A Platinum Century 3776 is very high on my wishlist! I don't have much experience with Platinum pens, but I want to get in there.
Under $70 on Amazon! Waiting for stuff to get here from Japan makes me sad, but you can't argue with the prices!
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Fountain Pens 2k16
- Thread starter Bagels
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A Platinum Century 3776 is very high on my wishlist! I don't have much experience with Platinum pens, but I want to get in there.
Under $70 on Amazon! Waiting for stuff to get here from Japan makes me sad, but you can't argue with the prices!
woo and indeed hoo
Banned
Even better! I'm all for supporting good local businesses.
I see. That's a shame. A poor initial impression can be tricky to overcome. I shall keep my fingers crossed for you though as it is certainly a handsome pen.
Now that's the sort of solution I like!
I have been eyeing up that very Platinum recently! With your helpful feedback and keen price it is rocketing up my pen wishlist as we speak! I might just have to treat myself to one in anticipation of some Christmas money from my father. If he gets me an actual present instead I'll just have to suffer the expense myself . I don't mind waiting if the price is that good. I'm currently awaiting a Pilot Prera from Japan that has just been shipped. I don't expect it before Christmas so if it gets here before the New Year that will be a nice surprise. I am looking forward to getting to grips with it's medium calligraphy nib though.Well you wouldn't want them to get jealous with you favouring just the one pen in lieu of the others would you?
Is that because you do lots of writing or because you like the variety?Pen and ink porn! Yay!
Oh, how do you like the Marine? I must say that I have a fondness for Diamine inks. They are inexpensive but decent quality and UK based so it feels good to support them. They may not be the most exciting inks out there but for a decent everyday ink I think they're a pretty good option.
A Vanishing Point too?! Not trying to keep up with the
I would be afeared of taking that out of the house. I don't with my Waterman but that's 99.9% due to my sentimental attachment to it rather than its intrinsic value. It is the best part of 30 years old though so I have no idea what it would be worth from a collector's point of view. I don't even know what the model is either. It's my only gold nib fountain pen and it cost £50-£60 IIRC but that was 27 [?] years ago so with inflation I would guess that an equivalent model would easily be £100+ nowadays. I will take it out of the house if I find a good pen shop who I can ask about it though!Right, I'm off to make some tea to then christen this TWSBI and Mojimi!
EDIT:
There is something to be said for delayed gratification Mister Bagels. A bit of a lost art these days, of course. I am old enough to remember when one had no option but to wait and that is if the option was even offered. However we live in a very different world now and I get caught up in it just as much as everyone else seems to. I like to think that increasing interest in 'old fashioned' pursuits like fountain pens, reading from a physical book, origami, colouring books etc are somewhat a reaction to the modern lifestyle, an attempt to slow down and live more in the moment. Speaking of which, new pen meet new ink, *smooch*.
RE-EDIT: Initial impressions on the TWSBI Diamond 580AL Pink & Pilot iroshizuku momiji are favourable. Once I worked out how to get the pen out of its case by removing its cute little retainers I was struck by how good it felt in my hand. It had a reassuring feeling of solidity and heft without being heavy. Of course I lived up to Bagel's credo and got ink everywhere. I mopped it up with a piece of kitchen paper and for a fleeting moment had a feeling of panic that I had cut myself!
It really is a lovely looking red though. My TWSBI now looks a bit like I've just given blood! It's just the sort of pen a mad scientist in a Resident Evil game would use. It doubles as a syringe so can be used to inject a pesky do-gooder with infected blood to turn them into a mutated puppet. You can have that idea for free Capcom . It writes beautifully smoothly too but I suspect that is partly due to the nib. I'm very glad I picked both up. The TWSBI looks very handsome amongst my other pens in their pen pot . Right, I'm off to write some more with my new pretty!It was a pen that was only on the periphery of my interest, and I bought it on a whim. I'm damned happy I did though!
It might be the cheapest gold-nib pen out there other than the PTL-5000A (also by Platinum), and it's good enough to be a flagship pen. I think the reason that the 3776 doesn't get as much attention as it deserves is because the description of it is on the order of "it's a gold nib, but it's also pretty stiff with a fair bit of feedback". That makes people question why get it for the gold nib at all when steel nibs can do the same thing. It's rather unfortunate because I find that it feels vastly superior to any of the steel nibs I've tried.Now that's the sort of solution I like!
It's mostly for the variety. I have three different pens I leave at work - a cheap Jinhao with X-Feather for crappy paper, a red-brown inked pen for logging messages, and another one with ink to contrast with the red-brown. I also bring another 2-3 from home depending on what I want to play with that day (usually it's a pen I want to empty so I can put a different ink in it). I rarely have any page with one color of ink on it!Well you wouldn't want them to get jealous with you favouring just the one pen in lieu of the others would you?
Diamine inks are fantastic! Marine is pretty and has nice shading, but the one Diamine ink everyone should try out is Majestic Blue. It's one of the most striking sheening inks out there, and it's dark enough that it's business-appropriate for most workplaces. It looks positively amazing on the proper paper.
For me pens are to be written with, so I wouldn't have any difficulty bringing any of my current pens to work. The Vanishing Point is so practical that I can't think of a pen that would be more convenient to use. It's been on my radar for a long time, and I just redirected my gaming funds (for games that I would probably never play) towards it instead. My other option would have been to save up for a Custom 823.A Vanishing Point too?! Not trying to keep up with theJonesesBagels, I hope?
woo and indeed hoo
Banned
I've just watched some Youtube videos for the 3776 and the PTL-5000A and both are seriously desirable. The latter is even cheaper on Amazon UK than the former. Both are gold nibs. How is this possible?!
Nice
.I almost went for the Majestic Blue but settled on the Sapphire Blue in this order.
I can't argue with that
. I haven't really bought any video games or board games for ages so getting into pens and inks is my current After reading up on the Custom 823 I can easily see why you would want to save up for it as it looks like a lovely pen.
The PTL-5000A is as cheap a gold-nibbed pen as you're going to find, but between the two, I'd go with the Century 3776. It's a much prettier pen, it has a wider section, and it has the slip and seal system (supposedly keeps your nib from drying for 2 years!) The PTL-5000A is worth looking at if you are okay with just any gold pen or if you're looking for a slimmer pen. However, the fact that Platinum can make such inexpensive pens at high quality indicates just how good the Japanese pen makers are.
I already have just about all the pens I really want. Other than the Custom 823, I'm just looking for a Lamy 2000 and a vintage Parker 51. Everything else is just something a bit better than what I already have: another Eco, another 3776, a President, a 1911 Large, a Custom 912 with a weird nib. I'm also interested in exploring some cheap Chinese pens, but they're never going to be a major investment.I can't argue with thathobbyobsession and I still have money left over for food!
After reading up on the Custom 823 I can easily see why you would want to save up for it as it looks like a lovely pen.
Part of the problem is that the entry-level gold pens are really good, and you can spend upwards of $800 for pens that don't write any better.
woo and indeed hoo
Banned
They both have their attractive qualities from my point of view and are cheap enough to justify both
. Mostly. The Goulet Pens video review of the PTL-5000A with the soft flexible nib really appeals to me. However, I've just bought the TWSBI and gone a bit mad on pens and inks recently so think it wouldn't hurt to calm down a bit and review the situation in the New Year. I've decided to give the two Herbin pens I don't like the nibs for a proper go to see if I can get them to write more smoothly. If I can't I'll just use up the ink in them and put them aside. Nature abhors a vacuum though so they might just get replaced!Incidentally I just looked at the Rakuten site you kindly linked me to. It's changed a lot since it used to be a UK games/DVD etc site!
at the prices though! Pity about import fees but that might not be something that is unnavigable. It's bookmarked for the next time I have a pen/ink splurge .I was telling my partner about your experience with the Parker knock-off, using that as an example of how one can fall afoul of cheap Chinese goods. I told him that they look great so photograph well for online shops and are so cheap one thinks it's worth a punt as it's only a few £ but then you get them and reality sets in. I had the same thing with a knock off Gamecube pad a few years ago. Looked perfect but the buttons were so clicky the sound drove me nuts. I gave it to a charity shop in a clear out. Only the other day however I had to strongly resist the temptation to pick up a Chinese pen that Amazon suggested, It was [allegedly] a bamboo pen in a bamboo case. It looked gorgeous but one of the reviews said it was bamboo painted onto metal :/. Now, I take all online reviews very sceptically but decided that discretion was the better part of valour or something.
Yes but the extra money goes on the design and materials or brand name. Fortunately I am not a fan of bling and would much rather have something simple and understated so $800 for a flash pen holds no attraction for me.
Oh and I keep forgetting to say that my order of syringes with blunt needles has arrived. Now no-one can accuse me of not being a proper pen nerd
.That may be a good general rule for cheap Chinese products, but it's not quite the case with the Hero 616. The problem with it was that the seal between the secton and the feed unit wasn't very good - a bit of silicone grease and a thicker ink, and my Hero 616 actually writes pretty well now. I'm a bit low on silicone grease right now otherwise I'd experiment more. Overall, the quality of Chinese pens (depending on brand) is pretty decent; just don't spend too much on any single one and you'll get lots of nifty pens!
Remember how I mentioned that Visconti pens can be questionable out of the box? Well, they often exchange that with exotic and cool materials and filing mechanisms. Their flagship pen is the Homo Sapiens, and it's got a fancy vacuum filler and its body is made with crushed volcanic rock! The big advantage of volcanic rock is that it's semi-porous so it'll actually take the sweat and oil away from your hand as you write.
If that sounds good to you, read on. There are two rather big problems with this - the first is that it sounds sort of gross having your expensive pen draw in all the guck from your body fluids. The bigger(!) problem is that being semi-porous works both ways so any ink that finds it's way into the section will drain out of the pen and onto your hand. So what you have to do is to pre-wet the section before you start writing with the pen. To cap it all off, because of the volcanic material and the filling mechanism, the Homo Sapiens only has a 1.5mL capacity while something like a TWSBI Eco holds 1.76mL. All this in a pen with an MSRP of $700 USD, and you can't even post it properly!
woo and indeed hoo
Banned
I'm glad your experience had a happy ending. You can have some of my TWSBI silicone grease if you like
.Ouch :/. I don't post most of the time but funnily enough that wasn't the deal breaker for me on this particular occasion.
It's almost 5 am here and I finally have a desk free from pussycats! I had both of them on here at one point. So a quick mug of tea and it's time to play with my new toys. I must get back to my handwriting practice though. My play yesterday re-iterated how sick I am of my current scrawl. The Momiji is such a delicious colour though
. I used it to add something to my to do/shopping list earlier and its colour just leapt of the cardboard, especially in contrast to the Diamine Jet Black [which I like] but wow, what a colour .EDIT: The more I use the momiji the more I love it!
I just finished a page of handwriting improvement exercises, looked up and saw all that lovely colour and felt a pan of my heart. So lovely.
Wow, now I want one too...
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
My Hobonichi and 3 J Herbin inks are waiting for my in the mail.
Only 2 more hours until I leave work!
Only 2 more hours until I leave work!
Ugh, fountain pen problems.
So I have a really nice FP that was put together by a local craftsman. I bought it a few years ago, and I really love the way it looks. But, I think something is wrong because when I'm writing with it, at first it will work fine but after a few words the ink starts skipping really bad. I've tried switching inks, hand position, and other things, but no success in fixing the problem. Any suggestions? I've cleaned the nib several times but that hasn't helped either. It's an iridium nib from Germany. I'll post pictures in case that helps.
So I have a really nice FP that was put together by a local craftsman. I bought it a few years ago, and I really love the way it looks. But, I think something is wrong because when I'm writing with it, at first it will work fine but after a few words the ink starts skipping really bad. I've tried switching inks, hand position, and other things, but no success in fixing the problem. Any suggestions? I've cleaned the nib several times but that hasn't helped either. It's an iridium nib from Germany. I'll post pictures in case that helps.
And just to show what the whole pen looks like...
It's a kit pen, and kit pens are notorious for having poor nibs. "Iridium Point" embossed on the nib is a sign that it's a Chinese nib with iridium tipping material - it's the iridium that comes from Germany. If you want a better writing experience, you can replace the nib; it looks like a #5, so they shouldn't be too hard to find.
There's also a chance that the feed is clogged. Try taking out the whole feed unit and cleaning the pen thoroughly. Pen flush is a great tool for cleaning pens, but a solution of 10% household ammonia and 90% water can do in a pinch. Just make sure that you keep the ammonia away from aluminum.
I...I feel violated. He said that he crafted all of it.
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
I...I feel violated. He said that he crafted all of it.
I am so sorry =(
In brighter news.... I just picked this up at the mail
To be fair, it's going to be very difficult for a craftsman to make his own nib and feed from scratch. These are precision parts that take a lot of expertise and specialized tools to make. Even major pen companies will buy their nibs (and often feeds) from someone else rather than build them in house.I...I feel violated. He said that he crafted all of it.
Kit pens are built from kits which include the section, the feed, and a cheap nib. Some craftsmen will exchange the nib for something a little nicer from Bock or Jowo, but most of them don't specialize in fountain pens so they don't know better. Most kit pens are built from the same kits so the design of the section is a pretty clear giveaway.
Your image is broken, but I'm curious - what'd you get?I am so sorry =(
In brighter news.... I just picked this up at the mail
Here's what the courier just delivered:
I'm surprised that it came in so quickly. I'm used to waiting 6 weeks for things to show up from Japan. Also, the clicking action is crazy addictive.
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
To be fair, it's going to be very difficult for a craftsman to make his own nib and feed from scratch. These are precision parts that take a lot of expertise and specialized tools to make. Even major pen companies will buy their nibs (and often feeds) from someone else rather than build them in house.
Kit pens are built from kits which include the section, the feed, and a cheap nib. Some craftsmen will exchange the nib for something a little nicer from Bock or Jowo, but most of them don't specialize in fountain pens so they don't know better. Most kit pens are built from the same kits so the design of the section is a pretty clear giveaway.
Your image is broken, but I'm curious - what'd you get?
Here's what the courier just delivered:
I'm surprised that it came in so quickly. I'm used to waiting 6 weeks for things to show up from Japan. Also, the clicking action is crazy addictive.
Yes!!! The Vanishing Point was my first dream pen and remains an absolute favorite. It looks great, feels super solid, writes beautifully, and the retractable nib makes it one of the most practical pens to actually carry around. I got mine in boring matte black (I gaze at all of the cool colors they offer when I am day dreaming about new pens), but it really sort of fits the functional character of the VP. There is this idea that fountain pens are fussy, fragile things, but the VP is a solid tool that can bang around at the bottom of your bag and it will be just fine.
If you enjoy pens enough that you are ready to invest in something really, really nice, I'd pick a Lamy 2000 or Pilot Vanishing Point. I might give the nod to the VP because the clicky action is so satisfying (although the filling mechanism of the 2000 is also really satisfying!). These are $150 pens, but you can snag them for $100 or less if you are patient. That's still a lot of money, but these are pens that will put a smile on your face every day.
Now, if you'll excuse me, my stub nib for my VP has arrived and is in need of testing.
ChemicalCutthroat
Member
I couldn't really find any kits. But you could get a TWSBY for around 30...
http://www.jetpens.com/TWSBI-ECO-Black-Fountain-Pen-Fine-Nib/pd/14635
And a nice half bottle of ink for 14...
http://www.jetpens.com/Pilot-Iroshizuku-Take-sumi-Ink-Bamboo-Charcoal-15-ml-Bottle/pd/13960
And they'll be good to go.
You could also get a Metropolitan...
http://www.jetpens.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Fountain-Pen-Black-Plain-Fine-Nib/pd/12075
Which is a bit cheaper, has more of a 'classic' look, and will hit your price range. And it comes with a converter so you can pick inks.
Hope that helps!
That's right! There's a reason why the most popular entry level gold pens (in North America) are the Vanishing Point, the Lamy 2000, and the Pilot Falcon. They're all really good pens, and you'd be hard pressed to top their features and writing comfort without spending an awful lot more money. Personally, I'd add the Platinum Century 3776 and maybe a Sailor Pro Gear Slim to the list - they're also great pens that can often be found for less than $100 USD.
https://www.gouletpens.com/fountain-pen-first-timer/p/Package-FountainPenFirstTimer
If you're in the US, this would be a good deal. You get a Pilot Metropolitan (in a bunch of different colors, a bunch of inks, and a nice pad of paper. If you don't want to buy from Goulet, this would still be a great package for anyone starting out, and you can build something similar just about anywhere.
woo and indeed hoo
Banned
This may be irrelevant now given the good advice above that you have already been given but may be useful to know nonetheless. I read on a calligraphy blog the other day that the paper one is writing on picks up oil from the hand as one gradually moves down the page. This can then cause the nib to skip. Seems legit [sic]. It recommends using a loose leaf of paper under the writing hand to prevent this. I have been using a piece of kitchen paper instead since reading that and I haven't had any skipping since then. It couldn't hurt to try. Oh and my Waterman got so clogged up it just wouldn't write anymore. It had been used for 20+ years without ever being cleaned/flushed [whoops!] so hardly a surprise. A quick flush didn't help so I just left the whole nib section [including the feed, obv.] in a glass of water for a couple of days. That loosened it all up sufficiently enough that I was able to get it back to writing beautifully. I haven't messed around with ammonia mixes yet. Anyway, I hope you are able to get it back to working well. Good luck!
I'll be heading off to the local pen shop in a bit - are there any nifty inks I should check out?
What size nib do you have in the TWSBI? And if you really want a blood-red ink, check out Diamine Oxblood. It looks so much like dried blood that I'm sure it'd be easy to wrangle a few sick days out of it!In other news.... I am falling more and more in love with my TWSBI the more I use it. As soon as I pick it up I get pleasure; it just feels so good in my hand. I love that I have to unscrew the cap too as all my other pens pop off. If I'm not careful I could develop a real TWSBI fetish! I almost didn't buy it too. I have been having a bit of a splurge the last couple of months. Not just fountain pen stuff but IEMs and other 'me' stuff as well as pressies for my partner. So I was feeling guilty about indulging my desire for this pen. I am so, so glad I did though!
woo and indeed hoo
Banned
Did you get anything nice?
A broad as per usual
. Part of the justification to myself in buying it was that it would be good to have an 'asian' broad since I already have two Euro broads with my Lamy and Waterman pens. However, when I was researching how I can replace the nibs in these two Herbin pens yesterday I came across this:http://www.jetpens.com/blog/guide-to-fountain-pen-nibs-choosing-a-fountain-pen-nib/pt/760
Dayum. I can't use that excuse anymore! The positive though is that I can use it to justify more pens/nibs to myself. Clearly I need more Pilot in my collection and need to add some Platinum and Sailor too. It's all to bring balance to the farce [sic] you understand. Seriously though, I might get some different nibs for my Lamy since they're easy enough to swap out and can be sourced inexpensively. I have been wanting the Safari in that sexy matte black though. Hm, clearly I need, I say, NEED that AND some extra nibs. Yes. I also discovered yesterday that the Plumix is called the Pluminix in Yurop. D'oh. So I can pick up some of those much cheaper than importing a Plumix! \o/ The Prera I ordered has a calligraphy medium so clearly I need a Plumix/Pluminix with a broad nib to complement that. Yes.
LOL I've already got the sicky aspect covered thanks but one never knows when that might come in handy! I have had a bit of a love/hate thing going on with the Diamine Oxblood for awhile now. I keep vacillating between "
it's gorgeous! I need it!!!" to "Ew! That looks like dried blood! I want my mummy!" :/ I'm even a bit nervous how I'll react to this Diamine Red Dragon, lol. Perhaps that's why I'm not using up the ink in these pens so I can try it out like I said I would. Either that or I just can't put the TWSBI, momiji combo down <3. Speaking of which, if I can get something down with them that is not too embarrassing to show off [in a handwriting sense] then I'll post up a pic of the TWSBI momiji combo later.Just J.Herbin Lie de The. The bigger deal was to get a replacement nib for my Safari. Besides, I've been gradually retiring my Jinhaos so I don't even have an extra pen to put any new inks into.
Yeah, there are very few companies that actually make nibs out there, and most pen makers end up buying them from Jowo or Bock, both German companies. The major exceptions are that Sailor, Platinum, and Pilot make their own nibs; thereby creating the impression of "Japanese" nibs, and the companies that buy cheap Chinese nibs. I believe that TWSBI buys all of their current nibs from Jowo. And in general, you're only going to see the Japanese broad nibs on their gold pens. Pilot sold a 78G with a broad nib once upon a time, but it was just a stub nib, probably similar to the Plumix.A broad as per usual
There's a numerical comparison of the nib sizes by different companies here: http://www.nibs.com/TippingSizespage.htm
It's not an either/or situation - it's both simultaneously! I've split some Oxblood on my hands before, and people have asked if I was okay, and people have thought that I had a nosebleed when they say my discarded paper towels. It's great! (Even though I like Ancient Copper more)LOL I've already got the sicky aspect covered thanks but one never knows when that might come in handy! I have had a bit of a love/hate thing going on with the Diamine Oxblood for awhile now. I keep vacillating between "
woo and indeed hoo
Banned
*googles* Oh, what a delicious colour!
I immediately had a desire to eat some toffee. I don't even like toffee that much. After I switched off f.lux I then had a desire for coffee. I love coffee. Have you had it before? That's another ink to put on my mental wishlist.Awesome!
Hope this nib behaves itself and you grow to like the Safari more. It's the first pen I bought when I decided to get back into using fountain pens again so it shall always have a special place in my heart for that. I may be totally besotted by my TWSBI now but I still really like my Vista and am glad I have it in my collection. Buy more pens!
I listen to a lot of podcasts and just discovered the Goulet Pens audio podcast. It seems to just be an audio dump of their videos, primarily the Q&A videos but that suits me fine. All the best pictures are on radio afterall. Anyway, Brian Goulet said in reply to a question that he had a collection of 350 odd pens. I think that was the figure but let's face it, after a certain number it hardly matters what the precise number is! This was great for me though as it made me feel slightly less guilty about buying all these pens. I still feel I should use them more though. This handwriting practice is helping but I think I shall just have to become a writer to deal with the guilt. It's the only way.
You're a proper pen nerd! [I mean that entirely as a compliment.] Your information and advice is always much appreciated. I'm glad we have you here on GAF. There's remarkably few GAFers I could say that about but you are in that select few.
Don't worry, I won't cyber stalk you. I'm too busy doing that to Bagels.
You have given me evil practical joke ideas *evil grin*.
Teriyaki Blues
Member
Now I feel like I'm in a special club. The Bagel Harassment Squad.
I've not really done anything with my pens and ink of late as I'm not writing much right now. You guys are killing me with this ink talk but I'm at the point where I need to empty a bottle before I can justify buying a new one.
woo and indeed hoo
Banned
Now I feel like I'm in a special club. The Bagel Harassment Squad.
We should set up a shift system so we can stalk him 24/7. Wouldn't want the poor lamb to feel neglected. Well I suppose you could always take Bagel's advice in the OP and drink the ink?No?
Hm, well how about the next time you break into Bagel's house just to watch him sleep, you know, like you do most nights [I've seen you, you can't deny it!] you put some of the ink you want to use up in one of his empty pens and leave the bottle next to it. For maximum creepage though it would be best if it's an ink that he doesn't have but then you have a full inventory of all his pens and inks so that's easy enough to check before you set out.
Phew! I'm glad we've got that solved
. You didn't even have to buy any new pens either!Alex_Mexico
Member
I refrained from online shopping thinking I'd be able to find a Pilot Metropolitan in brick and mortar shops in my town but I've failed.
I've found disposable ones (I.e. Pilot Varsity) and a few non disposable but too pricey (Wetman for $70 usd) and another for $25 but bailed due to never hearing about the brand (Sheffer or Shaffer).
Are Pilot Varsitys worth it for a fountain pen noob like me? Should I push for the Metro? And what's better for a noob like me with horrible handwriting? A fine nib or a medium one?
I've found disposable ones (I.e. Pilot Varsity) and a few non disposable but too pricey (Wetman for $70 usd) and another for $25 but bailed due to never hearing about the brand (Sheffer or Shaffer).
Are Pilot Varsitys worth it for a fountain pen noob like me? Should I push for the Metro? And what's better for a noob like me with horrible handwriting? A fine nib or a medium one?
Escape Goat
Member
I write too hard for fountain pens. Is there something that's as nice to use for those of us who still write like we did in 1st grade?
woo and indeed hoo
Banned
I imagine that was Sheaffer, a reputable brand:
http://www.cultpens.com/c/q/brands/sheaffer
A Varsity would be absolutely ideal for a fountain pen noob! Cheap enough that it wouldn't kill you to lose it but with a nib that is superior to pens that cost much more. A Metro would be great for you if you can import from the US without prohibitive custom charges. However, for the sake of $3 or so the Varsity would be idea for you to try out first. If you like that then that would reassure you to spend the extra on a Metro. They're both made by the same company, Pilot, a Japanese company, who make some of the best pens and nibs in the world. The Varsity I have [although it's called the 'V-Pen' in Yurop] is a medium but that's a finer medium than a Yurop medium would be since the Japanese favour fine nibs as it suits their language better would be an ideal place to start. I have horrible handwriting too and am trying to fix that with the aid of a book but a fountain pen is going to give you the best chance of your current handwriting looking good compared to other pens e.g. biros. I really can't recommend the Varsity enough for your situation.
I write pretty hard too and it's not necessarily a deal breaker. I would give you the same advice I gave Alex: a Pilot Varsity/V-Pen. A great nib for what many people would spend on a cup of coffee without a second's thought. If that works out okay and you wish to upgrade to a 'proper' fountain pen then there are plenty here who will happily point you in the right direction. The Varsity/V-Pen is awesome. The only thing wrong with it is that it's disposable so you can't re-fill it [although there are some pen nerds that hack them to do just that, lol] but other than that they are pretty much perfect. I know it sounds like I work for Pilot but I don't
. Mores the pity though as I'd probably get a staff discount and/or freebies. It's just that for what they are they deserve to be pimped.Hope that helps both of you but please don't hesitate if you have anymore question/thoughts.
Teriyaki Blues
Member
This really depends on where you live. If in the USA, absolutely go online shopping. $25 puts you over the free shipping limit for JetPens, a website I've had nothing but phenomenal experiences with. They even have a beginner's fountain pen guide somewhere on their site, and around $25-30 will get you set up with a Metropolitan of your choice, some ink refills, and a Rhodia Dot Pad (my preference for "fancy" paper). If you're interested in trying out the incredible Tomoe River paper, they also offer $1 trial packs of both White and Cream, which are excellent for writing special occasion notes without breaking the bank.
If you tend to apply more pressure and have thicker writing or just like thin lines, go for a Fine. Remember that these are Japanese Fines though, so they are very thin. Japanese Medium/German Fine is probably the standard nib to get to begin with.
I have a halfway decent comparison picture of the Nibs (specifically Pilot) in Fine, Medium, and Medium Calligraphy (stolen from the cheapo Pilot Plumix) in my own awful handwriting right here, if you're interested in that at all. There is very little difference in the F and M in my opinion. The blue ink flows rather freely, which shows up more with an almost duo tone quality.
As a certified Bagels Stalker (TM), I suggest the Ballpoint Pens thread both wholeheartedly and emptywalletly, if you decide you don't want a fountain pen.
The fabulous woo and indeed hoo has, of course, beaten me to the punch with flair, I don't have much modern experience outside of Pilot Metropolitan/Plumix and the Lamy Safari, so those are the pens I tend to recommend.
I'd suggest the Pilot Plumix (aka Fountain Pen training wheels) very highly for both of you because the calligraphic nib forces you to write more slowly, carefully, and at a steady angle. The flatness of the nib is also just enough that it adds a neat flair to your writing without going crazypants fancy. At around $7-$9 USD and being refillable, it is an excellent budget choice, and the nib is compatible with the Metropolitan line if you want to step up to a more weighty pen.
The one downside is that it is just fancy enough that it looks awful if you use it on garbage tier paper. Okay for practicing if you're burning your practice sheets, but you will definitely want any paper above the back-to-school special sale level for anything more serious.
The new nib is a ton better than the old one, but I think that I prefer my Pilot steel nibs. Still, it'll be great for inks that want a nice thick line, like Majestic Blue.Awesome!
I already have about 20 pens inked! That's way too many to maintain at the same time, and I'm trying to cut down to about 14 or so.
Get a Lamy 2000 and pretend to be Neil Gaiman! That's the pen he uses to write all his books. My excuse is that I actually write quite a bit, so even if it's just random rambling, it's worth it.
Thanks!
I started using fountain pens not too long ago, and I had to relearn my grip. A cheap Varsity/V-Pen or a Plumix would be good for practicing with. Other pens like the Pilot Kakuno or Lamy Safari have molded grip sections so they'll force your hand into the proper three-point grip. To be honest, I've been trying to write with my whole arm, and it's still pretty tough to do.
Yeah, regular stationery stores in North America aren't going to carry even basic fountain pens. They'll just carry a few American brands, like Cross or Sheaffer, that aren't really mean to be written with. Your best bet is either a dedicated pen store or buying online.
There are a few decent Sheaffer and Waterman pens out there, but you have to be pretty darned selective about what you buy, and they're an absolute trap for beginners. Ditto for Cross pens if they're available as well. The problem is that the names have been around for a long time, but they're a shadow of their former selves and mostly just coasting on their old reputations.
The Varsity is an ideal pen for a beginner. It writes well, and it's cheap, and it's disposable so you don't have to fiddle with refilling ink. If you're already sure you're going to want to use fountain pens, you can skip it for a Metropolitan, but otherwise it's a great start. I picked one up so that if someone in my immediate circle expresses an interest in fountain pens, I can just give to him/her with minimal fuss. Another pen that's worth looking at is the Platinum Preppy, but that may be harder to find.
woo and indeed hoo
Banned
\o/
(*^_^*)
<3
Hurrar!
Oh I would agree with that sentiment. If I had to choose between my Lamy Vista and my Pilot Kakuna I would pick the former for the design and ergonomics and the latter for the nib. Fortunately however I do not have to pick only one and neither do you! and I'm feeling guilty over having six inked up and not getting to all of them regularly enough, lol. You are Neil Gaiman though so you do do a lot of writing .Speak of the devil! Oh a Lamy 2000 is definitely on my wishlist but it's more of a 'that can wait for another day when my fountain pen enthusiasm has matured and settled down a bit; I need to get my puppy playing in a roll of toilet paper enthusiasm and all the possibilities that entails out of my system first' type of pen. Same for the Vanishing Point.
Besides, if I wrote with a Lamy 2000 that would send me to a dark and scary place that makes me want to run and hide in my mummy's skirt pleats. Gaiman writes dark stuff and he used the Lamy 2000 to do so. Co-incidence? I think not!
m(_ _)m
*winces* Probably pretty fair comment though. How sad
.I have a co-conspirator in the Varsity/V-Pen for noobs campaign! \o/
Seriously though, I used them very happily for a few years after my Waterman got progressively unco-operative. Apparently one is supposed to clean them after a couple of decades use. Who knew?! I only got seriously into the hobby when I stumbled across a Bagels fountain pen thread on this infamous internet forum that some of you might be familiar with. So if you find all my surreal stream of consciousness posting somewhat uncomfortable, verging on creepy then you know who to blame!
Bagels, obv.
So having just gotten a new Vanishing Point and replacing the nib on my Safari, which pen do you think I've been fooling around with the most over the weekend? It's a trick question because I've been mostly using the Hero 616. It just goes to show that the price of the pen isn't really all that important sometimes, and that a pen can just "click" with you. Don't get me wrong, the Vanishing Point is a fantastic pen, and it's so practical that I can easily see myself using it the most at work. But I'm just loving the feel of the super cheap 616 after I adjusted it.
It's pretty sad too - one of my favorite pens is a vintage Sheaffer Imperial, and I would way prefer it over just about any of the modern Sheaffers. It'd be much better to see these companies regain their former glories, but that's probably not going to happen.
Honestly, the very best starter pen is going to be the Metropolitan - it combines the nib of the Kakuno with a much more elegant design, and it even comes with a converter! In North America it's way cheaper than it needs to be, and it'd be a bargain at twice the price. It's too bad for you Europeans who have to pay much higher prices.Hurrar!
That may have come over a bit harsher than I intended, but some of those old brands have current offerings that are more meant to appeal to the executive rollerball market than to the true fountain pen enthusiast market. By that I mean that these pens tend to be heavier and have thinner metal sections, thereby making long writing sessions more fatiguing. In general, these pens are meant more as show pieces than practical writing instruments - good for jotting short notes, but not for pages at a time. There are just way better buys out there, especially since these aren't cheap pens.*winces* Probably pretty fair comment though. How sad
It's pretty sad too - one of my favorite pens is a vintage Sheaffer Imperial, and I would way prefer it over just about any of the modern Sheaffers. It'd be much better to see these companies regain their former glories, but that's probably not going to happen.
woo and indeed hoo
Banned
I think a lot of people would find that eminently understandable and relate-able. After googling it again I am pretty sure I had a Parker 51 when I was much younger. We are talking 40 odd years ago though and I know from embarrassing experience how unreliable one's memory might be. I shall try and remember to ask my father if we have any old pens hanging around at the family home when I next speak to him. I used the money he gave me for my birthday to cover my TWSBI purchase so that gives me an easy in.
Yes it's a great deal for you yankee fellows but at the risk of being banned from the thread by Bagels I have to admit the sacrilege of not liking the Metropolitan's design. The Prera design is much more to my liking
. I'm looking forward to that arriving so I can try out the 'CM' nib and a bit of nib swapping between that and my Kakuno. I'm strongly resisting the temptation to order two Plumix/Pluminexes with fine and broad nibs and a Penmanship with very fine nib so when the Prera arrives I'll be spoilt for choice. No, I'll dedicate some time to the pens I already have first. I've just worked out what new inks I can try in which pens so that's re-enthused me to use them all to use up the ink so I can get to these new inks. I'm really looking forward to the new inks I also found some cheap and nasty plastic calligraphy pens that I picked up for a couple of quid per set awhile back. Considering how cheap they were they're really not half bad. They take standard short cartridges and even have a converter. It's horrible but it does the job. So that gives me masses to play around with .Oh not, it's okay, I understood the intent of your earlier comment. I just thought it was nicely on the nose, even if it's a sad affair. Still it's their business so if they want to diminish their brand in the long term that's up to them. Fortunately there are plenty of fountain pen companies who honour the traditional values even if they do not.
My Sailor Yama-dori finally came in! I placed the order back at the end of September, so it's been just over two months. It's a gorgeous color, but I don't have any pens to put it in at the moment - sort of.
I also got in a shipment of Hero 616 Jumbos. These are a slightly girthier knockoff of the Parker 51 than the regular 616es, and it's pretty neat to write with. I've got some Yama-dori in one, and while the color is neat, the nib is too fine to show off the Yama-dori sheen properly. The really big problem is that the 616 Jumbos also leak, just from a different place than the regular ones. I'm going to have to give it a silicone grease treatment and put some thicker ink in one before determining if these are any good. They're still awfully fun to write with though.
1. A Noodler's pen - Ahab, Konrad, Neponset. These are relatively inexpensive steel flex nibs and they'll be the cheapest fountain pens with that feature. Unfortunately, their quality control is all over the place, so you'll probably have to fiddle with it before it writes the way you want to.
2. Pilot Falcon. This is an entry-level gold nib flex pen. It's technically just a soft nib, but you can get some line variation. It's also featured in a popular Youtube video, but please note that that particular pen was modified for extra flex. Doing the same thing with a regular Falcon will ruin the nib. There are other pens in roughly the same range, such as the Pilot 912 with an FA nib, but these all tend to be quite a bit more pricy.
3. Vintage flex pens. Back in the day, flex pens were semi-popular and a few manufacturers made them. They also have more flexibility than modern pens, so they're fairly sought after. However, you have to dip into the vintage market for them, and the good ones can be quite expensive.
4. Dip pens. These aren't strictly fountain pens, but they're inexpensive and they work very well. Just get a nib holder and a pack of Zebra G-nibs, and you're off and running. They're definitely not as convenient as fountain pens though, and you'll want to use calligraphy or India ink with them. Here's a handy guide for them: http://www.jetpens.com/blog/guide-to-nibs-and-nib-holders/pt/763
I also got in a shipment of Hero 616 Jumbos. These are a slightly girthier knockoff of the Parker 51 than the regular 616es, and it's pretty neat to write with. I've got some Yama-dori in one, and while the color is neat, the nib is too fine to show off the Yama-dori sheen properly. The really big problem is that the 616 Jumbos also leak, just from a different place than the regular ones. I'm going to have to give it a silicone grease treatment and put some thicker ink in one before determining if these are any good. They're still awfully fun to write with though.
Cool stuff. It probably would be about 40 years ago since Parker stopped making the 51 back in 1972.
Doesn't the Plumix only come in a 1.0mm stub? Either way, people shouldn't underestimate some of those cheap no-name pens. It's entirely possible to run across a cheap Jinhao or something like that that writes better than most $100 pens out there.Yes it's a great deal for you yankee fellows but at the risk of being banned from the thread by Bagels I have to admit the sacrilege of not liking the Metropolitan's design. The Prera design is much more to my liking
There are a bunch of different ways to go about it depending on how much you want to spend and how much effort you want to put into it.
1. A Noodler's pen - Ahab, Konrad, Neponset. These are relatively inexpensive steel flex nibs and they'll be the cheapest fountain pens with that feature. Unfortunately, their quality control is all over the place, so you'll probably have to fiddle with it before it writes the way you want to.
2. Pilot Falcon. This is an entry-level gold nib flex pen. It's technically just a soft nib, but you can get some line variation. It's also featured in a popular Youtube video, but please note that that particular pen was modified for extra flex. Doing the same thing with a regular Falcon will ruin the nib. There are other pens in roughly the same range, such as the Pilot 912 with an FA nib, but these all tend to be quite a bit more pricy.
3. Vintage flex pens. Back in the day, flex pens were semi-popular and a few manufacturers made them. They also have more flexibility than modern pens, so they're fairly sought after. However, you have to dip into the vintage market for them, and the good ones can be quite expensive.
4. Dip pens. These aren't strictly fountain pens, but they're inexpensive and they work very well. Just get a nib holder and a pack of Zebra G-nibs, and you're off and running. They're definitely not as convenient as fountain pens though, and you'll want to use calligraphy or India ink with them. Here's a handy guide for them: http://www.jetpens.com/blog/guide-to-nibs-and-nib-holders/pt/763
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
I write very hard with ballpoints but normally with fountain pens. That's one of the chief reasons I use them.
woo and indeed hoo
Banned
\o/ So glad that arrived at last
. I commend your efforts in checking out cheap Chinese knock-offs so we don't have to
.Hm, well I was born in '65 so perhaps I'm remembering a relative having one instead. I certainly remember it though. It's a distinctive design so hardly surprising.
Good question. I've found ebay UK listings for fine, medium and broad nibs for the Pluxix/Pluminix. I currently intend to wait for the Prera with it's calligraphy medium nib to arrive first before doing anything though.
Hm, something to consider down the road methinks.
Just the other day I heard Brian Goulet say on a Q&A podcast that fountain pens should be able to write without any pressure and just with the weight of the pen. That made me wonder if I had been using too much pressure after years of penmanship abuse i.e. using biros etc. I tried it out and he was right. Difficult to change years of muscle memory though. Working on handwriting exercises has shown me that quite convincingly.
EDIT: Pilot Plumix GET! \o/ A month earlier than I expected so that was a nice surprise. It only cost £10 though according to the customs declaration. Hm, wonder if I should ask Amazon for a refund of the extra £16 odd I paid. Naughty Waku1 Japan Store. Nice Waku1 Japan Store. I'll just do a bit more online shopping for my partner's Christmas stocking [with a little something nice for me too since I've been such a good boy recently] and then I can have a play with my new pretty
.EDIT2: Well both the Plumix and Diamine Wagner are a disappointment so far
. The Plumix nib is scratchy so I've left it upside down in my pen pot even though there looks to be lots of ink in the feed. The Wagner looked like a lovely golden yellow online when I bought it but in person it's a disgusting snot coloured green :/.EDIT3: Using syringes is fun! I should get into drugs.
Hm, perhaps not. You're not taking my coffee away from me though!
In other news, the Wagner is stil pretty fugly and the CM nib is still pretty scratchy but I think I'll survive
. I've ordered a Plumix with a broad nib so we'll see if the Prera likes that nib better. Wagner is destined to be the unwanted step child in my ink collection I fear. Perhaps I can find some sap to take it off my hands, heh. Anyone? Fancy some snot green ink? Free! I'll even pay for p&p! Please . Diamine Onyx Black is lovely though . Strong and black just like I like my Buy a Lamy with an A nib. The Anfänger (beginner) nib is specially designed for use by first-time fountain pen users. Considered the Nexx or Safari - both have corrective grips, which will help you too.
I so want to get a Lamy Lx - the ruthenium model, to be exact. It's such a fucking rip-off, though! Curse, Lamy - going all posh. Bah...
At least the EF model won't be available until next year so there's still time to get some sense. ...
woo and indeed hoo
Banned
Buy a Lamy with an A nib. The Anfänger (beginner) nib is specially designed for use by first-time fountain pen users. Considered the Nexx or Safari - both have corrective grips, which will help you too.
I so want to get a Lamy Lx - the ruthenium model, to be exact. It's such a fucking rip-off, though! Curse, Lamy - going all posh. Bah...
At least the EF model won't be available until next year so there's still time to get some sense. ...
Well it is a handsome pen and pen pretties can be so hard to resist. I'm currently struggling with my conscience over a couple of pens so I wish you well with yours!
Please post pics when you give in to temptation and get it
Good suggestion on the A nib too; I always forget about them.
Well it is a handsome pen and pen pretties can be so hard to resist. I'm currently struggling with my conscience over a couple of pens so I wish you well with yours!
Please post pics when you give in to temptation and get it
The colour is just perfect! Of all things, it reminds me of the Porshe 928... :Fidgets: I just love those kind of greys! But, double the price of an Al-star for a plated clip and cap jewel? ... Gris nuage would be the ink to use...
woo and indeed hoo
Banned
Just the clip, cap jewel - the cross bit at the top of the cap - and the barrel plug are plated in the rare metal - either gold, rose gold, palladium or ruthenium. The body is just anodised in a matching colour - no different to that of an Al-star. Finally, the nib is just a tarted-up black steel one. Oh - there's the fancy case (instead of the normal carboard box or vinyl pouch), too - I think that's plastic.
Lamy do seem to be heading in a more luxury-market direction, sadly. First there was the introduction of the Scala, then the silly 2000 all-metal model and then the Imporium - overpriced, stupid and price-hiked re-release. Bah, humbug! Pelikan are doing the same, too. Oh! the days when an M200 was only fifty pounds or so - not knocking a hundred!
Er... I - when flush - am gonna get me an Imporium! For, like, its design merits and stuff...
That's really too bad. Do you have a loupe to check if your nib is misaligned? That's the most common problem and it's not too hard to get it working better. Not much you can do about the ink though.EDIT2: Well both the Plumix and Diamine Wagner are a disappointment so far
woo and indeed hoo
Banned
Oh I see. I thought it was all just the normal construction just coloured differently. That justifies it I guess.
I wonder if they think they can't do much more at the starter end of the market so are just trying to diversify their portfolio? As long as they don't dump the cheaper end and try and go all high end it shouldn't necessarily pose a problem?
It's an investment! Both financially and in terms of your fountain pen knowledge. How else are you going to be able to appropriately guide young fountain pen padawans if you don't know what you're talking about?!
More seriously though I had to google it as I wasn't familiar with it and......oh God it's beautiful! i wants it! It's so beautiful it makes me feel all funny. That's a special treat for a special occasion sort of pen though :/. I can wait. I can be strong. Just you see!
:/
I had to google loupe
. I love how I can still learn stuff despite being an old fart! Nope, just a magnifying glass. I'll give it a look but unless it was blindingly obvious I wouldn't know what to look for. I might message the Amazon seller anyway. Can't hurt. I'm not bothered by the ink anymore. I'll just put it down as one of those things and use it as an excuse to buy myself some more inks instead. It's part of the healing process you understand.Sign of the times, I suppose. What with things like Grundschrift being introduced even in Germany, Safaris are - sadly - becoming old hat, and, therefore, selling less, I guess...? Why, oh why! do I have to have increasingly expensive interests...
The Insignia is a re-release of the Persona from the early-1990s.
Hm. Maybe Lamy could bring back the Unic?
Aw yeah.
woo and indeed hoo
Banned
Hm, Grundschrift =
Because you are an individual of refined taste?
Ah, I see, thanks
. I prefer the Imporium design although I would choose the silver colour over the black. So sexy. I also found a site that sells it with a broad nib on special order. HNRGGGGGG!Hm. Maybe Lamy could bring back the Unic?
Aw yeah.
That looks like a pen an engineer would love!
Normally, if the tines are aligned properly they will be even with each other. When they're misaligned, one will be above the other when looking at them head on. What you want to do is to use your fingernail to nudge the one that's down - pushing away from the feed. Here's a video with some tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YRnN99412oI had to google loupe
I sort of want to like Lamy, but nothing's really doing it for me outside of the Safari family and the regular 2000. This is especially true of their expensive pens; the steel 2000 is a joke, the Dialog 3 looks like a clunky and expensive Fermo, and the Imporium seems like crazy money for what it delivers. They've got a long way to go before they're going to be able to position themselves as a true luxury brand. I suspect that pressure from TWSBI and the Japanese companies are pushing them into this direction.Sign of the times, I suppose. What with things like Grundschrift being introduced even in Germany, Safaris are - sadly - becoming old hat, and, therefore, selling less, I guess...? Why, oh why! do I have to have increasingly expensive interests...
The Insignia is a re-release of the Persona from the early-1990s.
Hm. Maybe Lamy could bring back the Unic?
Aw yeah.