13 hard-learned lessons from a veteran fountain pen addict
February 6, 2024 3:21 PM Subscribe
“I guess I should just admit that I’m not a Pilot guy. If I’d realised that earlier, I’d have saved myself a lot of money — money that I could have spent on Viscontis and Montblancs, which speak to me much more.”
Also I'll just link to myself previously, regarding Bullet Journaling.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:38 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:38 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]
All the nicest pens I own are vintage ones. It's actually not hard to replace the sac if it's rotted or full of dried ink, and while the first couple of old pens I got had been repaired by someone else, I did the most recent one myself with a little sac replacement kit (you can order them online).
I live in a country where there are no specialty pen retailers I can visit, the main stationery stores keep a few high end pens in glass cases and will not let you try them, and I am unwilling to spend a ton of money on mail order pens that might or might not be the pen of my dreams. So most of my pens are old pens. And to be honest, while I have a dozen or so, only 3 or 4 are in regular rotation.
I have a cheap $5 pen for travel because the pain of losing a beloved pen while on the go is real.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 3:41 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]
I live in a country where there are no specialty pen retailers I can visit, the main stationery stores keep a few high end pens in glass cases and will not let you try them, and I am unwilling to spend a ton of money on mail order pens that might or might not be the pen of my dreams. So most of my pens are old pens. And to be honest, while I have a dozen or so, only 3 or 4 are in regular rotation.
I have a cheap $5 pen for travel because the pain of losing a beloved pen while on the go is real.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 3:41 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]
(those favourite old pens are a 50s Parker Duofold, an old Waterman of indeterminate age with a slightly flexible nib, and a Wyvern that looks like a Parker 51 knockoff. Also have a Kaweco and Lamy I like. Most of these have stub or italic nibs.)
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 3:49 PM on February 6
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 3:49 PM on February 6
I’ve tried to mellow a little and realise that bad nibs happen to good pens, and the situation can be salvaged.
Good advice for life in general, really.
posted by fight or flight at 3:54 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]
Good advice for life in general, really.
posted by fight or flight at 3:54 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]
I've had pretty good luck with dirt-cheap Chinese knock-off fountain pens (brand name Jinhao) that are available through Amazon and other places. I also replaced the nibs with extra-flexible ones from Fountain Pen Revolution. Although I haven't had an opportunity to compare them to a high-end pen, they seem pretty nice to me and they're cheap enough that I could buy a dozen or so and fill them with different-colored inks. I like the way the flexible nib gives me thicker and thinner lines, adding some dimension to my scribbles.
I probably wouldn't use them as carrying-around pens, but then again I'm not in the habit of carrying any other kind of pen around either.
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:14 PM on February 6 [4 favorites]
I probably wouldn't use them as carrying-around pens, but then again I'm not in the habit of carrying any other kind of pen around either.
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:14 PM on February 6 [4 favorites]
Use a small pair of pliers to pop the nib assembly out of a Pilot Varsity disposable, and you can refill it with whatever ink you want. Sure they're not the best-writing fountain pen out there, but they're pretty good, can be painlessly lost or thrown away if you wreck the nib, and are much much cheaper than buying a bunch of Real Pens hoping to find one you like better.
posted by rifflesby at 4:23 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]
posted by rifflesby at 4:23 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]
I am a Pilot guy.
To be specific, Metros and Kakünos, F nibs. Why? Because it’s all online ordering these days and I know what I’m getting (quality nibs and cool colors) when I order these. I’ve bought other sub $50 brands, kept a couple, passed some on, but there’s nothing like picking up an old faithful and reveling in the act of writing, even if it’s just the grocery list.
However just over a year ago I made the trek to Brooklyn to Yoseko and that was a revelation, being able to try different pens. Turns out I didn’t jibe with the Pilot Elites, the various Customs, the Justus 95 (haaaated it). No, my favorite by far was a Lamy 2000.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 4:32 PM on February 6 [3 favorites]
To be specific, Metros and Kakünos, F nibs. Why? Because it’s all online ordering these days and I know what I’m getting (quality nibs and cool colors) when I order these. I’ve bought other sub $50 brands, kept a couple, passed some on, but there’s nothing like picking up an old faithful and reveling in the act of writing, even if it’s just the grocery list.
However just over a year ago I made the trek to Brooklyn to Yoseko and that was a revelation, being able to try different pens. Turns out I didn’t jibe with the Pilot Elites, the various Customs, the Justus 95 (haaaated it). No, my favorite by far was a Lamy 2000.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 4:32 PM on February 6 [3 favorites]
As a philistine whose favourite writing instrument is a GraphGear 1000 .9mm, this is like a Menswear Guy thread for me. Utterly outside my world, but fascinating.
posted by pipeski at 4:36 PM on February 6 [6 favorites]
posted by pipeski at 4:36 PM on February 6 [6 favorites]
I am also a Pilot guy, and one of apparently a very few people who actually likes his Vanishing Point. I've got a few others that make the rotation, from Lamy, Montblanc, Parker. But the pen that seems to always be in my bag and there when I need it, always works, and leaves me feeling a bit, "Huh... Well that was kind of nice; I keep forgetting how much I like this pen," is this freakin' 8-dollar Zebra that I got as a "Here, try this!" from our Zebra rep years ago, and the stupid thing just won't stop writing.
posted by xedrik at 4:50 PM on February 6 [3 favorites]
posted by xedrik at 4:50 PM on February 6 [3 favorites]
I am a daily fp user and have about 8 low end barrel fillers that I rotate through (one thing i learned is if I write all my writings at work in one colour on one day and a differnt colour the next, it can be easier to track where things got to if I have not been diligent in my filing) and am a huge fan of several low cost pens:
if I had to pick a single one I'd probably say the platinum plaisir M or F.
I am also a big fan of the TWSBI "twizbee" Eco line, again M or F. I have heard the barrels can crack from hand pressure, has not happened to me. It's got a huge barrel, ink for DAYS, and despite being girthy is comfortable to hold.
Most recently I picked up a TWSBI Swipe, which has a more conventional removable barrel filler. Only tried the medium, okay pen, I don't like the look as much as the ECO.
Ironically the pen I like the least these days that i still regularly use is the Lamy Safari, which is the one I started with and I often see recommended as a starter pen for n00bs. Too fat and ungainly and I find they tend to leak around the base of the feed onto my fingertips, or leak inside the lid.
These are all 20-30 dollar pens more or less, Cdn. The fanciest pen I have owned is a Lamy Studio which is sleek and all metal and very pretty. I don't use it much because I find it heavy and slick to hold, especially for extended use. so I have not found that to be a useful price premium. I have never used a fancier pen than these (and there's a lot of room to go up!) so at least for the time being I don't know what I am missing. And buying inks and different colours of these cheaper pens scratches my collector's itch well enough.
Other comments since we are here: I try hard not to match the pen colour to the barrel colour. Also I am left handed and FAR prefer fountain pens from a holding angle and writing comfort point of view, and with the right pen-ink combinations the smear risk is low.
posted by hearthpig at 5:00 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]
if I had to pick a single one I'd probably say the platinum plaisir M or F.
I am also a big fan of the TWSBI "twizbee" Eco line, again M or F. I have heard the barrels can crack from hand pressure, has not happened to me. It's got a huge barrel, ink for DAYS, and despite being girthy is comfortable to hold.
Most recently I picked up a TWSBI Swipe, which has a more conventional removable barrel filler. Only tried the medium, okay pen, I don't like the look as much as the ECO.
Ironically the pen I like the least these days that i still regularly use is the Lamy Safari, which is the one I started with and I often see recommended as a starter pen for n00bs. Too fat and ungainly and I find they tend to leak around the base of the feed onto my fingertips, or leak inside the lid.
These are all 20-30 dollar pens more or less, Cdn. The fanciest pen I have owned is a Lamy Studio which is sleek and all metal and very pretty. I don't use it much because I find it heavy and slick to hold, especially for extended use. so I have not found that to be a useful price premium. I have never used a fancier pen than these (and there's a lot of room to go up!) so at least for the time being I don't know what I am missing. And buying inks and different colours of these cheaper pens scratches my collector's itch well enough.
Other comments since we are here: I try hard not to match the pen colour to the barrel colour. Also I am left handed and FAR prefer fountain pens from a holding angle and writing comfort point of view, and with the right pen-ink combinations the smear risk is low.
posted by hearthpig at 5:00 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]
I am a Big Fan of the $1 (one dollar) Jinhao 991 extra fine hooded nib pens (with included converter).
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:02 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:02 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]
I really appreciate this article. I’ve had to restrict my ink collection recently after I couldn’t get through a second advent calendar of inks. I have a preference in pens that is newly developed, and I’ve worked out what my tastes in inks are, and I have those inks now, so I’m set for a long time.
So, I adore chasing newness but I heartily endorse this advice all the same. Know the outcome if you chase newness and know that you’ll fall prey to FOMO at least one too many times to appreciate the result. Be honest with yourself about how much you write.
(in keeping with the article’s warnings about community pressures, i am not sharing my preferred pens or inks)
posted by Callisto Prime at 5:17 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]
So, I adore chasing newness but I heartily endorse this advice all the same. Know the outcome if you chase newness and know that you’ll fall prey to FOMO at least one too many times to appreciate the result. Be honest with yourself about how much you write.
(in keeping with the article’s warnings about community pressures, i am not sharing my preferred pens or inks)
posted by Callisto Prime at 5:17 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]
Owning a Kaweco Sport is the closest to a full on Cult of Personality I'm ever likely to fully and consciously appreciate, and this is due to the infallible leadership, hard work, inspiration, and historical inevitability, of Comrade Chairman Kaweco Sport!
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 5:18 PM on February 6 [4 favorites]
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 5:18 PM on February 6 [4 favorites]
I bought and enjoy several Lamy pens but my wretched children have nicked most of them as we are a pen-thieving household. I recently started using brush pens for writing labels and notes because it is fun to do swishes and fancy letters on easy mode. A friend who is a pen person has written the most delightful fountain pen letters - there is something so human and warm about a page covered in coloured swirls. Now I am day dreaming about more Lamy pens and the idea of filling them with an advent calendar of inks!
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 5:25 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 5:25 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]
I love my Jinhao Sharks!
posted by avocet at 5:33 PM on February 6 [5 favorites]
posted by avocet at 5:33 PM on February 6 [5 favorites]
I'm an HB2 pencil man myself.
posted by SPrintF at 5:54 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]
posted by SPrintF at 5:54 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]
My day-in, day-out pen is a Twsbi Eco M that I use for work notetaking and pleasure. I love how wet it writes, and I love how simple and straightforward it is to use. Every time, I just uncap and write away, with never a worry about hard starts or burping.
When I go on vacation, I actually take an Opus 88 1.5 stub that is my designated travel pen, partially because it has a valve that allows me to not fret about changes in air pressure causing burping, but also because it is an eyedropper pen, so it has an absolutely unhinged ink capacity even though it absolutely spews ink. (See above about loving a nice, wet writer.) And it isn't my preferred color, and I got it on massive open-box discount, so even though I like it a lot, I won't be utterly heartbroken if it somehow breaks or gets lost.
Finally, I have a couple of flex pens because the way that I got into fountain pens was actually through calligraphy/dip pens, and my very favorite one is a vintage 100 year old Waterman 92 with a wonderfully soft flex nib and a tiny adorable heart-shaped breather hole. It has a couple flaws, but that is why I was able to afford it -- and because I have tiny little T-rex hands, they actually don't affect my enjoyment at all. So it feels like this pen and I were meant for each other. Every time I write with it, I'm thrilled all over again and love the fact that this tiny little piece of history has come all the way down to me.
What a fun thread!
posted by joyceanmachine at 6:05 PM on February 6 [3 favorites]
When I go on vacation, I actually take an Opus 88 1.5 stub that is my designated travel pen, partially because it has a valve that allows me to not fret about changes in air pressure causing burping, but also because it is an eyedropper pen, so it has an absolutely unhinged ink capacity even though it absolutely spews ink. (See above about loving a nice, wet writer.) And it isn't my preferred color, and I got it on massive open-box discount, so even though I like it a lot, I won't be utterly heartbroken if it somehow breaks or gets lost.
Finally, I have a couple of flex pens because the way that I got into fountain pens was actually through calligraphy/dip pens, and my very favorite one is a vintage 100 year old Waterman 92 with a wonderfully soft flex nib and a tiny adorable heart-shaped breather hole. It has a couple flaws, but that is why I was able to afford it -- and because I have tiny little T-rex hands, they actually don't affect my enjoyment at all. So it feels like this pen and I were meant for each other. Every time I write with it, I'm thrilled all over again and love the fact that this tiny little piece of history has come all the way down to me.
What a fun thread!
posted by joyceanmachine at 6:05 PM on February 6 [3 favorites]
I see people with a Serious Fountain Pen Habit and it feels so alien. I just have a few Lamy Safaris and keep one bottle of purple ink made by a local pen shop that I refill them from. It would be kinda nice to replace them with something that also functions as a quiet little status symbol and is a bit prettier than the brutalist functionality of the Safaris but nothing on the shelves at that local pen shop ever feels pretty enough to blow a couple hundred bucks on.
If any of you people with a Serious Pen Habit would like to downsize your collection at a discount then I might be interested, especially in something with the themes of gold, purple, and/or dragons. :)
posted by egypturnash at 6:35 PM on February 6 [3 favorites]
If any of you people with a Serious Pen Habit would like to downsize your collection at a discount then I might be interested, especially in something with the themes of gold, purple, and/or dragons. :)
posted by egypturnash at 6:35 PM on February 6 [3 favorites]
loving a nice, wet writer
This could go any of several ways, so I'll leave you to just make up your own jokes.
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:16 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]
This could go any of several ways, so I'll leave you to just make up your own jokes.
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:16 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]
Over the years I've acquired about a dozen fountain pens, and figured that was excessive. So it's a relief that compared to the author of this piece, I'm not even a dilettante.
For the longest time I was buying pens in the sub-$100 range. While the experience was pleasant enough to keep using them, each one was frustrating in some way--dry, leaky, scratchy, uncomfortable to hold, too light, etc. I finally bit the bullet and got a Lamy 2000 (stainless steel), and it's certainly the closest thing I've experienced to perfection, in the writing implement realm. Of course, the trouble is that it feels like too expensive of a thing for me to carry around, and so I still end up using the cheap ones more often (Lamy Safari, Pilot Metropolitan, or Faber-Castell Loom--whichever one I can dig up a cartridge for).
Thanks for the post, cupcakeninja!
posted by epimorph at 8:04 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]
For the longest time I was buying pens in the sub-$100 range. While the experience was pleasant enough to keep using them, each one was frustrating in some way--dry, leaky, scratchy, uncomfortable to hold, too light, etc. I finally bit the bullet and got a Lamy 2000 (stainless steel), and it's certainly the closest thing I've experienced to perfection, in the writing implement realm. Of course, the trouble is that it feels like too expensive of a thing for me to carry around, and so I still end up using the cheap ones more often (Lamy Safari, Pilot Metropolitan, or Faber-Castell Loom--whichever one I can dig up a cartridge for).
Thanks for the post, cupcakeninja!
posted by epimorph at 8:04 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]
Call me a disgusting plebeian but after having various cartridge and refillable fountain pens, both inexpensive and luxury... I just went back to the hassle free life of the disposable Pilot Varsity.
I love the way a fountain pen writes, and find them far more comfortable than ballpoints... but my ADHD ass cannot be trusted with anything that requires fiddly little parts for maintenance.
posted by Pemberly at 8:18 PM on February 6 [3 favorites]
I love the way a fountain pen writes, and find them far more comfortable than ballpoints... but my ADHD ass cannot be trusted with anything that requires fiddly little parts for maintenance.
posted by Pemberly at 8:18 PM on February 6 [3 favorites]
I've only tried a fountain pen once or twice, and it was miserable. I kept digging the nib into the paper.
I suspect it has to do with being a lefty, but don't really know.
posted by Ickster at 9:54 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]
I suspect it has to do with being a lefty, but don't really know.
posted by Ickster at 9:54 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]
The fountain pen I love is the Namiki Falcon/Pilot Elabo, fine. It was the first pricey FP I bought (a long time ago when it was less pricey but a risky purchase for me). It was and is my favorite—flex nib, always starts, feels great in the hand and on the paper. I’ve bought other pens that cost as much but none I like as much.
posted by librosegretti at 10:06 PM on February 6
posted by librosegretti at 10:06 PM on February 6
Every fp I own is a demo, so that definitely tells outside observers something about my personality. Anyway, in response to the article, I run two Opus pens that vary so wildly in performance... I hate-use one of them in the hope that some day it may live up to its brother's greatness, which is sad because I prefer its chunky M size nib/form factor/posting cap.
I have found the ink makes a difference for "feel", and I doubt I'll ever buy a new pen that isn't dropper fill; these sadly are from experience. I shall continue to also hate-fill my neglected vac pen because I cannot in good conscience sell it knowing I can't recommend its main functionality.
Good article though--glad I'm not in pen fanatic territory yet.
posted by Khazk at 10:28 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]
I have found the ink makes a difference for "feel", and I doubt I'll ever buy a new pen that isn't dropper fill; these sadly are from experience. I shall continue to also hate-fill my neglected vac pen because I cannot in good conscience sell it knowing I can't recommend its main functionality.
Good article though--glad I'm not in pen fanatic territory yet.
posted by Khazk at 10:28 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]
A thread like this is Metafilter at its best! After reading it, I'm wondering if any of you fountain pen aficionados could recommend a fountain pen for sketching and drawing? I would like a pen that can handle waterproof ink (to be able to paint over it with water colour), preferably with some slight flex/give in the nib, so it won't be too stiff.
posted by Termite at 11:34 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]
posted by Termite at 11:34 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]
TBH I found cigar-shaped pens too boring and what brought me back to fountain pens (after using Inoxcrom FPs when I was a kid) were the plastic Kaweco Sports, because their design was so cool.
Nowadays the pens I like the most are AL Sports and TWSBIs because they seal so well I can pick them up after months of not using them and start writing without a hitch. However, I'd also like to mention PenBBS, they're Chinese hobbyists and their pens are relatively cheap, visually appealing and well made.
posted by sukeban at 12:16 AM on February 7 [1 favorite]
Nowadays the pens I like the most are AL Sports and TWSBIs because they seal so well I can pick them up after months of not using them and start writing without a hitch. However, I'd also like to mention PenBBS, they're Chinese hobbyists and their pens are relatively cheap, visually appealing and well made.
posted by sukeban at 12:16 AM on February 7 [1 favorite]
I'm a Chinese pen person too, though more Majohn and Hongdian than Jinhao. I'll admit to a couple of Jinhao 51A with a custom nib from Bobby on Aliexpress though - both of them write like a dream and are my preferred travel pens.
I've tried a lot of pens including Very Expensive, and I keep not noticing that much difference in actual quality. In particular at some point (*cough*Montblanc*cough*) the more expensive the pen, the harder it is to hold. I do prefer slimmer profiles and a writing experience just a little to the grippy side of smooth on Rhodia paper. I prefer to spend my pen money on neat-looking and custom stuff - last year I got a small-manufacturer stabilised wood pen that's just a joy to hold.
Wow do I hear him on the inks though. They're cheap and I have over 30 bottles and keep going back to some of the same ones (KWZ Ink Honey and Diamine Aurora Borealis and Monteverde Jade Noir). Note to self, stop that...
posted by I claim sanctuary at 12:42 AM on February 7 [3 favorites]
I've tried a lot of pens including Very Expensive, and I keep not noticing that much difference in actual quality. In particular at some point (*cough*Montblanc*cough*) the more expensive the pen, the harder it is to hold. I do prefer slimmer profiles and a writing experience just a little to the grippy side of smooth on Rhodia paper. I prefer to spend my pen money on neat-looking and custom stuff - last year I got a small-manufacturer stabilised wood pen that's just a joy to hold.
Wow do I hear him on the inks though. They're cheap and I have over 30 bottles and keep going back to some of the same ones (KWZ Ink Honey and Diamine Aurora Borealis and Monteverde Jade Noir). Note to self, stop that...
posted by I claim sanctuary at 12:42 AM on February 7 [3 favorites]
@ickster based on my own experience I feel strongly that you had a combination of pen and paper that didn't work for your grip and or your grip needed a one time gross adjustment. When i started using fountain pens in my 30s I had never held one before and at first I was holding it basically backward. the fact that as a lefty we need to push the nib somewhat can be counterintuitive. However I also accept that the view may not be worth the climb for you...but if you were sitting next to me I'd be bugging you to try all sorts of stuff and watching your hand.
@khazk ha the notion of hate-using a pen in the hopes it starts to behave. Been there! I have learned that it's important to wash out brand new cheap pens, and that a razor blade can work wonders for first pass tune up on an uncooprerative nib.
posted by hearthpig at 4:18 AM on February 7
@khazk ha the notion of hate-using a pen in the hopes it starts to behave. Been there! I have learned that it's important to wash out brand new cheap pens, and that a razor blade can work wonders for first pass tune up on an uncooprerative nib.
posted by hearthpig at 4:18 AM on February 7
I only have a few fountain pens, but don’t get me started on pens for plotting. I have tried so many gel and metallics for black paper that there’s an entire bin of them. Luckily they are far cheaper than the fancy writing implements being discussed here…
posted by autopilot at 5:20 AM on February 7
posted by autopilot at 5:20 AM on February 7
My chief splurge is fountain pens, which I have used since I was 12 years old a very long time ago. I just spent an inordinate amount at the Philly Pen Show, comforting myself with the assurance that I have cut costs everywhere else. (Besides, shows have a lot more women at them than they did ten or twenty years ago, so I don't feel as excluded any more).
The fountain pen community is just chock full of opinions, and I have gradually learned (like the writer of the linked essay) to ignore a lot of them. For instance, I don't sell the pens I don't use, and I don't keep the boxes. Right now I'm using maybe six of the pens I own out of, I dunno, 50? and yet part of the point is that they are in a tidy little clear plastic Muji chest of drawers where I can see them, and I amuse myself by saying they will go to the nursing home with me when I leave everything else behind.
I agree that limited editions are a complete waste of time, but I don't share the author's favorites. Montblancs are way too expensive for what they are and Viscontis bore me. Right now, what do I love? The mundane-looking Lamy 2000, one of the best writers ever made, a Navahlur Nautilus, and a bunch of Chinese knockoffs that cost no more than $12 each.
Yes, it appears to be an obsession.
posted by Peach at 5:30 AM on February 7 [5 favorites]
The fountain pen community is just chock full of opinions, and I have gradually learned (like the writer of the linked essay) to ignore a lot of them. For instance, I don't sell the pens I don't use, and I don't keep the boxes. Right now I'm using maybe six of the pens I own out of, I dunno, 50? and yet part of the point is that they are in a tidy little clear plastic Muji chest of drawers where I can see them, and I amuse myself by saying they will go to the nursing home with me when I leave everything else behind.
I agree that limited editions are a complete waste of time, but I don't share the author's favorites. Montblancs are way too expensive for what they are and Viscontis bore me. Right now, what do I love? The mundane-looking Lamy 2000, one of the best writers ever made, a Navahlur Nautilus, and a bunch of Chinese knockoffs that cost no more than $12 each.
Yes, it appears to be an obsession.
posted by Peach at 5:30 AM on February 7 [5 favorites]
I guess I should just admit that I’m not a Pilot guy. If I’d realised that earlier, I’d have saved myself a lot of money — money that I could have spent on Viscontis and Montblancs, which speak to me much more.
I wish manufacturers would be better at QC, and retailers too.
Viscontis are legendary for having shoddy QC—pay $1k for a pen, then pay a nibmeister to make it work properly—whereas Pilot has the best QC in the industry. Complaining about QC after going in on Visconti is an entirely foreseeable outcome. A lot of pen fanatics have their reasons for not liking Pilot: the converters, the dull designs. (Pilot pens run dry because Pilot inks have a wet flow. Dry pens hate dry inks. See also TWSBI.) But in general fanatics of all stripes tend not to give a damn about QC or reliability because tinkering with things to make them better is kind of the point. See also car enthusiasts who adore stunningly unreliable Italian cars but find Toyotas boring. Visconti is the Maserati of fountain pens, whereas Pilot is Toyota. A pen that just works is beside the point.
posted by mcwetboy at 5:50 AM on February 7 [3 favorites]
I wish manufacturers would be better at QC, and retailers too.
Viscontis are legendary for having shoddy QC—pay $1k for a pen, then pay a nibmeister to make it work properly—whereas Pilot has the best QC in the industry. Complaining about QC after going in on Visconti is an entirely foreseeable outcome. A lot of pen fanatics have their reasons for not liking Pilot: the converters, the dull designs. (Pilot pens run dry because Pilot inks have a wet flow. Dry pens hate dry inks. See also TWSBI.) But in general fanatics of all stripes tend not to give a damn about QC or reliability because tinkering with things to make them better is kind of the point. See also car enthusiasts who adore stunningly unreliable Italian cars but find Toyotas boring. Visconti is the Maserati of fountain pens, whereas Pilot is Toyota. A pen that just works is beside the point.
posted by mcwetboy at 5:50 AM on February 7 [3 favorites]
My dad bought me an engraved Parker Sonnet in 1998, as a high school graduation gift. I was his last kid, and the only nerd in the bunch, and the gift felt like a gesture to say that he respected my love of writing and all the things that come with it.
It's 25 years later. Though many other fountain pens have come and gone, I still write with that Sonnet almost every day.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 6:52 AM on February 7 [7 favorites]
It's 25 years later. Though many other fountain pens have come and gone, I still write with that Sonnet almost every day.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 6:52 AM on February 7 [7 favorites]
A fountain pen thread on MeFi? How joyous!
Truly, this appeals to me in multiple ways.
posted by grubi at 7:56 AM on February 7 [3 favorites]
Truly, this appeals to me in multiple ways.
posted by grubi at 7:56 AM on February 7 [3 favorites]
I splurged (and I mean splurged) about seven years ago for my birthday and got a Pelican Souverän M805, the one with blue stirpes and chrome appointments. It has been my daily driver ever since then. Due to its high cost, I do get very paranoid about it (I never share it ever), but it is a joy to write with and since buying it, I've only purchased one other pen (but that was to replace what a coworker broke). After years of piling up the pens, the Souverän has been the best pen I could ask for.
posted by grubi at 8:00 AM on February 7
posted by grubi at 8:00 AM on February 7
But in general fanatics of all stripes tend not to give a damn about QC or reliability because tinkering with things to make them better is kind of the point. See also car enthusiasts who adore stunningly unreliable Italian cars but find Toyotas boring.
See, this is why even though I have three fountain pens on my desk and another two in pockets, plus a bunch more in various bags and drawers, I am not really a Fountain Pen Guy.
(Delike New Moon; Jinhao 82; a PenBBS magnet filler whose mechanism broke, which is unfortunate, because my experience with PenBBS pens has been very good; a PenBBS piston filler which works great but has a nib that's a bit too wide for my taste; and a Lamy Studio that I like unreasonably much).
I like fountain pens. I find that writing with them is a good experience. But I want the Toyota of pens. If it can be pretty? Fabulous. (Give me a Pro Gear Slim in Summer Rain any day.) But I do not want to tinker. I want reliability, comfort, and a minimum of excitement. I also can't spend $500+ on a pen if I can have a good writing experience for much cheaper.
(Although I WILL someday get a Sailor Pro Gear in a very pretty color, because my favorite pen I've ever had is a Sailor Promenade that someone stole off my desk, and gosh, some of those Pro Gear special editions are gorgeous.)
posted by Jeanne at 8:07 AM on February 7 [2 favorites]
See, this is why even though I have three fountain pens on my desk and another two in pockets, plus a bunch more in various bags and drawers, I am not really a Fountain Pen Guy.
(Delike New Moon; Jinhao 82; a PenBBS magnet filler whose mechanism broke, which is unfortunate, because my experience with PenBBS pens has been very good; a PenBBS piston filler which works great but has a nib that's a bit too wide for my taste; and a Lamy Studio that I like unreasonably much).
I like fountain pens. I find that writing with them is a good experience. But I want the Toyota of pens. If it can be pretty? Fabulous. (Give me a Pro Gear Slim in Summer Rain any day.) But I do not want to tinker. I want reliability, comfort, and a minimum of excitement. I also can't spend $500+ on a pen if I can have a good writing experience for much cheaper.
(Although I WILL someday get a Sailor Pro Gear in a very pretty color, because my favorite pen I've ever had is a Sailor Promenade that someone stole off my desk, and gosh, some of those Pro Gear special editions are gorgeous.)
posted by Jeanne at 8:07 AM on February 7 [2 favorites]
Termite: The trouble with fountain pen inks is that they are always water-based, so it's difficult to find waterproof inks. India inks or any oil-based inks will clog the feeds, and you're advised to stick with dip pens if you want to use a nib with those substances.
However! You will be able to find iron-gall inks, which actually use a mild acid (traditionally generated from the "galls" that oak trees grow over wasp infestations, mixed with metal solutions) to chemically change the paper so as to leave a permanent mark. Sometimes you will see these listed as "registrar" inks, but again be careful that what you get is suitable for fountain pens.
Be warned, however, that the acid in these inks (while milder than those used to sign the Declaration of Independence) is not something you want to leave a steel nib soaking in for months in your desk. I tend to put the stuff in cheap Jinhao pens only, with the understanding that I'm treating the pen itself as kind of a consumable. I also try to alternate inks to make sure I got all of the acid out before putting the pen away. It's easier to spot the blue-black stain if I've filled a pen with red ink for a flush.
Finally, if you're doing drawing, you may find a flex or music nib worth exploring, as those can generate some line shapes that many find more expressive. A cheap italic nib is easy to find for most pens, and you can experiment a bit with the directions you can draw lines from it.
Oh, and a glass pen is always worth having to hand for testing inks of all types!
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 8:13 AM on February 7 [3 favorites]
However! You will be able to find iron-gall inks, which actually use a mild acid (traditionally generated from the "galls" that oak trees grow over wasp infestations, mixed with metal solutions) to chemically change the paper so as to leave a permanent mark. Sometimes you will see these listed as "registrar" inks, but again be careful that what you get is suitable for fountain pens.
Be warned, however, that the acid in these inks (while milder than those used to sign the Declaration of Independence) is not something you want to leave a steel nib soaking in for months in your desk. I tend to put the stuff in cheap Jinhao pens only, with the understanding that I'm treating the pen itself as kind of a consumable. I also try to alternate inks to make sure I got all of the acid out before putting the pen away. It's easier to spot the blue-black stain if I've filled a pen with red ink for a flush.
Finally, if you're doing drawing, you may find a flex or music nib worth exploring, as those can generate some line shapes that many find more expressive. A cheap italic nib is easy to find for most pens, and you can experiment a bit with the directions you can draw lines from it.
Oh, and a glass pen is always worth having to hand for testing inks of all types!
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 8:13 AM on February 7 [3 favorites]
Seconding the Jinhao sharks for a cheap pen. Their point is almost like a ballpoint, so it's a little weird. I love them as my work pens though.
I've never spent more than $30 on a pen, and my favorite is the Pilot Metropolitan. I went through a phase where I loved my Lamy, but I'm back to my Metro because it's wetter.
posted by tofu_crouton at 8:14 AM on February 7
I've never spent more than $30 on a pen, and my favorite is the Pilot Metropolitan. I went through a phase where I loved my Lamy, but I'm back to my Metro because it's wetter.
posted by tofu_crouton at 8:14 AM on February 7
I'm rocking the Platinum Preppy as my starter pen and I like it most of the time. More ink arrived yesterday, so I'm back to filling up my notebook with scribbles.
The article has a lot of good advice on handling the hobby.
posted by dragonplayer at 8:22 AM on February 7 [2 favorites]
The article has a lot of good advice on handling the hobby.
posted by dragonplayer at 8:22 AM on February 7 [2 favorites]
I've been trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong with my gorgeous Monza 3 — I was so excited about the possibilities of swapping out 3 nibs on one pen, but every time I use it, I get ink all over my fingers. Some of it is that I have an unusual grip, and tend to choke up on the nib more than I should, but even when I am really trying to grip higher on the barrel ...Call me Inkmael.
posted by pollytropos at 9:04 AM on February 7 [2 favorites]
posted by pollytropos at 9:04 AM on February 7 [2 favorites]
Pilot Precise V5 is the only pen I ever want.
posted by GoblinHoney at 9:18 AM on February 7 [2 favorites]
posted by GoblinHoney at 9:18 AM on February 7 [2 favorites]
pollytropos, ink stains are the hobby flag for fountain pen addicts and calligraphers! I've found that the best way to get them out is to wash your hair. Something about the mild abrasion does it.
(Like, I could use a syringe for refills but my attention span doesn't last that long.)
posted by I claim sanctuary at 12:06 PM on February 7
(Like, I could use a syringe for refills but my attention span doesn't last that long.)
posted by I claim sanctuary at 12:06 PM on February 7
ink stains are the hobby flag for fountain pen addicts and calligraphers!
Amen. A day without ink on your fingers is a day you didn't use your fountain pen.
posted by grubi at 12:28 PM on February 7 [3 favorites]
Amen. A day without ink on your fingers is a day you didn't use your fountain pen.
posted by grubi at 12:28 PM on February 7 [3 favorites]
”Huh... Well that was kind of nice; I keep forgetting how much I like this pen," is this freakin' 8-dollar Zebra that I got as a "Here, try this!" from our Zebra rep years ago, and the stupid thing just won't stop writing.
I am not a fountain pen guy but I had one of those that I bought from Walgreens just for the hell of it and I thought it worked pretty well. I wonder where it’s got off to.
posted by atoxyl at 12:43 PM on February 7
I am not a fountain pen guy but I had one of those that I bought from Walgreens just for the hell of it and I thought it worked pretty well. I wonder where it’s got off to.
posted by atoxyl at 12:43 PM on February 7
2nd lonely vanishing point fan--i lost mine but it was a pen I actually used a lot for a while. Also loved a Twisbi for a bit. Just found my stash of those ?Chinese pens that are Parker knockoffs? that I was going to give to grad students as gifts, but now I'll probably keep them. But I'm not a fountain pen person...
posted by Mngo at 3:23 PM on February 7
posted by Mngo at 3:23 PM on February 7
@termite: my recommendation (and go-to combo for line and wash watercolor art) is Platinum Carbon Black ink and a Pilot Falcon. I hate it for writing with but it’s a really pleasant fine and slightly flexible nib for drawing. You can get a cheap flex pen from Fountain Pen Revolution also but those are not as well behaved in my experience, sometimes burping random ink bubbles. Also look into the Sailor Fude DE Mannen pens, with a bent tip that can draw a very fine line when held upside down or a broad one when held at a low angle. Lots of character and line variation.
I have soooo many fountain pens and have found that I really enjoy having a little flock of them with different colors for writing stuff down for work or personal journaling, plus a waterproof inked Falcon like the one I just mentioned above for art. Stub, italic, or architect nibs (which write narrow across but broad up and down, or vice versa) give a beautiful calligraphy quality to my messy handwriting and make it feel special to write things down. I swapped out a standard Lamy Safari nib with one of their cursive nibs and it immensely improved the already lovely writing experience.
Fountain pens are not very practical but they are a pleasure, and that’s something I generally embrace.
posted by music for skeletons at 3:42 PM on February 7 [4 favorites]
I have soooo many fountain pens and have found that I really enjoy having a little flock of them with different colors for writing stuff down for work or personal journaling, plus a waterproof inked Falcon like the one I just mentioned above for art. Stub, italic, or architect nibs (which write narrow across but broad up and down, or vice versa) give a beautiful calligraphy quality to my messy handwriting and make it feel special to write things down. I swapped out a standard Lamy Safari nib with one of their cursive nibs and it immensely improved the already lovely writing experience.
Fountain pens are not very practical but they are a pleasure, and that’s something I generally embrace.
posted by music for skeletons at 3:42 PM on February 7 [4 favorites]
3rd Vanishing Point fan chiming in--- but not the current iteration. I have small hands, and fountain pens in general tend to be heavy and oversized. I have a 90's era Vanishing point that I cherish, and my daily writer is a Decimo VP with matching iroshizuku ink (shin-kai, if you're curious). Yeah, it's an expensive loss if I lose it but it feels so nice in my hand and at least I can't lose the cap.
I have others, including a Pilot Metro and a Cross Beverly on my desk right now, but I always reach for that VP.
I might even buy one in another color now that they're selling the iroshizuku inks in cartridges. Those inks are so great and I already have a pen/ink/artcraft supply problem, I don't let myself browse pen inks anymore. Besides, no ink will ever be as good as the Parker Penmans from the 90's. RIP Sapphire.
posted by ApathyGirl at 3:50 PM on February 7
I have others, including a Pilot Metro and a Cross Beverly on my desk right now, but I always reach for that VP.
I might even buy one in another color now that they're selling the iroshizuku inks in cartridges. Those inks are so great and I already have a pen/ink/artcraft supply problem, I don't let myself browse pen inks anymore. Besides, no ink will ever be as good as the Parker Penmans from the 90's. RIP Sapphire.
posted by ApathyGirl at 3:50 PM on February 7
Thank you for answers and recommendations! I've used Platinum carbon black in Platinum pens before; can I use it in all fountain pens as long as I don't let them dry?
posted by Termite at 3:24 AM on February 8
posted by Termite at 3:24 AM on February 8
Here's a review of Platinum Carbon Black using a bog-standard Lamy AL-Star, which is about as middle-of-the-road fountain-pen as you can get. So yeah, so long as you shake before using and flush the section every so often, you should be good.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 6:49 AM on February 8 [1 favorite]
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 6:49 AM on February 8 [1 favorite]
Call me a "vanishing point" fan, but I'm the black sheep of the family with my Moonman A1 and A2. Came to them after trying a Lamy Safari, and all I can say is that I'd forgotten how much I like writing.
And there's nothing quite like pulling one out in a business meeting to take some notes and watching eyes follow and then widen as they realize I didn't pull out some garden variety retractable ballpoint, but a retractable freaking fountain pen.
posted by Snowflake at 5:24 PM on February 9 [1 favorite]
And there's nothing quite like pulling one out in a business meeting to take some notes and watching eyes follow and then widen as they realize I didn't pull out some garden variety retractable ballpoint, but a retractable freaking fountain pen.
posted by Snowflake at 5:24 PM on February 9 [1 favorite]
Glad to see Moonman, jinhao, and Penbbs fans! I'm a fan of cheaper pens, wet writers, flex nibs, and waterproof inks (always, because it sucks when your grocery list disappears in in a few raindrops)!
For waterproof-ink-curious folks I'd recommend samples of all the DeArt... Document inks and a syringe as it'll allow you to add waterproof ink to your non-waterproof ink. You want samples of the bright colors like fuscha, purple, spring green, orange, etc because you can always darken with black. You risk damage - I've never had problems, but YMMV. Don't start with sentimental or $$ pens. I also like the modern iron gall inks - magical citrus to black color change from wet to dry!
I've learned I loathe pilot *and* lamay- I know you're supposed to like at least one, but I find them dry, uninteresting, scratchy, and unpleasant to write with.
Kaweco sports were my FP intro and I still recommend and use them regularly! No leaks, no drama, they just work. I wish they had a larger converter and didn't dry out so quickly.
Two pens that always work though it may be months since I've filled them - a twisbi diamond aluminum and a moonman M2/C2 - I have an ugly snowflake version because I doubted I'd like it but wanted to try, but it works so well I use it all the time.
A pen that always requires fiddling, babying, and priming but that I keep permenantly inked anyway? FPR's entry-level triveni ebonite with an extra flex nib, even though the feed can't remotely keep up with the nib. It's my first/only ebonite, and I see the attraction - it's somehow warm and 'soft' compared to resin/acrylic/plastic/metal. It's probably my most expensive pen and the most frustrating to use, but for the words it manages to write it's an absolute dream. Someday I'll get a higher quality ebonite pen with an ebonite feed that can keep up with the extra flex nib, but I'm happy puttering along with a static collection inking 5 or 6 at a time and using them for mundane things like phone scribbles or books to read or to-do notes. If you think you'd like flex nibs and haven't tried them, do check out FPR's extra flex, they're delightful!
Heresy but I'm not a tomoe river paper fan - it's too slick, takes way too long to dry, and isn't fun to write on. Midori OTOH - is love :) I can't imagine I'm the only one but know I'm in the minority - I kept trying to like TR but never found a pen/ink combo that I enjoyed.
I'd love flex nib or ebonite recommendations if you've run across others you've enjoyed?
posted by esoteric things at 5:10 AM on February 10
For waterproof-ink-curious folks I'd recommend samples of all the DeArt... Document inks and a syringe as it'll allow you to add waterproof ink to your non-waterproof ink. You want samples of the bright colors like fuscha, purple, spring green, orange, etc because you can always darken with black. You risk damage - I've never had problems, but YMMV. Don't start with sentimental or $$ pens. I also like the modern iron gall inks - magical citrus to black color change from wet to dry!
I've learned I loathe pilot *and* lamay- I know you're supposed to like at least one, but I find them dry, uninteresting, scratchy, and unpleasant to write with.
Kaweco sports were my FP intro and I still recommend and use them regularly! No leaks, no drama, they just work. I wish they had a larger converter and didn't dry out so quickly.
Two pens that always work though it may be months since I've filled them - a twisbi diamond aluminum and a moonman M2/C2 - I have an ugly snowflake version because I doubted I'd like it but wanted to try, but it works so well I use it all the time.
A pen that always requires fiddling, babying, and priming but that I keep permenantly inked anyway? FPR's entry-level triveni ebonite with an extra flex nib, even though the feed can't remotely keep up with the nib. It's my first/only ebonite, and I see the attraction - it's somehow warm and 'soft' compared to resin/acrylic/plastic/metal. It's probably my most expensive pen and the most frustrating to use, but for the words it manages to write it's an absolute dream. Someday I'll get a higher quality ebonite pen with an ebonite feed that can keep up with the extra flex nib, but I'm happy puttering along with a static collection inking 5 or 6 at a time and using them for mundane things like phone scribbles or books to read or to-do notes. If you think you'd like flex nibs and haven't tried them, do check out FPR's extra flex, they're delightful!
Heresy but I'm not a tomoe river paper fan - it's too slick, takes way too long to dry, and isn't fun to write on. Midori OTOH - is love :) I can't imagine I'm the only one but know I'm in the minority - I kept trying to like TR but never found a pen/ink combo that I enjoyed.
I'd love flex nib or ebonite recommendations if you've run across others you've enjoyed?
posted by esoteric things at 5:10 AM on February 10
Partially inspired by this thread, I finally bought a Kaweco Sport calligraphy set and I'm super excited.
posted by hydropsyche at 9:00 AM on February 10 [1 favorite]
posted by hydropsyche at 9:00 AM on February 10 [1 favorite]
Another Vanishing Point fan here. I have an all black one as my everyday work pen. It looks so unlike a fountain pen I keep confusing colleagues when they ask to borrow my pen, only to realize it's not a ballpoint. And, for my (fairly small) hands at least, it's a good size with a weight balance that makes it very easy to twirl around my thumb.
My at home pen is a Lamy 2k, always inked with J. Herbin's Lierre Sauvage. Writing in a Rhodia notebook with it is one of my favorite parts of my day.
posted by Karmeliet at 5:15 AM on February 12
My at home pen is a Lamy 2k, always inked with J. Herbin's Lierre Sauvage. Writing in a Rhodia notebook with it is one of my favorite parts of my day.
posted by Karmeliet at 5:15 AM on February 12
Since this thread is still open: Lamy has reintroduced its coveted, limited-edition Dark Lilac color ink--or has it? [Reddit; there's also a NYT article, but I don't think that I can transfer the free link over from Bluesky--here's the skeet that I found it in.]
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:24 PM on March 1 [1 favorite]
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:24 PM on March 1 [1 favorite]
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And really it's just...nice. Not some kind of perfected artisanal experience glorious, but it's good. Doesn't leak, seals tight...I dunno, it just never lets me down.
And all the bigger pens were always lost in bags or drying out behind keyboards or neglected in writing boxes. This is just always to hand.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:33 PM on February 6 [9 favorites]