cleaning the nibs

[Nickkih]

Chris Chris Chris. I'm thinking about the endearing name my grandma used to call me about you. Hehe

[schin]

I keep a pot of clean water and just dip the nib in it every few words and wipe off with a Viva paper towel (it doesn't leave fibers). Sometimes if I accidentally touch the nib, I swirl it in rubbing alcohol to clean. I stopped using windex because I didn't like the slimy texture it leaves on my paper towels!

[Sherry Lu]

I use a toothbrush to clean my nibs after a writing session. No toothpaste, just running water and a little scrub. Haven't used any difficult inks that have caused any problems!

[Moya]

If I'm using acrylic ink, I will squirt a little windex into my water jar and then just dip the nib every few lines (and wipe it with a paper towel, usually the expensive ones that don't leave fibres ).  Same if I'm using parallel pens that I'm dipping into the inks - it keeps them from clogging

Pointed nibs I'll water-dip and wipe on paper towel every so often.  If it's gouache, a little more frequently, because it can build up;  if it's walnut ink, much less frequently.

Windex is also magic at getting ink out of carpets, and clothes, if you've never tried

[Nickkih]

Windex is Awesome!

[Blotbot]

Windex People!  Are you using the Windex brand?  I have better luck with  the cheapo stote brand that has old-fashioned ammonia in it.

Christopher-- how long is the sonic cleaner cycle?  Do you have a problem with rust forming?

My tip-  keep a moist sponge handy to wipe the fibers from the tip of the nib.  My first teacher mounted the little ink vials in a sponge so it keeps the vial stabile, catches drips, and gives you a place for a quick wipe.

[YokePenCo]

No problems with rust forming. The cycle lasts from 60 seconds to a couple minutes, there's a switch to change time.

[Brad franklin]

I do the same like Brad, except that I wipe it first with a cotton cloth, then dip in water, then wipe it dry with the cloth. So the water stays clean longer and I don't confuse it with the ink jar 😄! That is also how it was recommended to me from a teacher, if you do that every few strokes, normally no scrubbing or extra cleaning will be necessary … imho 😉. Broad nibs are different though, I hate cleaning those nasty reservoirs  ! That's where an old toothbrush cones in handy …

So Estefa doing it the way you keep the water cleaner, is that what they mean when they say keep the water clean? Because my water is always black. I have started doing it like you. It keeps the water alot clearer.

[Nickkih]

@blotbot - I use the keep stuff too and works like a charm.

[Estefa]

Hi Brad, I don't know if that is what they say … it was just what I find logical and what is also the technique shown to me by Barbara Calzolari during a workshop … I hope it works for you too !

Maybe they mean also to use fresh water after a day or so – because it attracts dust, and fibers etc., and they will end up on your nib and can ruin an upstroke!!