Deep Cleaning/Filling My Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen

My Pilot Vanishing Point fountain pen was in need of a good deep cleaning, so I finally gave it the break it deserves! I write with this fountain pen on average for several hours a day. I fill it with ink anywhere from 2-5 times a day! For a deep cleaning I try to take my times and enjoy the process. My goal is to get all of the ink out of the body of the pen, as well as the converter.
Supplies Used:
Pilot Vanishing Point "Stripes" (Medium Nib)
Distilled Water (recommended for cleaning fountain pens)
Goulet Pens Pen Flush (gouletpens.com)
Bulb Syringe (gouletpens.com
Glasses (To hold the water/flush)
Paper Towels
Piece of sponge

[@tootsfour956]

Thank you for this video. I would add one more step. After cleaning, I would rinse with clear water to eliminate the cleaning solution. BLESSINGS

[@curatedavalon]

Solid idea!

[@ed3432]

Excellent tutorial. Caveat being just use a cartridge. More ink, less time and no mess. Cartridges also come in many colors. A blow dryer on low settings is an excellent cleaning tool. This is the way.

[@ejboshart0161]

I was thinking about getting a Vanishing Point as a birthday present for myself next month and this video answered a cleaning question I had. It makes me happy to know that I can use a bulb syringe with the bottom half of the nib unit!

[@curatedavalon]

That is a fantastic birthday gift! (Especially for oneself!🥳) The bulb syringe is so helpful!

[@anitapaul7267]

A really helpful video! I can use tips on my (new) Pilot Vanishing point pen. Appreciate the details.

[@curatedavalon]

Awesome! I hope you love the pen! I sincerely enjoy mine.

[@charis_explores]

This was lovely. New subscriber because the flow was fantastic. Thanks❤❤

[@curatedavalon]

I'm so glad! Will have to do more videos like this in future!

[@AliBrownie]

Thank you so much for sharing! I have a Mita Sanshodo 90th Ann Limited Edition in Earth of Watarase coming and I was wondering how to deep clean. I probably need to sit down with all my pens and give them a good deep clean. :)

[@curatedavalon]

You are very welcome! What a lovely pen! Congrats!

[@davidtaitano4602]

Thanks for the info. Good video

[@curatedavalon]

Thanks!

[@mellow-jello]

Advancing cleaning 201: 1) Use a tiny massacre brush to clean the pen body parts, 2) Use an ink syringe to clean the converters 3) Use simple detergent-water solution if you plan to use the same ink, save the pen flush when changing inks, or rotating out a pen to storage.

[@curatedavalon]

I do like using a syringe to clean the converters. Definitely speeds up the process.

[@shelahseierstad6121]

I slide the nib off the feed too, helps with cleaning for sure!

[@Astro.J.]

I found my vanishing point after 3 years of it sitting with ink in it, this saved me. tysm

[@curatedavalon]

You're very welcome! I'm glad you found your pen!

[@davecharvella4854]

Okay, now that you have that one done, how about I send you my six pens from last month? No pressure; just make sure they're thoroughly cleaned and dried before sending them back! 😁 BTW ... great job!

[@curatedavalon]

You do that!🤣 I actually do enjoy the cleaning process. The only time it annoys me is when I need to be writing instead!

[@Jan-bv3hx]

Do u have to wait gor ink to run out before cleaning?

[@curatedavalon]

You don't have to wait for the ink to run out. But if you don't want to waste ink, then yes.

[@samyg123]

I wonder if an ultrasonic cleaner would work better with this model since you can’t just run water through the main body

[@curatedavalon]

I'm not sure, interesting idea!

[@alih.s.javadi2656]

Every time I try to fill my converter completely, ink gets wasted due to extracting air bubbles (similar to your experience). I think leaving some space in the converter might help prevent ink waste.😊

[@curatedavalon]

I had it down pat for awhile where I wasn't getting the waste but it takes too much practice!

[@warrenstanford7240]

Goodness is that Granny’s high ball glass? 🤔😋 silicone grease the converter?

[@curatedavalon]

An Old Fashioned and Juice Glass actually. 😄

[@morsots47]

I just received my capless order but have not used it yet. What caught my attention was how much ink was inside the body. I'm new to capless but not fountain pens. I've never had so much ink in the body of the pen. Does the capless leak?

[@curatedavalon]

I haven't had an issue with the Pilot Vanishing Point leaking. But the VP is known for not having a particularly large reservoir. I haven't had an issue with it.

[@morsots47]

@@curatedavalon Thank you. Why do you think there was so much ink in the cap area?

[@freshlifeline]

@@morsots47not OP, but the nib making contact with the trap door sure leaves some ink on the trap door which then stains the the bottom of the feed, but it’s really minimal ink that’s transferred. I’ve had mine for literally 3 hours but this is what I noticed. Perhaps hers got a leak? Idk.

[@gristlevonraben]

Very cool

[@curatedavalon]

Thanks!

[@jinseinogakuseiesq2724]

THIS WHOLE TIME I NEVER BOTHERED TO TRY TO CLEAN IT CAUSE I DIDNT KNOW WHAT WHOULD HAPPEN IN THE GRIPSECTION PIECE....

[@curatedavalon]

Honestly I was too! I just got up enough nerve one day!

[@Shanghai_Knife_Dude]

No need. You will leave the pen in washing machine sooner or later.

[@dashsunil]

Wow. This could have been a perfect ASMR video. 😁

[@curatedavalon]

Thanks! 😊

[@ZolaneG]

I've been thinking about getting a Pilot Decimo but have been a bit intimidated by the cleaning/filling process. Thank you so much for such a helpful video!

[@curatedavalon]

You are most welcome!

[@LivindaBESLyf]

Extremely smooth and a great writer. A very helpful guide on how to deep clean this precious one. I like the detailed info you shared. I heard of Pilot before Parker and both are reliable writing pens. Great tips.

[@curatedavalon]

Thank you for the kind comment! I'm glad the video is informative!

[@gregorygoldbarth7464]

I just came across this video. I know it’s been out for a while and haven’t read all the comments but I hope what I’m about to share is not redundant. When I clean my pens out a lot of these techniques I already use, but I’m able to cut my time in more than half and get back to writing by simply using a cans of compressed air, it speeds the whole process up. With that said, nice video

[@EyeLuvMakeup271]

What soap did you use to clean all that ink off your hand from the spill from filling???

[@curatedavalon]

Dawn Dish Liquid! This ink tend to wash away quickly though. Some of the Ferris Wheel Press inks or Diamine with more pigment take a few days to disappear.

[@animula6908]

Why is this a favorite pen?

[@curatedavalon]

I love metal pens and this vanishing point has such a good feel to it with the line design. The size and shape is incredibly comfortable for my hand. The "clickability"😄 feature allows for a fountain pen to have the ease of a dip pen. Since I write for hours at a time I don't have to worry about putting the cap on and off if I have a pause, I can just click open and closed. The nib barely has to touch the paper to write and that allows for far less fatigue in my wrist, but also an amazing writing experience. It just naturally became a favorite!

[@animula6908]

@@curatedavalon that explains it! I’ve seen you using this one a lot and wondered if my prejudices against retractable fountain pens might need reevaluating. Prejudices should be open to review, imo. Thanks for telling us the strengths that make people love the vanishing point, especially this version.

[@curatedavalon]

@@animula6908 I almost despised the idea of having a capless pen until I tried one! I'm still a little shocked as to how much I enjoy it. Function really beat out prejudice for me on this one!

[@DFMoray]

MVP

[@curatedavalon]

👍

[@InkDiaries]

I usually just do a quick flush with my pens when I’m using the same ink. If I’m changing inks, the I’ll use the pen flush. You said you flush once a week? You do that even if you have ink left over? Or do you usually run out of ink once a week.

[@curatedavalon]

I refill this pen on average 3-4 times a day when I'm writing. So running out of ink for a flush is no issue. Flushing the pens I'm using that often seems to be good maintenance for them. Others that see less use don't seem to need nearly as much attention.