I've thought about trying fountain pens several times over the years, but never made the leap. I love the feeling of a good pen, and your argument is pretty persuasive. I've just ordered a Lamy Safari, as well as a variety (ink color) pack of Varsities, a converter for the Safari, and some black Noodler ink. Can't wait to try it all out.
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An Intro to Fountain Pens
- Thread starter Bagels
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Get a Safari with either an EF or F nib. Finer nibs need more care when writing - they arn't forgiving. (With a Safari if you bugger it you'll only lose £20.) If you get on well with the Safari but want even more of a fine line try a Japanese fine or extra-fine nib - Sailor, Platinum, Pilot - see what tickles your fancy at Cult Pens and The Writing Desk.
NB: Your handwriting isn't italic. Using 'italic' I think you mean sloped...?
If an FP is all rather alien to you check out Fountain Pen 101 from the Goulets: http://www.gouletpens.com/Fountain_Pen_101_s/1135.htm
Dr_Boris_Goltz
Banned
This thread is tragically limited in terms of hypnotic videos of fountain pen use.
lastflowers
Banned
why oh why did you make this thread? I'm going to have to give fountain pens another go. Tried for a while back in high-school and futzed it up.
LaserBuddha
Member
Is there any real difference between the Lamy Safari and Al-Star other than a plastic body vs an aluminum one?
Thinking of picking this up as a starting point (store is local): http://www.apenloversparadise.com/products/products.asp?product=3868&cat=564
Also is there something that makes the Studio better other than the body?
Thinking of picking this up as a starting point (store is local): http://www.apenloversparadise.com/products/products.asp?product=3868&cat=564
Also is there something that makes the Studio better other than the body?
The Al-star is a tiny-tiny bit bigger - talking 1 mm. A little heavier too.
The Safari, Al-star and Studio all share the same nib - the Studio has a little better fit-and-finish. (There are Studio models with 14k nibs.)
Parker's been destroyed, though. Just the name remains, a shell. RIP Parker. :|
Snytbaggen
Member
Is there a fountain pen with a flexible nib that isn't expensive as fuck?
Noodler's make some economical flex pens. There's the second-hand market, too.
Alright I'll get myself on a basic Safari with a F nib and see how I get on.
Well isn't that what an Italic type is? A sloped cursive typeface? I mean the text isn't just slanted, I do use a lot of "flowery" forms for certain letters. I mean....I could be talking a load of bollocks
Well isn't that what an Italic type is? A sloped cursive typeface? I mean the text isn't just slanted, I do use a lot of "flowery" forms for certain letters. I mean....I could be talking a load of bollocks
(We'll leave the history and matters related to type.) 'Italic' is used to refer to hands written with stub and italic nibs that are in the style of the original italic hands from the Renaissance. If you went to a shop and asked for a nib suitable for italic you'd be given a nib that'd look like it had its point snipped off. Check out this for information re nib styles: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/nibs/primer.htm
What a fabulous thread! Thanks OP.
I've had the pleasure of using a fountain pen on and off for years -- it wasn't until I restored my favorite fountain pen that I discovered wonderful resources online that assisted in bringing me back into the hobby.
First I'd like to pass on my two favorite resources for fountain pens -- both run by the same guy: Ink Nouveau and Goulet Pens. The latter is an online store, and the former, a blog/vlog. He's as unbiased as it comes with the products -- mostly because he chooses to carry products that he himself has tested and enjoys. He's well known within the Fountain Pen scene (yes, there is a scene) and has provided VOLUMES of videos and articles on fountain pens. A GREAT place to learn about the pen itself, how it works, etc. etc. etc.
One of the reasons I got back into the hobby was because I discovered the importance of paper. It sounds silly -- but paper quality was just not something I had thought about before. It wasn't until I stumbled upon these websites that I discovered the difference. The only logical next step was to try out some of the paper myself. This, of course, got me into purchasing different types of pens, inks, inkwells, journals........ yes it gets addicting.
You can literally spend hours upon hours on both of these sites. Believe me. It's happened.
Couple of my additional notes to add to this thread:
1. I don't want to discourage anyone -- but my writing has definitely NOT improved since moving back to FPs! I think it's because I am not patient. All my fault.
2. Different colors are fun -- but if you have clammy hands like I do -- I recommend using "waterproof" or "bulletproof" inks. Noodlers makes a GREAT variety of "bulletproof" inks. Careful tho -- Noodlers is known to act differently in different type of pens (Baystate Blue actually BROKE my Lamy Samfari nib. Long story).
3. Paper. Paper. Paper. Invest in some good paper to get the most out of your writing experience. Right now, my favorite is Rhodia's varieties. Some of the journals are fairly pricey -- but the writing pads can be found at decent prices. Try the above link or, even, Amazon.com.
4. Someone in the thread said it best -- Writing is therapeutic. The joy of writing is most apparent through the use of a fountain pen.
5. Don't get discouraged if the pen isn't working properly the first time you start writing with it. There is a learning curve. Fountain pens are tricky. Part of the hobby is caring for the pen properly. A fountain pen is not just a pen -- it's an instrument of writing.
Anywho -- just some quick notes on my end! I hope some of you pick this up!
I've had the pleasure of using a fountain pen on and off for years -- it wasn't until I restored my favorite fountain pen that I discovered wonderful resources online that assisted in bringing me back into the hobby.
First I'd like to pass on my two favorite resources for fountain pens -- both run by the same guy: Ink Nouveau and Goulet Pens. The latter is an online store, and the former, a blog/vlog. He's as unbiased as it comes with the products -- mostly because he chooses to carry products that he himself has tested and enjoys. He's well known within the Fountain Pen scene (yes, there is a scene) and has provided VOLUMES of videos and articles on fountain pens. A GREAT place to learn about the pen itself, how it works, etc. etc. etc.
One of the reasons I got back into the hobby was because I discovered the importance of paper. It sounds silly -- but paper quality was just not something I had thought about before. It wasn't until I stumbled upon these websites that I discovered the difference. The only logical next step was to try out some of the paper myself. This, of course, got me into purchasing different types of pens, inks, inkwells, journals........ yes it gets addicting.
You can literally spend hours upon hours on both of these sites. Believe me. It's happened.
Couple of my additional notes to add to this thread:
1. I don't want to discourage anyone -- but my writing has definitely NOT improved since moving back to FPs! I think it's because I am not patient. All my fault.
2. Different colors are fun -- but if you have clammy hands like I do -- I recommend using "waterproof" or "bulletproof" inks. Noodlers makes a GREAT variety of "bulletproof" inks. Careful tho -- Noodlers is known to act differently in different type of pens (Baystate Blue actually BROKE my Lamy Samfari nib. Long story).
3. Paper. Paper. Paper. Invest in some good paper to get the most out of your writing experience. Right now, my favorite is Rhodia's varieties. Some of the journals are fairly pricey -- but the writing pads can be found at decent prices. Try the above link or, even, Amazon.com.
4. Someone in the thread said it best -- Writing is therapeutic. The joy of writing is most apparent through the use of a fountain pen.
5. Don't get discouraged if the pen isn't working properly the first time you start writing with it. There is a learning curve. Fountain pens are tricky. Part of the hobby is caring for the pen properly. A fountain pen is not just a pen -- it's an instrument of writing.
Anywho -- just some quick notes on my end! I hope some of you pick this up!
PaulExcellent
Member
I love GAF because of threads like these.
Freaking awesome. Ordered a Pilot Petit to try it out.
Freaking awesome. Ordered a Pilot Petit to try it out.
That's the Elite BLX? I notice the caps are different than the regular Elite series.
Seems very interesting!
BLX ink, black ink infused with color. Differentiate yourself with deep, rich business colors
Ordering some pens on the company dime :hehe:
OfficeDepot doesn't have the BLX seires
outs:Edit: Yes they do. Going to order an assorted color pack of the Elite and Elite BLX.
I will say that paper makes a difference, too. The composition books that you posted in your photo might not be the best. There's plenty to say about paper, but for now I'll just say that I'm always happy with Rhodia products. Their version of the standard Moleskine notebook, the Webnotebook, is better in every way.
You don't need to spend a fortune on paper (I have a nice collection of Moleskine-like notebooks of all kinds - for journals, sketchbooks, etc. - and it's ridiculous how much you can spend on dead trees), but just avoiding the cheapest options will get you places.
I'm both flattered and horrified to find that people are reading these things and ACTUALLY BUYING PENS AND PENCILS! Gah!
The pressure is on for a mechanical pencils thread for the ages!
*goes back to furiously drawing cartoon bagels*
And yes, they're obviously bagels. Why would I draw a talking cartoon donut? That's ridiculous.
Sorry for the double post, but I wanted to answer a few more questions and ask one of my own.
This hasn't been a problem for me. I carry a pocket reporter-style notebook that doubles as my wallet. And the G2 is also my got-to rollerball.
Fountain pen inks actually dry fairly quickly. I've never had them smear after drying, unless i spilled water on the page. The fountain pen writing in my journal (which gets carried around a lot) or pocket notebook is still as crisp as when I put it down.
You don't have any experience with a medium nib, do you? My Safari got stepped on a while back and is a goner. True to my own thread, I now *need* a new one. The old one had an M nib, but I can't for the life of me remember if it was too inky. I'll probably go for an F nib, but if the M isn't too bad, I might go for that. Hmmm...
Thanks for the tips! Excellent stuff! Of my three threads on pens and pencils, this was the one I was least sure of. It's nice to have people with more experience with nice pens stop by to offer some thoughts!
This hasn't been a problem for me. I carry a pocket reporter-style notebook that doubles as my wallet. And the G2 is also my got-to rollerball.
Fountain pen inks actually dry fairly quickly. I've never had them smear after drying, unless i spilled water on the page. The fountain pen writing in my journal (which gets carried around a lot) or pocket notebook is still as crisp as when I put it down.
You don't have any experience with a medium nib, do you? My Safari got stepped on a while back and is a goner. True to my own thread, I now *need* a new one. The old one had an M nib, but I can't for the life of me remember if it was too inky. I'll probably go for an F nib, but if the M isn't too bad, I might go for that. Hmmm...
Thanks for the tips! Excellent stuff! Of my three threads on pens and pencils, this was the one I was least sure of. It's nice to have people with more experience with nice pens stop by to offer some thoughts!
I have a tendency not to listen even when I ask for help. Now I know I was suggested a Lamy Safari F nib and I will probably get one......but I've been looking at:
Pilot Prera Clear Body Fountain Pen - Fine Nib.
I wanted something with a bit of aesthetic to it but I'm not sure how good the pen is.
Pilot Prera Clear Body Fountain Pen - Fine Nib.
I wanted something with a bit of aesthetic to it but I'm not sure how good the pen is.
Not counting the one I used in elementary school 15 years ago, yes. Quite an easy choice when it is by far the cheapest one I could find in any of the Dutch (web)shops.
Prera via Goulet Pens.
Prera via SBRE Brown YouTube Review.
You will be SHOCKED at the amount of information there is about fountain pens on the net. It's a very dedicated hobby and those that choose to contribute understand that each purchase can be a rather selective and meaningful one.
Thanks for that. I will watch properly when I get home from work (!!). However it does seem that the pen is fairly shorter than I imagined.
I think the Pilot Metropolitan (MR in EU and Austrialia, Cocoon in Japan) should be included as a recommended starter pen. It has a smooth nib (medium that is closer to fine) that is good for daily use, the body is metal, and includes a squeeze type converter. Actually under priced at $15 or so. Compare that with a $30 or so Lamy Safari that does not come with a converter ($5).
Terrible quality picture but clear enough to convey the subtle message
Lol, mine is going to be delivered tomorrow. I ended up getting a fine nib with the charcoal body, which one is that?
For the time being, really enjoying the Pilot Varsity.
I remain a great fan of the world's most average fountain pen... A Parker pen...
We had to pick this or an Osmiroid at school. My mum got me an osmiroid...it was plastic, and the nib was too wide. I switched to just cheap disposable pens eventually....but one day I decided to go back to fountain pens because they help my handwriting and I tend, weirdly, to remember things more when I write them with a fountain pen. I went and got a parker and it's amazing how people who would otherwise nick your pens will always return a fountain pen after use....
We had to pick this or an Osmiroid at school. My mum got me an osmiroid...it was plastic, and the nib was too wide. I switched to just cheap disposable pens eventually....but one day I decided to go back to fountain pens because they help my handwriting and I tend, weirdly, to remember things more when I write them with a fountain pen. I went and got a parker and it's amazing how people who would otherwise nick your pens will always return a fountain pen after use....
Go for an F. The M is now the old MK: a more forgiving nib, aimed at those who have progressed from the A. Try the Goulet's Nib Nook: http://www.gouletpens.com/Nib_Nook_s/1114.htm
The Prera's F nib is comparable to the Safari's EF. Pilot nibs, both gold and steel, are lovely! Pilots all-round are excellent pens. Excellent quality control - never had a dud.
It's funny you're asking about the Prera: I've one set to arrive tomorrow! I'll try to get a little review and comparison up ASAP.
Someone earlier said they'd like to use an FP but they don't have anything to write... start journaling or get some penpals! Here's my box of letters:
Better than bills, eh?
I would think writing on Postcards with FPs could be a BIGGG problem. I'd go crazy seeing a ton of feathering!
Great hobby tho. My girlfriend was a part of a Postcard collection website that had her writing Postcards all over the world. She ended up gathering quite the collection. People really get into it and it seems to be a lot of fun. Being surprised with a new country's postcard in the mailbox became something to look forward to daily.
Great hobby tho. My girlfriend was a part of a Postcard collection website that had her writing Postcards all over the world. She ended up gathering quite the collection. People really get into it and it seems to be a lot of fun. Being surprised with a new country's postcard in the mailbox became something to look forward to daily.
So one of my students asked to borrow a pen this morning. Usually I hate lending out my pens/pencils, because they'll inevitable be lost, chewed on, or thrown at someone (12 year olds, ugh).
But I saw a golden opportunity...
Handed him my Pilot Varsity, then winked at a few other students at that table.
The confused look on his face when he took the cap down and lowered it to write was priceless
Everyone then took turns at the table
writing with it and asking me where they could get one.
And the Safari came in today and is excellent,
Thanks again, Bagels!!
But I saw a golden opportunity...
Handed him my Pilot Varsity, then winked at a few other students at that table.
The confused look on his face when he took the cap down and lowered it to write was priceless
Everyone then took turns at the table
instead of doing work...
And the Safari came in today and is excellent,
Thanks again, Bagels!!
My wallet's still pissed though :/
Phobophile
A scientist and gentleman in the manner of Batman.
This thread inspired me to impulse buy a pack of Pilot Varsitys at Staples. Unfortunately they only came in 3-packs with blue (vile) and purple (contemptible) inks in addition to black. I write in cursive so I can't wait to try these out.
They also had some BIC disposable fountain pens but I was dubious of their quality.
They also had some BIC disposable fountain pens but I was dubious of their quality.
DJ_Lae
Member
Staples here only carried the Bic fountain pens (other than a few expensive models) but I didn't buy them as I wasn't sure of the quality. They were cheaper, though - $6 for two vs the $4.50 per V-pen I found.
The V-pens definitely seem to be Varsities with a different name. Got black for myself and a purple for my wife. They also carried green, red, blue, and pink.
I like it so far though I'm not finding it any smoother than some of the gel pens I own. It certainly looks cooler, though.
The V-pens definitely seem to be Varsities with a different name. Got black for myself and a purple for my wife. They also carried green, red, blue, and pink.
I like it so far though I'm not finding it any smoother than some of the gel pens I own. It certainly looks cooler, though.
baxter2231
Member
A no go for lefties.
Spectrum128
Member
That's untrue with all due respect. Left handed here, and not a problem. Depends how you are most comfortable holding a pen.
This is written on some of the worst paper I have, and it still felt great. The included ink isn't quite as light as it appears here, but it's still on the light side. When I find a blue I really like, it'll be perfect.
The F nib is really, really smooth. My old M nib version was not actually this nice.
For people who have had trouble writing with a fountain pen, I hold my pen at a very shallow angle, which undoubtedly helps. I went ahead and tried the Safari at 30-90 degrees. It still writes smoothly at 90 degrees.
adamsappel
Member
I found a Rotring Rapidograph F .70 pen that was my mother's. I know she had a large collection of them, so I'll keep looking. I ordered some new ink cartridges for it from jetpens.
beat
Member
Yeah, I'll second the Noodler's recommendation.
Or really, I already mentioned this on the first page, but whatever.
Got my first TWSBI this week:
A very nice pen, indeed. Would be even better if the barrel had a little more weight, though.
I picked up this mini recently to get back into using fountain pens, also using it when writing notes at work and endorsing drug charts. The last time I used one was probably when I was around 11 years old, really liking it so far.
It's a Kaweco pen commissioned by Cult Pens. http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Cult-Pens-Mini-Fountain-Pen.html
It's a Kaweco pen commissioned by Cult Pens. http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Cult-Pens-Mini-Fountain-Pen.html
I really like the look of that! I have a pilot that has a similar idea where it's only full sized when the cap is posted, and it's great.
I just got a couple of Sailor pens (cough not because this thread reminded me I wanted them or anything cough) so I'll try to see if I can do a little writing test later. Now that I have the music nib and zoom nib I am on pen-shopping lockdown for the foreseeable future.
Except during the first couple of years in primary school when we had to buy Lamy pens I never paid much attention to the pens I used to write my notes with. I would just take the next pen or buy those cheap 50c ones. Only once did I convince myself to invest in a proper writing utensil and I bought myself a Parker pen which I soon lost though. But whatevs back to the 50c pen I thought.
But this thread has made me think that I should probably invest in a proper pen. I don't take that many notes anymore, but I still have to write exams. Fountain pens themselves are probably not suited for exams though. First, I'm not used to them and second I don't think you can write really quickly with them. And time is of essence during an exam.
But still, I want a proper pen now. So in that regard I would say thanks OP.
But this thread has made me think that I should probably invest in a proper pen. I don't take that many notes anymore, but I still have to write exams. Fountain pens themselves are probably not suited for exams though. First, I'm not used to them and second I don't think you can write really quickly with them. And time is of essence during an exam.
But still, I want a proper pen now. So in that regard I would say thanks OP.
Running with a TWSBI and a few (surprisingly decent) chinese pens.
I was using noodlers ink for awhile but they really like to fill up their bottles and I ended up ruining one of my favourite at-home shirts. Not as good but I'm just going with parker's quink for now.
You certaintly can write fast with them but it depends on how quick drying the ink is. I'd invest in a good ballpoint for your case though, you can't really leave FP's alone for a month or two and expect to write with them like nothing happened.
I was using noodlers ink for awhile but they really like to fill up their bottles and I ended up ruining one of my favourite at-home shirts
. Not as good but I'm just going with parker's quink for now. You certaintly can write fast with them but it depends on how quick drying the ink is. I'd invest in a good ballpoint for your case though, you can't really leave FP's alone for a month or two and expect to write with them like nothing happened.
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