Over the past several years, the Pelikan brand of pens has become known for delivering both value and bragging rights. Even though Pelikan isn’t always the cheapest fountain pen, they perform so well it justifies the price.
Due to the distinctive nature of the ink reservoir within a Pelikan pen, the average user may often mull the question of how to fill a Pelikan fountain pen with ink.
Why are Pelikan Pens Coveted?
Let’s first discuss why the vast majority of fountain pen enthusiasts are happy to pay the price to acquire a Pelikan pen. The answer boils down to equating price with value.
Pelikan pens are not the cheapest in the market. Looking at some of the options in the Pelikan M Series pens – their most popular line overall – the prices can range from $100-200 (for the Pelikan m200 line all the way to $800-1000 for the higher end Pelikan m1000 pens. There are options in between, such as the m600, which is considerably cheaper than the m1000 but perhaps delivers close to the same performance.
Once people start using Pelikan pens, they often do not go back to other brands. This can be for different reasons. For example, for an intermediate pen, the choice could be between the m200 and the Lamy 2000. While people may consider the Lamy to be as good or better, many people do not like the Lamy nib design and prefer the Pelikan m200.
- High Quality Resin
At the upper end of the price range, a Pelikan m1000 would compare favorably to the Mont Blanc brands – delivering equivalent performance at a better price.
Pelikan pens have a distinctive look with 15- to 18-carat gold nibs and their barrels and caps are made with high-quality resin to make them durable yet light for long-term use.
What Type of Inks Work Best in Pelikan Pens?
Pelikan manufactures and sells its own brands of inks, of course. They are known to be among the finest fountain pen inks, water-resistant and smooth flowing.
Some examples include:
- Pelikan Edelstein Ink – one of the most popular options among pen aficionados.
- Beautiful, jewel-like color
- Pelikan 4001 Ink – these inks are often a more affordable alternative
- Ink formula developed over 125 years ago protects both fountain pen and nib
If you like the experience of the Pelikan pen (who doesn’t?) but would prefer not to spend an exorbitant amount on ink, there are other options. Noodlers inks are often well suited to Pelican pens. For example, check out the Noodler’s Black Waterproof Fountain Pen ink:
- 100% made in the USA from cap to glass to ink
How to Fill a Pelikan Fountain Pen with Ink
So, now that we have your favorite Pelikan pen and the ink of your choice, how do you fill the pen with ink? Due to the way the pen’s mechanism works, a bit of finesse is required till you get used to it. The effort is worth it – long-term care includes taking care while filling and ensuring that the pen is cleaned out from time to time.
To fill the pen with ink, follow these initial steps to prep for the process:
- Make sure that there is no ink in the reservoir of the pen,
- Remove the cap, and
- Turn the filler knob anticlockwise. This will move the plunger towards the nib in preparation for sucking up with ink subsequently.
Now that the pen is ready, dip the nib of the pen into the ink to the top of the exposed part of the nib. Make sure that there is no gap – this will ensure that once you begin to operate the plunger, you will not be drawing up any air into the reservoir of the pen.
The following steps should be followed once the nib is fully submerged:
- Turn the plunger clockwise to get ink drawn up into the barrel reservoir of your Pelikan pen. As the ink fills the chamber fully, the plunger will become harder to turn further – so you know that you are close to filling out the pen completely.
- Once you are close, it may be a good idea to take the nib out and expel a few drops back into the bottle. For good measure, turn the upwards before screwing the plunger clockwise and all the way. This way, you will minimize stray droplets of ink that can cause an ugly stain or smudge.
Does this process sound slow and deliberate? That’s because it is – the intention is to get the maximum amount of ink into the barrel of the pen without leaving any air pockets. On the other hand, you have minimized ink droplets on the nib so there are no smudges on your fingertips or on the paper once you start to write.
After doing this a few times, you will find that it comes naturally, and moreover, you will love the work product – aka, the effect on your writing.
Cleaning Your Pelikan Pen
The same method as above can be employed to regularly clean out your Pelikan pens, except you use water instead of ink. This way, you ensure that there is no residue or potential metallic buildup on the inside of the barrel. The capillary system also gets cleaned out. This can be very important, especially since waterproof or water-resistant inks can corrode both your nibs and the interior of the pen over time.
The Last Word
Pelikan pens can last for generations with proper care. Choosing the right model and ink is only the beginning. Using the right method to draw ink into the pen will ensure that you have the smoothest possible writing experience. Cleaning the pen out regularly will ensure longevity.
Enjoy your Pelikan pens the right way.