If you have other questions, please feel free to contact us. We will try to answer your pen questions the best we can. Throughout our catalog, you will see different nib sizes for various fountain pens. The most important factor in determining nib size is the style of your handwriting. If your handwriting is small and tight, we recommend a fine or extra fine. If your handwriting is large and fast or you're looking for a signature pen, we recommend a broad point medium nibs fall in between and are most common. For gift giving purposes, we generally recommend a fine nib for ladies and medium nib for men.   Both a built-in piston and converter work on the same principle. A converter is removable to replace with a cartridge while the built-in pistons are permanently affixed in the pen. Both systems have end knobs which rotate. Rotate end knob counterclockwise until it stops. Do not force anymore after stop. Dip nib of fountain pen into ink. Make sure entire nib is submerged into ink for maximum fill. While nib is still in ink, turn end knob clockwise back into original position. Place a few drops back into bottle by turning end knob slightly counter clockwise. Put end knob back into original position afterwards. Wipe off excess ink.   Do not press hard when you write. The beauty and advantage of a fountain pen is that it flows with the touch of paper. Pressing hard may result in ink flow problems. Always use fresh ink. If the bottle has been open for a year, it should be replaced. We recommend a cleaning every three months, every time you change ink colors, or when not in use for extended periods of time. Simply flush the nib with cold water as if you were filling it with ink. Never wash a fountain pen in hot water or alcohol, Use cold water only. If the pen is dirty, you may add a small amount of household ammonia to water in a 1:3 ratio. Do not lend your fountain pen to others. A nib adjusts to your handwriting and yours only.   A roller pen uses liquid ink whereas a ball pen uses a thicker paste ink. A roller is smoother and has a fluid, wet feel. A ball pen lasts longer and has a more controlled feel. Most roller pens must have caps to prevent the ink from drying out. Most ball pens do not have caps, but use twist or push mechanisms. Make sure the cap is on for a roller when not in use.   If a fountain pen skips, the first step should be to give the pen a cleaning. Ink, whether dried up or in use, may leave residue which can clog the feed channels. A solution of 1/3 ammonia and 2/3 cold water can be used for cleaning. Some chemically coated papers are not suited for use with a fountain pen resulting in skipping. After cleaning, try another paper surface. Skipping can also happen if the writer pressed too hard on the nib. This results in the nib splitting too much and creating a gap which ink cannot flow through. Try decreasing the pressure. If there is constantly ink on the grip section after you open the pen, check the inside of the cap. A fountain pen is an open end system, so vigorous shaking may cause ink to spill into the cap and transfer it to the grip section. Clean the inside of the cap with a cotton swab and try to keep the fountain pen in a n upright position when traveling. For each writing instrument we carry, the manufacturer guarantees their product. On our pen repair directory page, the service center for most manufacturers are listed.   Nib The point of the fountain pen which does the actual writing, usually made of metal or solid gold. Feed The unit which delivers ink from the reservoir to the nib. The feed sits underneath the nib. Built-in piston Device which is installed into a fountain pen to draw ink, Fountain pens with built-in pistons do not take cartridges. Converter Removable device which allows a fountain pen to draw ink. Fountain pens using converters can also take cartridges but fountain pens that take cartridges do NOT necessarily take converters. Clip Metal piece on the cap of a pen which fastens to a pocket.