Thread: Fountain Pens

The other night I think I remember reading something about one of you guys who uses a fountain pen. The idea interests me but I don't know much about them. If anyone here has any info re: fountain pens I'd love to here from you. I'd like to start writing with one and possibly collecting them as well. Thanks.

It's just fantastic.

Here's a few links:

www.hisnibs.com

I've bought from this guy and the pen was just wonderful (it was a Duke)

www.aikideal.com

My most recent purchase was a Naki from this website. It's the best pen I've used to date

www.pendemonium.com

Excellent people, great service and lots of new and old.

I'd suggest a pen from one of the first 2 sites. You can get a good, entry level pen for a very reasonable price ($20-50). This will let you try a pen, get used to the difference in writing technique and then, later on, you can spend more money on a higher end model.

The major difference in writing with a FP is the pressure (like honing, lighter is better). Regular ball point pens require you to apply a fair amount of pressure on the paper. A FP (if it's good) will let you barely touch pen to paper to get a good line. After you get used to the light touch, you'll notice that your hand doesn't get as tired when writing for longer periods of time. I find it also helps to improve my penmenship.

The other thing I'd recommend is using a pen that will allow you to fill the ink from an ink jar. The reason is the pen can clog over time if the ink only comes out of the pen. You help keep the pen free flowing if you move ink both in and out of the pen. Most pens will come with a piston converter for this.

PM me and I'll be happy to provide some more information or answer questions in more detail.

You may regret strating this, I started with one and now have 6......
Two years ago i decided that I wanted a good FP, not having a use for one I jioned a penfriends club, now I have many pens and write to people all around the world.

Some sites that are worth looking at are

www.swisherpens.com
http://pendemonium.com/

I have and love 3 Pelikan, another that you may want to look at is the Namiki VP (can be found on Penemonium. It has a retractable nib like a ball point and is a very smooth writer and great value.

The Lamy 2000, is an excellent pen (I have one) with a very smooth nib and is also great value.

As for inks check out

http://www.noodlersink.com/

They have the largest ragne of ink colours many of which are permanent, that is they bond to the paper and cannot be washed out.

Good luck!

This can be addictive, you have been warned...........

Trev,

Thanks for giving the noodler's ink link. Noodler's ink is my ink of choice. I absolutely love it. It will work with all pens and the permanent ink is fabulous. Once it dries, it won't be washed away.

Thanks for your help. I'll begin checking those links tonight. As for regretting getting into fountain pens I'm sure you are right. I got involved with straight razors because I wanted to buy a decent shaving brush, that was back in Nov. I now own 4 brushes, 14 DE's, 7 shaving mugs and about 30 straight razors. I hope I'll be able stop after 2 or 3 pens.

Originally Posted by willist

Thanks for your help. I'll begin checking those links tonight. As for regretting getting into fountain pens I'm sure you are right. I got involved with straight razors because I wanted to buy a decent shaving brush, that was back in Nov. I now own 4 brushes, 14 DE's, 7 shaving mugs and about 30 straight razors. I hope I'll be able stop after 2 or 3 pens.

I think you are going to need a 7-day fountain pen set

I need a 7 day razor set 1st.

I use a fountain pen. I got it as a Christmas present after much begging. I use Private Reserve American Blue Ink. I haven't had FPAD yet, because I can't afford it.

I've been using a Pelikan for about 20 years, and recently got my wife a Parker 51 flighter that she quite likes. The P51 I used in high school was probably my favorite pen, I really need to get another for myself - the Pelikan is getting pretty tired, but those model 51's just keep going and going, as well as being one of the smoothest-writing fountain pens I've ever used.

The wife is partial to Noodlers, I've been using Quink in the Pelikan.

I'm a pen twirler, so I'd better not buy one of these for myself, but it's good to know which ones make the best presents. Keep it coming guys.

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