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Thread: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

  1. #41
    Senior Member NumberSix's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    Quote Originally Posted by FredRydr View Post
    I think we've found the cause of the worldwide shortage.
    Haha, nice!

    Fortunately for the world's posteriors -- including my own -- I don't empty out pens so very often.

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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    Barry B. Gabay,

    I particularly liked reading your reply about Ron Z


    Ron's "compressed air" is remarkable. At the Raleigh Pen Show maybe 10 years ago, I showed Ron a turquoise Parker 51 SE with a cap jammed on it. It had a regular 51 cap which I use on several I own, since I was lucky enough to buy some spare barrels and front ends in 2002 when Parker issued the 51SE. They fit perfectly. I had dropped the pen and its cap was jammed tight. Neither hot water nor my wife's hair dryer could loosen the cap. These methods had worked before on this pen and other 51s with stuck caps. Ron was sitting at his work table and said he "might" be able to do remove the cap. I suspect he knew all along that he would be successful. Ron unscrewed the tassie button & removed the clip. The cap top was then exposed with plenty of space between the jammed front end and the opening in the cap top. Ron said casually, "Get ready." He picked up a small hose, inserted it in the cap top's opening, and switched on the machine to which the hose was attached. Almost immediately the pen flew from the cap and into a towel he held in his other hand. Immediate results!

    For those who have not had Ron operate on a fountain pen, you are in for a treat. He is a real gentleman who knows his trade inside and out. He has worked on everything from 51s to 149s for me. We have done a good deal of horse trading too over the years.


    It is clear to all that he is a remarkable person.
    Last edited by proteus; November 18th, 2020 at 02:01 PM.

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  5. #43
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    Quote Originally Posted by NumberSix View Post
    When I flush a pen, including my 51s and 21s, I generally let them sit overnight, nib down in a coffee mug. The nib sits in a wad of toilet paper. I can do as many as 3 or 4 pens in the same mug, if I am cleaning out a bunch.

    I find it satisfying the next morning to see some ink in the paper. (hopefully not a lot, if I have done my flush job well)

    That's the same as a lot of you are recommending on this thread. My variation is the toilet paper -- simply because I tend not to buy paper towels!


    ETA: I have also done the shaking thing, if I am wanting to refill the pen right away. I have even been known too add ink despite water's being in the feed. Write and scribble for about half a page, and it usually sorts itself out.
    The only problem that I can think of with using toilet paper is that it's designed to dissolve in water so bits of it might stick to parts of the pen whereas kitchen towel is always left intact and there are no bits hiding on or in your pen. I buy white kitchen towel specifically for FP use.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    While I cannot imagine a need for just overnight processes, an old t shirt or other cloth would be preferrable for me use over paper.

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  9. #45
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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    Read this post with great interest.

    It is something we do.


    I particularly liked Chrissy reply.

    UK kitchen towel leaves no residue.

    I always use it too.

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    Chrissy (November 19th, 2020)

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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    The only problem that I can think of with using toilet paper is that it's designed to dissolve in water so bits of it might stick to parts of the pen whereas kitchen towel is always left intact and there are no bits hiding on or in your pen. I buy white kitchen towel specifically for FP use.
    D'oh! Good point. I will have to keep it in mind next time I order groceries.

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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    I find the toilet paper folded in half and then wound in a circle to fit into a paper cup works quite well and leaves no visible residue. Sometimes I have used car wash towels meant for drying the car similarly folded and wound round to fit in a paper cup or other throw-away cup. Washing the towels with bleach to get rid of most of the ink is something I consider to be a disadvantage.

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  14. #48
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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    pajaro,

    In the UK, car wash / valet services use microfibre cloths ( lint free )

    These are the very best, I use them for cleaning before high resolution pen photography.

    Here they cost about 60 pence each and are washable. ( not that I have ever washed one, after a week or so I throw them )
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    Senior Member pajaro's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    Quote Originally Posted by proteus View Post
    pajaro,

    In the UK, car wash / valet services use microfibre cloths ( lint free )

    These are the very best, I use them for cleaning before high resolution pen photography.

    Here they cost about 60 pence each and are washable. ( not that I have ever washed one, after a week or so I throw them )

    Mine are cotton, and I use them for various things and wash them with other towels.
    If I had microfiber towels I would do as you do with them, because they would probably be shredding.

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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    Quote Originally Posted by pajaro View Post
    I find the toilet paper folded in half and then wound in a circle to fit into a paper cup works quite well and leaves no visible residue. Sometimes I have used car wash towels meant for drying the car similarly folded and wound round to fit in a paper cup or other throw-away cup. Washing the towels with bleach to get rid of most of the ink is something I consider to be a disadvantage.
    I put one or two pieces of kitchen towel all lightly scrunched up into a reasonably solid but recyclable cup. Then I can dry more than one pen in separate folds over quite a long time until I need to renew the paper. Of course, it depends on how clean the pen is before you start drying it, but it's ages before there is any colour in my deep kitchen roll folds.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    I have so many yard sale/thrift store ceramic mugs and/or drinking glasses that I use those to 'drain' pens. Paper towels, always.

    The mugs and glasses are also handy to keep the non-inky pen parts in one place.
    My other pen is a Montblanc.

    And my other blog is a tumblr!


    And my latest ebook, for spooky wintery reading:

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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    Sometimes I just fill the 51 with the next color and let the colors merge. It can be interesting. \

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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    Quote Originally Posted by pajaro View Post
    Sometimes I just fill the 51 with the next color and let the colors merge. It can be interesting. \
    I used to live for that. But in cartridge pens.
    My other pen is a Montblanc.

    And my other blog is a tumblr!


    And my latest ebook, for spooky wintery reading:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CM2NGSSD

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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    I really liked pajaro reply.

    Sometimes I just fill the 51 with the next color and let the colors merge. It can be interesting.

    Have done it many times with different Parkers.

    Some times life is an adventure…………

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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    Ideally yes, I would clean my Parker 51 before changing inks. But life is short, and there are so many colours of ink.

    What to do?

    ... well, that's why I have a dozen Parker 51s....

    That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    I will squush out remaining ink from an aeometric 51, do a running-water flush, and fill with the next ink, where "squush" is the sound an aerometric filler makes. (Not "squish"). Sometimes, I will let a 51 sit in a glas of water over-night. Most of all, it seems a mistake to take a 51, or any pen, down to its basic pieces just to change inks. Trace amounts of Ink_1 should not explode when it contacts Ink_2.

    Yes, I've read Richard's warning that some Noodler's inks go crazy when mixed with other, even other Noodler, inks. (I tried Noodler's almost 15 years ago. Disliked the blue colors except Blue Eel, and Eel Blu did ugly things. Have not used Noodlers since)

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    Default Re: Cleaning Parker 51 before changing inks?

    I usually do flush pens when changing colors. I use red and green Montblanc colors in C/C pens or Waterman blue black, Parker Quink black or Sailor blue. I'm using MB JFK blue black or Lamy teal, the limited Ed. Junk in cartridges. Threw other inks away. Keeping away from harmful stuff in sac pens.
    Last edited by pajaro; November 20th, 2020 at 10:42 PM.

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