Do you use a fountain pen?
Discussion
Robbo 27 said:
Pens at this price alex are cheap enough for you to try out and see if they suit you and if not to sell on or give away.
If you mainly want a pen for office notes or similar then a straightforward fine, medium or broad nib, depending on the size of your writing, will suit most people. I have tried writing with a stub or itallic nibs and they dont work for me, I like a nib with some flex but if you write quickly you may struggle.
Point taken on the teaspoon thread, I will rename myself Mogodan Man and back off but if anyone needs any help please PM me.
Yes I thought I would try a few different types to see what I like best. I've got four pens + ink on order now! I've been using my Parker Vector today. I think I will get some squared paper to see if I can even out my writing a bit.If you mainly want a pen for office notes or similar then a straightforward fine, medium or broad nib, depending on the size of your writing, will suit most people. I have tried writing with a stub or itallic nibs and they dont work for me, I like a nib with some flex but if you write quickly you may struggle.
Point taken on the teaspoon thread, I will rename myself Mogodan Man and back off but if anyone needs any help please PM me.
The teaspoon reference was just me laughing at myself for learning the names of various pen nibs. I'm already considered a nerd for being able to name a number of components in a mechanical watch movement. Not sure why that's considered more geeky than being able to name parts of a car engine or members of a football team, but apparently it is
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hstewie said:
hstewie said: Have a look here https://www.gouletpens.com/nib-nook to compare nibs sizes.
That's a good resource. I think I would need a 0.6mm stub so as not to end up with filled in 'e's, whilst maintaining the calligraphy appearance. I'll see how the Pilot Pluminix writes before I order anything else.The Pluminix (F) stub nib on the pens sold on ebay looks tiny. It's a bit of a mystery as I can't find any info on this particular nib.
I'm probably one of the younger fountain pen users at 25. My dad liked them and kind of forced it in me from age 8, so I used them throughout school and college.
I have one 'nice' Parker which is only used for 'best' and then two older grottier pens that I use for note taking when at college, and for any scribbling I need to do at work. All three use converters to fill from an ink bottle (I hate cartridges!)
Being a natural meddler and fiddler I am always taking the older pens apart for cleaning a lot more than necessary.
The near-permanent ink stain where the pen rests on my middle finger is a source of much questioning and conversation when older people (who are generally familiar with fountain pens) see it as they can tell it's from a fountain pen and a younger person using one is fairly unusual. Younger people around my age don't even really know what a fountain pen is most of the time.
I have one 'nice' Parker which is only used for 'best' and then two older grottier pens that I use for note taking when at college, and for any scribbling I need to do at work. All three use converters to fill from an ink bottle (I hate cartridges!)
Being a natural meddler and fiddler I am always taking the older pens apart for cleaning a lot more than necessary.
The near-permanent ink stain where the pen rests on my middle finger is a source of much questioning and conversation when older people (who are generally familiar with fountain pens) see it as they can tell it's from a fountain pen and a younger person using one is fairly unusual. Younger people around my age don't even really know what a fountain pen is most of the time.
Edited by zarjaz1991 on Monday 2nd January 12:56
zarjaz1991 said:
SystemParanoia said:
N00B 
Yeah to some degree I probably am.....Mrs was not impressed
Edited by SystemParanoia on Monday 2nd January 15:17
SystemParanoia said:
Its ok. I think I've ruined the kitchen countertop from where I tried to teach the kids how to use and converter and dismantle and clean the pen between colour changes.
Mrs was not impressed
My mum was never impressed when I came home from school with my hand covered in ink from "using your dad's stupid pens"!Mrs was not impressed
Yes when I was about 13 he taught me to use converters, fill, clean, dismantle and reassemble my pens. I don't think we ruined any tables or work tops but my hands afterwards were a sight to behold because I really didnt care if I got covered in it! My mother was always angry about it whereas my dad thought it was fantastic and something to be proud of!
I think my favourite memory from those sessions is of accidentally dropping a nib into the ink bottle. After my dad had pondered for a few moments about how to retrieve it, I simply stuck my index finger into the bottle and fished it out, before wiping all the resulting ink on the back of my other hand! My dad was impressed, my mum less so. I thought the resulting completely blue finger was really cool! Especially at school the next day.
Edited by zarjaz1991 on Monday 2nd January 15:19
When I were a lad, rather than mucking about with converters and such, I preferred to just refill the disposable cartridge.
Our neighbour was a nurse and kindly provided me with a syringe and needle (none of this blunt stuff, I'm talking about a proper stick-it-in-your-veins type needle) with which I could refill my cartridge.
Even now I still have a syringe which I use to top up the cartidge on my pens which don't have converters.
Our neighbour was a nurse and kindly provided me with a syringe and needle (none of this blunt stuff, I'm talking about a proper stick-it-in-your-veins type needle) with which I could refill my cartridge.
Even now I still have a syringe which I use to top up the cartidge on my pens which don't have converters.
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: I work in a role where pretty much my entire working life is spent using a mouse and keyboard.
I have the odd occasion to scribble stuff down and one of the things I'm making a conscious effort to do next year is to be more organised and to try to write in a more structured manner, by hand.
How many of you use a fountain pen?
There are loads of cheap ones out there so it's not about what to buy and more about the practicalities as most of my memories of fountain pens involve black fingers or some kind of explosion in my school bag.
I used to use a fountain pen every day to sign letters and cheques at my company.... I now very rarely write anything. I have a lovely Parker 51 and a Duofold Centennial sitting idly.I have the odd occasion to scribble stuff down and one of the things I'm making a conscious effort to do next year is to be more organised and to try to write in a more structured manner, by hand.
How many of you use a fountain pen?
There are loads of cheap ones out there so it's not about what to buy and more about the practicalities as most of my memories of fountain pens involve black fingers or some kind of explosion in my school bag.
Pints said:
When I were a lad, rather than mucking about with converters and such, I preferred to just refill the disposable cartridge.
Our neighbour was a nurse and kindly provided me with a syringe and needle (none of this blunt stuff, I'm talking about a proper stick-it-in-your-veins type needle) with which I could refill my cartridge.
Even now I still have a syringe which I use to top up the cartidge on my pens which don't have converters.
I've not done it with a syringe - not knowing any nurses as a teenager, I wouldn't have been able to get one - but as a schoolboy I did used to use a pen with a converter to refill disposable cartidges from another pen, by simply sticking the nib inside the top of the cartidge and letting the ink out of the converter. It took a while for each one though as you cannot get much ink in at a time due to the ball bearing thingy. The trick is to push it out of the way with the nib.Our neighbour was a nurse and kindly provided me with a syringe and needle (none of this blunt stuff, I'm talking about a proper stick-it-in-your-veins type needle) with which I could refill my cartridge.
Even now I still have a syringe which I use to top up the cartidge on my pens which don't have converters.
This was not only useful for some of my own pens but at my secondary school (where fountain pens were still 'preferred' though not compulsory) I used to charge other kids a paltry sum to put some ink in their own cartridges when they'd forgotten to bring a spare (surprisingly common and I could actually have made a tidy sum out of this had I been more entrepreneurial). You needed to have a very steady hand though, which I didn't always have, so the deal with someone else's pen would be that they held the cartridge steady while I deposited the ink...meaning their fingers got the brunt end of it if I 'missed' when releasing the ink. Trying to do my own was even worse since I only had one spare hand to hold the cartridge with, some interesting 'accidents' trying to do that.....
Looking back I don't really know whay I didn't simply buy more spare cartridges.....would have been easier and less messy. I think at that age I just enjoyed the fiddling about and the general messiness it created. Hmmm.
Just ordered a fist full of x750's
to go with my Zebra g nibs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP29N5lgEwk
http://imgur.com/a/gMzcf
Cant wait to try this out!
to go with my Zebra g nibs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP29N5lgEwk
http://imgur.com/a/gMzcf
Cant wait to try this out!
Edited by SystemParanoia on Thursday 5th January 09:58
This thread has inspired me to search out our old fountain pens from a box of old stationery in the garage
At the top is a Waterman which I bought for Mrs Underwhelmist years ago, which writes beautifully. Below that there's a Platignum, this doesn't write smoothly as the Waterman but maybe that's to be expected as it's a much cheaper pen. Also I don't really get on with the size of the grip, it's a really fat pen. Finally there's an unbranded pen which Mrs U bought years ago in Canada, I can't get this one working so I'll try cleaning it.
These have been in storage for years so it took a while to get them (well two of them) working. I'm glad I did because as others have said I'm finding writing with them to be very satisfying. I think I'm going to start using the Waterman as my regular pen - she had her chance!
Incidentally I also found one of those micro-cassette recorders for dictation/note-taking in the same box, that seems more retro than the fountain pens!
At the top is a Waterman which I bought for Mrs Underwhelmist years ago, which writes beautifully. Below that there's a Platignum, this doesn't write smoothly as the Waterman but maybe that's to be expected as it's a much cheaper pen. Also I don't really get on with the size of the grip, it's a really fat pen. Finally there's an unbranded pen which Mrs U bought years ago in Canada, I can't get this one working so I'll try cleaning it.
These have been in storage for years so it took a while to get them (well two of them) working. I'm glad I did because as others have said I'm finding writing with them to be very satisfying. I think I'm going to start using the Waterman as my regular pen - she had her chance!
Incidentally I also found one of those micro-cassette recorders for dictation/note-taking in the same box, that seems more retro than the fountain pens!
cv01jw said:
I am regarded as a nutter in the office because I use fountain pens.
Me too - I've used Rotring ArtPens for years just because they are so nicely balanced and comfortable to hold for me. I am liking using my Jinhao X750 and 159 at the moment though. The X750 is filled with Diamine Eclipse (kind of dark grey-green) and the 159 is filled with Diamine Imperial Blue. Both the Jinhaos are pretty "wet" but the nibs are remarkably smooth given how cheap they were - it's a shame that the 750 and 159 models ONLY come with medium nibs as I would prefer something slightly finer. I have also just (this morning!) bought a Sailor 1911 which should be winging its way over from Japan shortly foreright said:
Me too - I've used Rotring ArtPens for years just because they are so nicely balanced and comfortable to hold for me. I am liking using my Jinhao X750 and 159 at the moment though. The X750 is filled with Diamine Eclipse (kind of dark grey-green) and the 159 is filled with Diamine Imperial Blue. Both the Jinhaos are pretty "wet" but the nibs are remarkably smooth given how cheap they were - it's a shame that the 750 and 159 models ONLY come with medium nibs as I would prefer something slightly finer. I have also just (this morning!) bought a Sailor 1911 which should be winging its way over from Japan shortly
the x750 uses a #6 size nib.Knox nibs are said to fit them well. available in Fine and Extra Fine.
SystemParanoia said:
the x750 uses a #6 size nib.
Knox nibs are said to fit them well. available in Fine and Extra Fine.
Yup I was aware of that - there's a few sources for JoWo and Bock #6 nibs which are said to fit also. I might go down that route depending on how I get on with the Sailor when it arrives!Knox nibs are said to fit them well. available in Fine and Extra Fine.
I do like the Kaweco AL/BRASS Sport ( i like my pens metal )
but i just cant stomach the price for a bit of frivolity.
It would make a perfect pen to always have on me though.
http://www.nibandink.com/pens/2016/6/16/review-kaw...
but i just cant stomach the price for a bit of frivolity.
It would make a perfect pen to always have on me though.
http://www.nibandink.com/pens/2016/6/16/review-kaw...
Edited by SystemParanoia on Thursday 5th January 09:35
Wonderful thread !
Have use them for 25 years. Bought the traditional M-B fountain as a reward to myself for getting a new job, and never looked back. Use them all day long, and the piston lasts around a week.
Preferred pens are the Cross ones.
My tip is to get a pen with a gold nib rather than a stainless steel one, as the pen glides more across the page.
Inks - Mont Blanc ink is great, the Corn Poppy is fabulous. Pelikan ink is also great. My regular is purple, as used by the late Pope John Paul II :-) Also have the Turquoise, which I use with a Lamy wide nib for writing birthday cards with a nice stroke.
Will have to look at the other brands mentioned here....some look great.
.
Have use them for 25 years. Bought the traditional M-B fountain as a reward to myself for getting a new job, and never looked back. Use them all day long, and the piston lasts around a week.
Preferred pens are the Cross ones.
My tip is to get a pen with a gold nib rather than a stainless steel one, as the pen glides more across the page.
Inks - Mont Blanc ink is great, the Corn Poppy is fabulous. Pelikan ink is also great. My regular is purple, as used by the late Pope John Paul II :-) Also have the Turquoise, which I use with a Lamy wide nib for writing birthday cards with a nice stroke.
Will have to look at the other brands mentioned here....some look great.
.
Left Handed and always write with a fountain pen, I don't write much these days but use it for my work scribbling notes, Its a Water man that cost me about £50 2 years ago writes perfectly for me.
As for the left handed thing, I learnt a long while a go to turn the paper 90 degrees so i write from top to bottom of the page therefore never smudge, people do look at me oddly when I'm asked to sign anything and i turn the form but ho ho at least i don't end up with ink all over me.
As for the left handed thing, I learnt a long while a go to turn the paper 90 degrees so i write from top to bottom of the page therefore never smudge, people do look at me oddly when I'm asked to sign anything and i turn the form but ho ho at least i don't end up with ink all over me.
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