When your ink decides to become temperamental, dramatic, and vaguely offended.
Fountain pens are glorious creatures: elegant, expressive, and occasionally prone to theatrics. One moment you’re writing silk-smooth lines, the next you’re getting pale streaks, hard starts, or that maddening sensation of a sentence dissolving into polite dotted whispers.
The good news: inconsistent flow and skipping are rarely permanent. They’re usually the result of a few fixable culprits—ink, paper, residue, airflow, or a nib that’s simply in need of a gentle reset.
Below is your collector-friendly, no-panic guide to diagnosing the issue and getting your pen back to its best behaviour.
First, Identify the Symptom
Different problems have different personalities. Match yours below:
- Hard starts: The pen won’t write immediately, but behaves after a scribble or two.
- Skipping mid-stroke: Lines break during letters, especially on curves or cross-strokes.
- Dry, pale writing: The pen writes, but looks faint or feels draggy.
- Inconsistent flow: Alternates between wet and dry like it can’t commit to a mood.
- Scratchy sensation: Feels sharp on the page (note: scratchy can be flow-related or nib alignment).
The Most Common Causes (and the Quick Fixes)
1) Your pen needs a proper clean
Residual ink, dried pigment, and tiny bits of shimmer can build up in the feed like a scandal in a drawing room. Even if your pen looks perfectly respectable, the inside may be harbouring last week’s ink choices.
Fix: Flush the pen with cool water until it runs clear. If you’ve recently used shimmer or heavily saturated ink, consider soaking the nib section briefly, then drying thoroughly before re-inking.
2) The ink is too dry (or not suited to your pen)
Some inks are naturally drier, especially in finer nibs, colder rooms, or when paired with absorbent paper. Meanwhile, heavily sheening or shimmering inks may look spectacular but can be fussier in daily use.
Fix: Try a different ink, or move to a slightly broader nib if you want a richer flow. If you’re swapping inks, clean the pen first so you’re not mixing two personalities in one feed.
3) The paper is the villain (politely)
Paper can sabotage flow without any warning. Highly textured paper can snag the nib; ultra-absorbent paper can feather and “drink” your ink before itnearly arrives; coated paper can sometimes cause skipping if oils are present.
Fix: Test your pen on a different paper. If the problem disappears, your pen is innocent. Consider keeping a “known good” sheet nearby as your diagnostic stage.
4) Oils on the nib (from fingers or paper handling)
Skin oils can interfere with ink flow, especially if you touch the nib during refills or handle paper with lotions or skincare. It’s terribly modern of us, isn’t it?
Fix: Gently wipe the nib with a soft, clean cloth. If needed, rinse with water and dry. Avoid touching the nib slit and tipping during handling.
5) Airflow or seating issues (cartridge/converter not properly set)
If a cartridge or converter isn’t seated securely, you may get weak flow, skipping, or intermittent writing. Think of it as an ink supply line that’s not fully committed.
Fix: Remove and firmly re-seat the cartridge or converter. If using a converter, ensure it’s correctly attached and that ink is flowing through the feed.
Quick Diagnostic Tests (Do These Before You Panic)
Try a different paper
One page can reveal whether you have a pen problem or a paper problem. If the pen writes beautifully elsewhere, case closed.
Rotate the pen slightly while writing
If skipping improves when you rotate the pen, the nib may be misaligned or you’re writing outside the sweet spot. Fountain pens do adore good posture.
Check ink level and feed saturation
If your converter is nearly empty, or the feed is not fully saturated, flow can become inconsistent. A refill and a minute of patience can solve more than you’d think.
When Skipping Might Be a Nib Alignment Issue
If you’ve tried a clean, changed paper, and tested another ink—yet the pen still skips consistently in the same direction or stroke— your nib tines may be slightly misaligned.
What it feels like: scratchy spots, skipping on certain letters, and a sensation that the nib “catches” rather than glides.
Collector-friendly advice: avoid aggressive DIY nib bending. A nib is delicate, and collectible pens deserve gentle handling. Start with cleaning and testing first; if the issue persists, consider professional adjustment rather than forceful fiddling.
Prevent Skipping Before It Starts
- Clean regularly: especially between inks, and always after shimmering inks.
- Cap when not writing: uncapped nibs dry quickly and then act surprised about it.
- Store thoughtfully: if not using a pen for a while, clean it and store it dry.
- Use reliable paper for long sessions: let your ink shine rather than struggle.
- Don’t press: fountain pens are not ballpoints; light pressure improves flow and protects the nib.
Ready for a Fresh Start?
Sometimes the simplest fix is a pen that suits your writing style right out of the box—reliable flow, smooth performance, and plenty of charm. If you’re ready to fall back in love with effortless writing:
- Explore the full fountain pen collection: Try these fountain pens →
- For playful, everyday writing and easy rotation: The Carousel Fountain Pens →
- For refined, statement-making sessions with a polished feel: The Joule Fountain Pens →
Your pen should glide, not grumble. Consider this your permission to pursue smoothness with enthusiasm.