Which Writing Mode is Best for You to?
Ball Pens
Rollerball Pens
Mechanical Pencils
Fountain Pens
The care & feeding of fountain pens
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Us
Packing & Delivery Information
Rush Deliveries
Standard Shipping Charges
Is Part of Your Order on Backorder?
Your Money Back Guarantee
Shipping to Multiple Addresses
To Notify us of a Change of Address
Forget Your Password?
Check Status of an Order
Forms Of Payment
Gift Wrap
Personalization of Purchases - Engraving
Pen Repair
Ball pens have a thick paste ink that is long lasting and does not dry out when the point is exposed. This is why most ball pens do not have caps. The points are activated by either a push-top or twist mechanism. The hard metal ball that distributes the ink makes the ball pen useful when writing on glossy surfaces or for making multiple copies.Ball pen refills come in a variety of ink colors with fine or medium points. Some manufacturers also offer broad points. There are now also gel ink refills and soft roll refills that use a water-based liquid ink, combining smooth and vivid writing of a rollerball with the convenience of a ball point.
Rollerballs differ from ball point pens in one important area. The rollerball uses a liquid that has a smooth and fluid flow, much like a fountain pen. Most rollerball pens have caps to keep the fluid ink from drying out. Make sure you always replace the cap of a roller ball to keep the ink form drying out prematurely. Because of increased ink flow, rollerball refills run out faster than ball pen refills. Rollerball refills are usually available in fine or medium points. They generally have a broader offering of colors than ball point refills.
Most of the mechanical pencils made today are equipped with self- feeding systems. The lead is usually filled into the pencil by removing the cap or eraser. When not in use, the lead is retracted with the same type of mechanism. There are many sizes of lead available and you must be sure to load your pencil with the correct size or the leads may become jammed inside the mechanism. The most common sizes are 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm; 0.9 mm can be found in a few pencils. There is also a new generation of pencils with leads as wide as 5.5 mm, perfect for sketching and drawing.
Even though they require some care, the expressive writing of a fountain pen is well worth it! Most fountain pens use ink cartridges or a converter; some have piston-fill systems that use bottled ink only. A pen becomes a very personal possession for most people. The grace and style of the fountain creates a certain aura that is difficult to describe, but appeals to many, especially in our fast-paced culture. Touch pen to paper and experience the unique pleasure only a fountain pen creates.Selecting a fountain pen is much like choosing a pair of glasses. You must take into account your aesthetic and technical needs.The ideal pen is a perfect marriage of form and function; it should fit your handwriting style.· If your handwriting is small or condensed, select a fine nib· Broad nibs are great for signatures, but can be a little temperamental. Nibs must be held flat and not rotated when writing. This will keep the ink flow feeding the point sufficiently.Remember that like any fine mechanism, a pen must go through a two to four week breaking-in period. Treat a pen properly and it will last a lifetime, paying the dividend of enjoyable writing.
We are frequently asked about the proper way to clean and care for a fountain pen. Here are a few tips that will ensure the best performance from your fountain pens:
1. Always use fresh ink. If your ink is over a year old, buy a new bottle.
2. Ink cartridges are fine, but a self-filling pen or the use of a converter with bottle ink will offer fewer problems.
3. If your pen is to be out of use for several weeks, clean it by flushing in cold water.
4. Never wash a pen in hot water or alcohol! Use cold water only. If the pen is really dirty, use a mixture of one part non-sudsy household ammonia to 2 parts cold water and allow the nib section to soak overnight. Flush the nib in cold running water until it runs clear and dry with a soft cloth.
5. If you value a fine pen and it is suited for your hand, do not let someone else use it. You could be asking for trouble.
6. Cap the pen properly. Hold the pen upright and place the cap on top of it. Do not drop the pen into the cap or you may end up with ink in the cap.
7. Before you fly in a plane, either fill your pen all the way or leave it empty. A sudden change in cabin pressure may cause the pen to leak if you don't follow this rule.
If you have any questions regarding your order, need additional product information or shopping assistance, you can email our customer service department at custserv@fahrneyspens.com. You can also call Customer Service between 9 am and 5:30 pm EST Monday through Friday at 1.800.336.4775 or Fax us at 301.736.2926, 24hrs. If you wish to place your order over the phone please call us at 1.800.624.7367, 24hrs.Mail orders can be addressed to: Fahrney's Pens8329 Old Marlboro Pike, Suite B13Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
(you choose how fast)Standard Delivery reaches you within approximately 8 business days of our receipt of your order. The time varies according to your distance from our warehouse in suburban Washington DC.Two Day and Next Day delivery are available. Select the appropriate ship method on the order form. Please include a comment on the order form if you need the product by a certain date. Allow 24 hours for your order to be processed.Sales tax will be added to your total for addresses in Maryland (5%) and Washington, D.C. (5.75%).Two Day Delivery. Adds $6.95 to Standard Delivery charge.Next Day Delivery. Adds $14.95 to Standard Delivery charge.Use STREET addresses (no PO Boxes, APO/FPO’s).AK, HI, PR addresses will add $9.00 to Standard rate for Three Day Delivery and $19.00 to Standard rate for Two Day Delivery. (Phone number required).
Shipping time is for items in stock at the time of your order. Please provide your daytime phone number.
To Order Total Add:
Up to $25.00 = $4.95
$25.01 to $50.00 = $6.25
$50.01 to $75.00 = $8.55
$75.01 to $100.00 = $9.75
$100.01 to $200.00 = $11.75
$200.01 to $500.00 = $14.00
over $500.00 = $17.00
Fahrney's Pens makes every effort to deliver your backordered item(s) to you in a timely manner. We will inform you of the status of any backordered item that is delayed.
We have guaranteed your satisfaction on all of our products since 1929, You must be 100% satisfied with your purchase or you may send it back within 30 days for a credit, exchange or refund. All packaging and warranty cards must be returned with item please empty all pens before shipping. Sorry, we cannot take back engraved or custom-ordered items. If you would like a Customer Service Representative to assist you, call 1.800.336.4775, 9 am – 5:30 pm EST, Monday- Friday, or email us at custserv@fahrneyspens.com
Should you care to send part of your order to another address, please call 1.800.336.4775, 9am-5:30pm EST, Monday-Friday. You will be charged Standard Delivery Charge for each address unless other ship method is requested.If you have moved and would like to continue receiving our catalogs, please call our Customer Service Department at 1.800.336.4775, 9 am-5:30 pm EST Monday – Friday, or email us at custserv@fahrneyspens.com
We can email it to you.
Email Address
This refers to the email address you used when you first registered with us. We can only send your password to the email address on file.
To check the status of an order or of your account, please click here and complete the appropriate information.
Credit card orders may be paid with Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover Card. Mail orders can be paid by personal check or money orders. Sorry, we do not accept COD’s. For your security, we verify all credit cards to billing address. Please make sure the address you entered is where you receive your credit card statement.
We would be happy to gift wrap up to 10 items for you at no additional charge. We can also include a handwritten note. Please include specific instructions on the order form.
If you have any question about personalizing an item, please call our pen experts at 1.800.336.4775, 9:00am-5:30pm, EST.
The box for filling in "name" for customization accepts the number of characters (spaces included) that will fit on the personalized item.
It is imperative that you indicate which item you are personalizing if this box is provided.
Please allow 3 days additional time for delivery of in-stock, engraved items. Personalized items are not returnable. Click here for a sample of all engraving styles for pens.Fahrney’s can engrave your actual signature, company logo or emblem on many of our most popular pens (please call for more information). For information on reproducing company logos, please call our Corporate Gift Service at 1.800.336.4775, 9:00am-5:30pm, EST.
Fahrney's repair department provides our customers with easy access to reliable care and maintenance for their fountain pens and other writing instruments. However, we do not service: Designer and "off-brand" pens, Replacement parts on vintage pens, Broken vintage desk bases or Broken nib points (repelleting). Warranty Repairs: All warranties are held between the customer and the pen manufacturer. Fahrney's sells and services many brands of writing instruments. If you have a claim that falls under the warranty we suggest you send your writing instrument directly to the manufacturer, who may repair or replace your pen at no charge. If you decide that you want Fahrney's to handle the warranty work, our minimum service charge is $25.00, which does not include shipping. Charges for parts from the manufacturer may be additional. Repairs are done at the owner's risk. Estimates: We are happy to provide estimates for our repair work. Please send us a written note requesting the estimate. The cost for issuing an estimate is $15.50 per pen. If we do the repairs, the cost of the estimate will be deducted from your bill. If you decide not to accept the estimate and ask for the return of your pen, we charge an additional $5.75 for return shipping.
Repair Time: Turrnaround time for in-house repairs is 4-6 weeks. If the repair must go to the manufacturer, please allow 6-9 weeks.
Sending Your Pen Fahrney's:
1. Empty fountain pens of ink.
2. Send the entire pen.
3. Enclose a note stating the problem.
4. Include your name, address, daytime phone number.
5. Package in a sturdy box. We will send you an acknowledgment when we receive your pen. Send your writing instruments to: Fahrney's Pens 8329 Old Marlboro Pike, B13 Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
|