Best how to: picks & comparisons
Best how to: picks & comparisonsOur best-of roundups and head-to-head comparisons of how to, each with a direct answer and sourced specs. 20 Stationery Times guides, each with a direct answer and sourced specs.
How to Fix a Ballpoint or Gel Pen That Skips, Blobs or Leaks
How to fix a ballpoint or gel pen that skips, blobs or leaks, with the causes and fixes given by Tombow, Mitsubishi Pencil (uni) and Pilot in Japan.
How to Stop Mechanical Pencil Lead Breaking or Sinking Back
How to stop mechanical pencil lead breaking or sinking back: tip cone, bent pipe, chuck dust, lead size and load, per Pentel, uni, Pilot and Tombow.
How to Erase Pencil Cleanly Without Smudging or Tearing the Paper
How to erase pencil cleanly: Tombow's tips on pressure, holding the paper, a shield and crumbs, plus sand erasers for ink and how to store erasers.
How to Stamp on Glass, Plastic and Metal with StazOn Ink
How to stamp on glass, plastic and metal with StazOn solvent ink: prep, drying time, wiping off a bad print, and cleaning the stamp, per Tsukineko.
How to Remove Fountain Pen Ink Stains: What Makers Say
How to remove fountain pen ink stains from skin and clothes, from Pilot, LAMY and Pelikan: soap, water and detergent, no solvents, plus when to see a cleaner.
How to Use Correction Tape: Lay It Straight, Fix Jams
How to use correction tape: lay a straight strip at about 45 degrees, fix tape that snaps or won't wind, and lift or remove a patch, per Tombow and PLUS.
How to Glue Paper Without Wrinkling: What Makers Say
How to glue paper without wrinkling it, from Tombow and KOKUYO: wrinkle-free sticks, liquid glue and tape glue, with the papers to test first.
How to Swap a Fountain Pen Nib: LAMY, Kaweco, TWSBI
How to swap a fountain pen nib: push-fit steel nibs on a LAMY, screw-in nib units on Kaweco and TWSBI, and when Pilot, Sailor or LAMY want the pen sent in.
How to Revive a Dried-Out Pen or Marker: What Makers Say
How to revive a dried-out marker, ballpoint, gel pen or fountain pen, from Mitsubishi Uni, Pilot and Copic, and which ones cannot be brought back.
How to Write Left-Handed Without Smudging: 3 Methods
How to write left-handed without smudging: paper angle, hand position, quick-drying pens and ink, and blotting, from Pilot, Pentel, Zebra, LAMY and Goulet Pens.
How to Care for a Leather Notebook Cover, Step by Step
How to clean, condition and store a leather notebook cover, from the care notes of Galen Leather, Smythson and Filofax, and where they disagree.
How to Fix a Fountain Pen That Won't Write
Why a fountain pen won't write and how to fix it, from Pilot, LAMY, Sailor, Platinum, Pelikan and Nakaya: dried ink, new cartridges, skipping, paper and repair.
How to Clean Rubber Stamps and Ink Pads: Maker Steps
How to clean rubber, clear and photopolymer stamps and re-ink a dry pad, from Altenew, Lawn Fawn, Stampin' Up!, Hero Arts and Ranger, and where they differ.
How to Sharpen a Pencil: Sharpener, Long Point or Knife
How to sharpen a wood pencil with a handheld sharpener, a two-stage long-point sharpener or a knife, per Mitsubishi Uni, Tombow, Staedtler and Blackwing.
How to Stop Fountain Pen Ink Bleeding Through Paper
How to stop fountain pen ink feathering and bleeding through paper: change the paper, nib, ink or pressure, test on a control sheet, and avoid coated paper.
How to Care for Collector Pens: Clean, Store, Repair
How to keep collector fountain pens in good condition for years: cleaning, ink, storage, lacquer, resin and wood care, travel and repair, per makers.
How to Clean a Fountain Pen: Flush, Soak and Dry
How to clean a fountain pen, from maker manuals: flushing cartridge, converter, piston and eyedropper pens, when to use pen flush, staining inks and how often.
How to Choose a Planner: Layout, Size and Binding
How to choose a planner in 5 steps: daily, weekly or hourly layout, A6 to letter size, coil, disc or sewn binding, dated or undated, and paper weight.
How to Start a Bullet Journal: Supplies and Pages
How to start a bullet journal: the supplies, from a dot-grid notebook and pen to a ruler, stencil and washi, and the core pages of Ryder Carroll's method.
How to Fill a Fountain Pen: Cartridges to Pistons
How to fill a fountain pen: cartridges, converters (international vs proprietary), piston, vacuum and eyedropper fillers, step by step, and which pens use each.