Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph Technical Pens

[Gaither]

Any of you use Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph Technical Pens to ink with and my main question about the pens is DO YOU clean them with Ultrasonic Cleaners? I am looking on ebay to get a cleaner, but there are LOTS of different kinds. If you use a Ultrasonic Cleaner for your pens, do they work good? Have suggestions of which ones are best for Rapidograph Technical Pens, etc.

So you know I have been drawing with Rapidograph Technical Pens for about 15 years BUT never used the Ultrasonic Cleaners before. I just take the pen apart and clean by hand but after about a year of heavy use they start to screw up so I just purchase new ones LOL. So now I have a BIG box of pens. Figure on getting a cleaner hahahahaha and MAYBE bring these old pens back to life. What you say?

Jeff :android:

[Gaither]

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[wcr]

They do wear out, clean or not. It's the moving parts.

You can buy just the points:

http://www.rexart.com/rotring_rapidograph.html

[JProvost]

My technical illustration teacher has had Koh-I-Noor and Staedler tech pens in good working order for 20+ years. He uses only water to clean them and insists ultrasonic cleaners are a waste (his pens being proof).

You've got to take apart the nib (provided it's a 00 pen or larger, any smaller and it's much too brittle to clean), regardless of what the care instructions suggest. Rinse the parts in a bowl of water so you don't loose the pieces in the sink, rubbing gently. Then replace the water and let the pieces soak overnight if there's still crusted ink. A toothbrush and Q-Tips can help you clean (be extremely careful with the nib plunger of course).

There are jewel and tungsten nibs available for extended life of the nib (for working on polyester film) but it's a bit of a gimmick. Stainless steel can last.

[Debaser]

Hot water and a bulb-cleaner is the way to go. Use a little bit of the soap solution mixed with some water they sell for it "every now and then" or if they get really clogged up to keep em healthy. Best thing to do is clean before every refill or if you have had em sitting around for more than a few weeks.

As JProvost suggests, try not to take apart the really small nibs, it's way to easy to bend the wire inside on those...

-d

[CCorsair]

for one I NEVER use the Koh-I-Noor ink.. i Found one bran that works best is one that is called FW ink. It works well and is non-clogging.

For cleaning I used a cleaning jar that is mad for sitting the pen nibs in and turn up side down let them soak them wash with warm water. Dry and store.
I mostly clean out the fine nibs and keep fresh ink in the large nibs as i need to use the pen I like not have to take time to fill it.the no clogging ink works best for this as the Koh-I-Noor inks are very bad as they tesd to eat the fine wire in the nibs but the FW inks are hard to find since more Koh-I-Noor pens are not being carried as much these days of high tech drawing. I am search the area for some now that I ran out in the last year. its looking like will have order it from online but there are like dozen brands now and it coming in more colors now not just black now.

Great for Air Brush work too.

CC

[Seedling]

FYI, never take a filled rapidograph on an airplane, unless you like getting handful of ink. ;-)