Do you use a fountain pen?
Discussion
Your handwriting is a lot better than many pen experts that I have seen, including experts who post on youtube.
Lamy makes great pens, well designed and not a lot of money, will last for years. You know that if you wanted to put a different width nib in the pen its a very easy swap, I think new nibs are about £5.
Not sure of your pen knowledge but are you aware that you can only use Lamy cartridges or Lamy converters?
Hope you enjoy the pen.
Lamy makes great pens, well designed and not a lot of money, will last for years. You know that if you wanted to put a different width nib in the pen its a very easy swap, I think new nibs are about £5.
Not sure of your pen knowledge but are you aware that you can only use Lamy cartridges or Lamy converters?
Hope you enjoy the pen.
Jim the Sunderer said:
Yes I've got a converter in it.
It's probably better value for money than using cartridges unless you need to rapidly reload the thing.
A converter also gives you a choice of ink, colour and quality. Less plastic waste too.It's probably better value for money than using cartridges unless you need to rapidly reload the thing.
I bought my first Lamy in 1980, they were sold in art and design shops in those days as something modern and stylish, they are still very different from anything else you can buy.
Back when I was a student and used to write a lot I had some Parker fountain pens. I’ve done a bit of Googling and it seems I had a Parker 25, and a Parker 88. I recently found one of my old 88s which had sat unused for something like 20 years. I flushed it out with water and put a new cartridge in, but since then it hasn’t worked like it used to, the ink seems to dry up quickly, and even when I’m writing it seems very patchy.
I figured a modern replacement was needed and have ordered a Lamy Al Star. It’s a bit late to ask for advice, but is the Al Star a decent pen?
It’ll be used at work so I don’t want something expensive (there’s a decent chance I’ll leave it somewhere or drop it), but I’m looking forward to seeing how I get on with it.
I figured a modern replacement was needed and have ordered a Lamy Al Star. It’s a bit late to ask for advice, but is the Al Star a decent pen?
It’ll be used at work so I don’t want something expensive (there’s a decent chance I’ll leave it somewhere or drop it), but I’m looking forward to seeing how I get on with it.
Debaser said:
Back when I was a student and used to write a lot I had some Parker fountain pens. I’ve done a bit of Googling and it seems I had a Parker 25, and a Parker 88. I recently found one of my old 88s which had sat unused for something like 20 years. I flushed it out with water and put a new cartridge in, but since then it hasn’t worked like it used to, the ink seems to dry up quickly, and even when I’m writing it seems very patchy.
I figured a modern replacement was needed and have ordered a Lamy Al Star. It’s a bit late to ask for advice, but is the Al Star a decent pen?
It’ll be used at work so I don’t want something expensive (there’s a decent chance I’ll leave it somewhere or drop it), but I’m looking forward to seeing how I get on with it.
Lamy are great, and super easy to swap out nibs. I figured a modern replacement was needed and have ordered a Lamy Al Star. It’s a bit late to ask for advice, but is the Al Star a decent pen?
It’ll be used at work so I don’t want something expensive (there’s a decent chance I’ll leave it somewhere or drop it), but I’m looking forward to seeing how I get on with it.
The alstar is a nice pen - I found it a little 'cold' in the hand, but not as a bad thing. Just different to the resin pens I have.
Enjoy!
blueg33 said:
Lockdown has meant am using my limited edition Pelikan Chicago more. I had stopped using it for work as I was worried about leaving on a train or in a hotel, or even breaking it as the travel case is a soft one and my overnight bag gets a bit rammed.
Odd you say this as, I’ve found with WFH exclusively im using my james dean montblanc daily and I’d somewhat forgotten how wonderful it is to use!There are some leather cigar cases on ebay that use stiff leather and will give good protection. It looks like they are inflation proof too, people want old cigar cases and maybe they will want these in the future.
The Lamy Al Star is a good pen, some people may find it to be a bit big. remember to only use Lamy cartridges or Lamy converters.
If you can find Lamy green ink buy it.
The Lamy Al Star is a good pen, some people may find it to be a bit big. remember to only use Lamy cartridges or Lamy converters.
If you can find Lamy green ink buy it.
I've had my bargain-basement £30 TWSBI Eco for nearly 12 months now and really enjoyed using it. My wife calls it the 'card pen' because we both use it for writing cards as the end result just looks so much nicer than a biro/ball pen.
I use it as often as I can now and I think my handwriting has improved as a result. Clearly it isn't as convenient as quickly grabbing and scribbling with a click on/off ballpoint, but it's really nice to use.
Had to sign some legal documents this week, and there was something quite satisfying about using a nice fountain pen when doing it.
I've only tried Waterman 'Serenity Blue' ink with it, and I have no doubt this one 50ml pot will last a long time, but I love the colour.
Very pleased with the pen and I highly recommended it.
I don't think I will be buying anything expensive anytime soon, but the Eco has made me enjoy using fountain pens, so I'm now tempted by other 'nicer' pens
It's a world away from the horrible experience at school of using a cheap scratchy fountain pen with constantly exploding ink cartridges.
I use it as often as I can now and I think my handwriting has improved as a result. Clearly it isn't as convenient as quickly grabbing and scribbling with a click on/off ballpoint, but it's really nice to use.
Had to sign some legal documents this week, and there was something quite satisfying about using a nice fountain pen when doing it.
I've only tried Waterman 'Serenity Blue' ink with it, and I have no doubt this one 50ml pot will last a long time, but I love the colour.
Very pleased with the pen and I highly recommended it.
I don't think I will be buying anything expensive anytime soon, but the Eco has made me enjoy using fountain pens, so I'm now tempted by other 'nicer' pens
It's a world away from the horrible experience at school of using a cheap scratchy fountain pen with constantly exploding ink cartridges.
Lord Marylebone said:
I've had my bargain-basement £30 TWSBI Eco for nearly 12 months now and really enjoyed using it. My wife calls it the 'card pen' because we both use it for writing cards as the end result just looks so much nicer than a biro/ball pen.
I use it as often as I can now and I think my handwriting has improved as a result. Clearly it isn't as convenient as quickly grabbing and scribbling with a click on/off ballpoint, but it's really nice to use.
Had to sign some legal documents this week, and there was something quite satisfying about using a nice fountain pen when doing it.
I've only tried Waterman 'Serenity Blue' ink with it, and I have no doubt this one 50ml pot will last a long time, but I love the colour.
Very pleased with the pen and I highly recommended it.
I don't think I will be buying anything expensive anytime soon, but the Eco has made me enjoy using fountain pens, so I'm now tempted by other 'nicer' pens
It's a world away from the horrible experience at school of using a cheap scratchy fountain pen with constantly exploding ink cartridges.
There is a pleasure in taking the time to write well and people take notice, they say to me how nice to see a proper pen, usually followed up by how they miss having letters from their family and friends.I use it as often as I can now and I think my handwriting has improved as a result. Clearly it isn't as convenient as quickly grabbing and scribbling with a click on/off ballpoint, but it's really nice to use.
Had to sign some legal documents this week, and there was something quite satisfying about using a nice fountain pen when doing it.
I've only tried Waterman 'Serenity Blue' ink with it, and I have no doubt this one 50ml pot will last a long time, but I love the colour.
Very pleased with the pen and I highly recommended it.
I don't think I will be buying anything expensive anytime soon, but the Eco has made me enjoy using fountain pens, so I'm now tempted by other 'nicer' pens
It's a world away from the horrible experience at school of using a cheap scratchy fountain pen with constantly exploding ink cartridges.
BT Summers said:
There is a pleasure in taking the time to write well and people take notice, they say to me how nice to see a proper pen, usually followed up by how they miss having letters from their family and friends.
We usually receive Christmas/birthday cards etc from a friend of my parents, and you can always tell they use a fountain pen to write their cards, and it looks so much nicer.So yes, people do notice.
Lord Marylebone said:
I've had my bargain-basement £30 TWSBI Eco for nearly 12 months now and really enjoyed using it.
.
Jinhao pens are nice..
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/4026812132
alorotom said:
blueg33 said:
Lockdown has meant am using my limited edition Pelikan Chicago more. I had stopped using it for work as I was worried about leaving on a train or in a hotel, or even breaking it as the travel case is a soft one and my overnight bag gets a bit rammed.
Odd you say this as, I’ve found with WFH exclusively im using my james dean montblanc daily and I’d somewhat forgotten how wonderful it is to use!For ages, I had a proper guilt for it - bought at LHR for a stonking price, but I already had a nice Parker Duofold international that wasn't too expensive but already more pen than I needed when there's such great pens from Lamy/TWSBI/etc.
However, it's worth it.
Everytime I'm in a meeting (whether in the office or on Skype) and need to make notes, it's just pleasant unscrewing the cap and writing with it.
Need a William Hannah A5 notebook though - that's the next stationary based indulgence.
Sway said:
My work was fairly 'forgiving', so I've always used my JFK Montblanc since buying it.
For ages, I had a proper guilt for it - bought at LHR for a stonking price, but I already had a nice Parker Duofold international that wasn't too expensive but already more pen than I needed when there's such great pens from Lamy/TWSBI/etc.
However, it's worth it.
Everytime I'm in a meeting (whether in the office or on Skype) and need to make notes, it's just pleasant unscrewing the cap and writing with it.
Need a William Hannah A5 notebook though - that's the next stationary based indulgence.
Are we starting on notebooks now? Please say yes For ages, I had a proper guilt for it - bought at LHR for a stonking price, but I already had a nice Parker Duofold international that wasn't too expensive but already more pen than I needed when there's such great pens from Lamy/TWSBI/etc.
However, it's worth it.
Everytime I'm in a meeting (whether in the office or on Skype) and need to make notes, it's just pleasant unscrewing the cap and writing with it.
Need a William Hannah A5 notebook though - that's the next stationary based indulgence.
All my A4 pads are pretty bod standard office stuff, but when I’m sat in meetings I take an A5 notebook to write in.
A Concord Noir Flexi A5 is my choice.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Concord-Noir-Flexi-Notebo...
With the caveat that I knew where I worked was safe, plus I always kept the pens near/with me, I one day realised the pens I had with me were worth more than all of the laptops in the same meeting room \00/ - though I think the two MBs mentioned before individually may be worth more than any single one of my pens (not sure though).
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff