Thread: Fountain Pens

Hello all,

Please forgive me if I'm repeating what others have said already - it's hard to keep up with such an active forum!

A very good resource is Richard Binder: http://www.richardspens.com/

Richard is highly respected in the fountain pen world; he's knowledgeable, an expert at restoration and repair, a real artist when it comes to customizing nibs (I've several that I love) - and a true gentleman. I think he also has some pens for sale via his website. Great guy.

I can only agree with the warning others have given: pens, like razors, can easily become a happy obsession. I started out with a Waterman Expert - a nice, modest pen - thinking it would be my only one. HA!!

I've got about ten so far. Use them all. And my little collection is indeed little compared to some folks I know who started out with similarly modest intentions.

Most recent purchase: a Lamy 2000. I'd read about it and wanted to try one myself. It's wonderful! Very smooth writer.

One word about Noodler's inks: while the colors are gorgeous, and Nathan Tardiff has done an extraordinary job in creating these inks, they do tend to be very saturated with dye/pigment (not sure which). In some pens, this can lead to a greater likelihood of clogging if the pen isn't flushed thoroughly somewhat more frequently than normal. Having said that, they really are stunningly beautiful inks.

I also recommend trying Sailor inks (as well as pens - very smooth nibs), and perhaps the deepest, richest black ink I've seen: Aurora. (Very good flow with this one, btw. I think Richard Binder has referred to it as like a "motor oil" for pens.)

Oh, I'm a lefty as well. I have no problem writing with fountain pens - these days I do so almost exclusively. But I can't use Noodlers inks, for some reason. My hand smears it - even when it's dry. Could be the paper I use, I suppose - that's a factor as well. (For papers, btw, I recommend Clairefontaine and Rhodia, made in France and widely available in the U.S. - probably elsewhere, too.)

If any of you are near Boston, there's a pen show coming up the weekend of April 14th. Great place to browse, make some friends, get some pens, lose some cash...

Come on, I am getting the urge to buy some pens I always wanted to try... Sailor 1911 being one of them, iirc the model... Some Danitrio...

Cheers
Ivo

I'm busy that weekend or I 'd go to the Boston pen show. Is there a place that will list upcoming dates and locations??

U.S. pen show calendar:

http://www.susanwirth.com/2000.htm

For pen shows in Europe:

http://www.freewebs.com/euroshows/

Very cool. Thanks for the schedules!

you all have got me searching for a fountain pen. I thought it was bad with razors, but some of these fountain pen guys are hard core. I think I see an alliance coming between the fountain pen network and straight razor place. We could take over the world

Originally Posted by plor

you all have got me searching for a fountain pen. I thought it was bad with razors, but some of these fountain pen guys are hard core. I think I see an alliance coming between the fountain pen network and straight razor place. We could take over the world

An alliance you say? I'm not sure. Those FP guys tend to think that the Pen is mightier than the Razor

Originally Posted by steve

An alliance you say? I'm not sure. Those FP guys tend to think that the Pen is mightier than the Razor

They do, indeed!

I am a pen lover myself but still respond to this:

"Oh yeah? I *can* cut a simple message into leather, soft wood, paper, etc. with my spike but let me see you shave some hairs with that nib!"

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by izlat

They do, indeed!

I am a pen lover myself but still respond to this:

"Oh yeah? I *can* cut a simple message into leather, soft wood, paper, etc. with my spike but let me see you shave some hairs with that nib!"

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by plor

you all have got me searching for a fountain pen. I thought it was bad with razors, but some of these fountain pen guys are hard core. I think I see an alliance coming between the fountain pen network and straight razor place. We could take over the world

Now all we need is for someone to start talking about
pocket watches.



Terry