Pen Care
Caring For Your Wooden Pen
Congratulations! If you are the owner of a high quality J&J WoodSmithing custom writing instrument, please take a minute to learn how to preserve the beauty and writing qualities of your pen.
Your pen is not just a gift or just a pen, think of it as a work of art. Your pen is made from real wood and it needs the same care as any fine wood product. Follow these instructions to ensure years of beauty and enjoyment.
1) Keep your pen from extremes of heat and humidity, do not leave it in the car glove box, wood can split under extreme temperature conditions.
2) Do not leave the pen in direct sunlight since this can fade or change the color of many woods.
3) Do not immerse in water. Your pen is sealed and finished with several hard and durable finish layers and then a protective coating of wax. Use a soft cloth to buff up the wax as needed. Occasionally, re-wax your pen with a light coat of a good quality furniture wax. A very good wax is clear boot wax or any of the clear paste type waxes.
4) Do not use any cleaning agents. Never us any kind of abrasive pad to clean your wood or the plating. Never use any cleaning or finishing product that contains abrasives or cleaning agents. Car waxes and many household waxes & cleaners have fine abrasives or harsh cleaning solvents and these should not be used.
5) The plating may be cleaned with a damp soft cloth. Do not use any abrasives on the plating as the plating will be removed by the abrasive. Do not use spray-on furniture cleaner-waxes, some of these contain abrasives. Always read the label first.
6) Most pens disassemble at the center ring to allow replacement of the pen refill. Some pull apart and others unscrew. Be sure you check the specific instructions below for your pen before trying to change your refill.
Changing your Refill
Slim Line Twist Pens – Cross Style Refill
Slim Line twist pens use a standard Cross style refill. It can be replaced by pulling the pen apart at the center band. You may want to use latex or rubber gloves to insure a good grip on the pen barrels. The wax finish makes them very slippery. The fit is very tight so you may have to use considerable force to separate the upper and lower barrels. Be very careful that you do not flex the pen while trying to pull it a part. When separated the center ring is loose and can fall off if you turn the pen upside down so be careful not to loose it. After separating the sections unscrew the old refill and screw in the new one being careful not to loose the center ring. For highly grained pens I generally have the grain match when the pen is extended for writing. If you prefer it to match when it is closed now is the time to realign it. Lightly place the top back onto the twist mechanism either with the pen extended or fully closed, your choice. Note the grain pattern and align the top and bottom so that they match. Do not allow the twist mechanism to turn while aligning the top and bottom. When the grain is aligned push the two halves together. If you have any trouble pushing them together make sure that the top is engaged enough with the twist mechanism to operate it. If you aligned the grain pattern with the refill extended retract it now. Make sure the top does not slip on the twist mechanism. Now place the nib of the pen on a hard surface like a book or magazine. Do not use your kitchen table or desk top. The nib is sharp and can damage finished surfaces. After you have found a suitable surface place the heel of your palm on the very top of the pen and press the two parts together the rest of the way. Caution: Make sure the refill is fully retracted so the point can not be seen or the pen will be damaged using this assembly method.
Slim Line Pro Click or Bullet Click Pens – Parker Style Refill
These pens use a standard Parker refill. It can be change by simply unscrewing the pen nib (or upper barrel). Caution: There is a spring inside the nib that can fall out when the refill is removed. Take care not to loose it. Remove the old refill and insert the new one. Reassemble the nib (or upper barrel) making sure the spring is around the pointed end of the refill. Grain alignment is permanent on these pens.
Wall Street II /III and Sierra Twist/Click Pens – Parker Style Refill
These pens use a standard Parker refill. Use the same instructions for nib removal and cautions as the Slim Line Pro Click Pens above.
Classic American or Snap Roller Ball – Parker Style Refill
Roller ball pens use a refill that should be capped when not in use similar to a fountain pen. Changing the refill is similar to the Wall Street II however the spring is in the top of the pen, large end of spring is in first. It can fall out and can easily be lost. Unsnap the cap from the bottom of the pen and place/snap it onto the top. Keep the top of the pen turned downward while replacing the refill. Unscrew the now exposed nib, pull out the old refill and drop in the new and replace the nib. Snap the cap back onto the nib end of the pen. Fountain pen caps and nibs typically screw off/on but have no springs.
Fountain Pens - Fountain Ink Cartridge or Ink Pump
Similar to the Snap Roller Ball except that the cap screws on rather then snaps on. Unscrew the cap and either screw onto the top or lay it aside. Unscrew the nib.
Cartridge Version - The ink cartridge will be attached to the nib holder. To replace the cartridge, gently pull the old cartridge from the nib holder and toss it in the trash. You will notice a sharp barb in the top of the nib holder. Place a new cartridge into the barb recess and press it in firmly. The sharp barb will puncture the end of the cartridge to allow ink to flow. Reinstall/screw the nib holder back into the pen housing and then replace the cap or you can go back to writing.
Pump Version - The ink pump and reservoir will be attached to the nib holder. To refill the reservoir, turn the pump screw down and then dip the pen nib into your bottle of ink up to the bottom of the finger grip on the nib holder then turn the pump screw back up. Be aware that this procedure can be messy so be very careful when completing it. When the reservoir is full wipe off the excess ink from the nib of the pen and reinstall/screw the nib holder back into the pen housing and then replace the cap or you can go back to writing. AS AN ALTERNATE TO REFILLING THE PUMP RESOVOIR THE PUMP CAN BE REPLACED WITH A CARTRIDGE. SEE "Cartridge Version" ABOVE.
Pen Warranty
J&J WoodSmithing writing instruments are warranted to the original purchaser to be free of mechanically defects for a period of one year from the date you receive your pen. If a mechanical operation, plating, or wood finish defect occurs, you may return your pen within the one year period for free repair or at the discretion of J&J WoodSmithing receive a new similar replacement pen! This warranty does not cover abuse or physical damage incurred after delivery; it is limited to workmanship defects only. Sitting on the pen and breaking it or your child playing with it and breaking off the clip is not considered a workmanship issue or defect. The clips will last for years if used properly. They are designed for use on shirt and inside jacket pockets only. They are not intended for clipping onto jeans pockets, belts or thick book bindings. Forcing a clip over any thick material will cause it to flex excessively and eventually break off! The refill will eventually run dry, this is not a defect. The pen cartridge can be replaced just like any commercial pen. See the above refill procedure for your style of pen. J&J WoodSmithing can supply refills for a nominal fee plus shipping.
Variations in grain pattern and color between two similar, same species pens are not considered defects; every tree is different, every piece of wood is different. You actually want to be able to tell your wood pen from your friend’s; that is the reason for buying a custom wood pen! The pen(s) you receive will closely match the catalog version but will not be identical. They will be similar enough in size, shape & color to appear to be a set (if purchased as such) or to be the same style of pen.
Warranted By: J&J WoodSmithing, 33 Wilder LN. Owingsville, KY 40360
Phone 606-674-9420
Email: jd@jnjwoodsmithing.com - Web Site: www.jnjwoodsmithing.com
Contributing Member of:
Sawmill Creek Woodworkers Forums
International Association of Pen Turners
