleaning solution to clean delicate objects such as pen nibs. You simply place your calligraphy pen nib into the cleaning solution for a short period of time. Ultrasonic cleaners are not expensive and will come in handy if you find that you are forever coming up against clogged nibs.

Try any one of these simple methods for cleaning the nibs of your calligraphy pen. The methods will work equally as well if you have a fountain pen that is clogged, too.

You can also find more calligraphy pen maintenance tips elsewhere at The Calligraphy Pen.

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.

With some of the waterproof inks the drying time is quite quick and even the tiniest bit of caked ink will spoil the flow of the ink. To prevent this you can keep a container of water nearby when working regularly dipping the nib and cleaning it dry with an absorbent cloth followed by a check that there are no stray fibres left behind.

Often when you buy a new nib it will come with a thin layer of oil on it to preserve the tip. Before you begin using the new nib you will have to give it a good rinse to clear it off and then thoroughly dry it, again making sure that no stray fibres are left behind.

Careful cleaning of your calligraphy brush is also required. When you first buy your calligraphy brush it will come with a protective coating of diluted glue which will have to be washed off. To do this you shouldn’t hold the brush under running water in case the delicate hairs are damaged. Instead pool the water and slowly rotate the brush without applying any pressure to the tip. Eventually the hairs will loosen completely.

After using a calligraphy brush the ink will have to be cleaned out of it. Particular attention will have to be paid to the inner bristles which will trap a sizable amount of ink. The idea is to carefully squeeze the ink from the middle of the brush to the tip until no more ink remains. After the brush has been completely cleaned you will have to squeeze the brush so that it is shaped back into its pointed tip.