Thread: Any Fountain Pen Users?

A couple of weeks ago I ran out of ink at work. I have plenty of ink there but no syringe and needle. I have been refilling cartridges with that pen. I work in a hospital and there are plenty around but not worth loosing my job! I started using my mechanical pencil and it is an interesting change of pace. then I came home tonight and when trying to write in my diary my Ahab ran out of ink. Being lazy i wrote with a pencil.

Originally Posted by 32t

A couple of weeks ago I ran out of ink at work. I have plenty of ink there but no syringe and needle. I have been refilling cartridges with that pen. I work in a hospital and there are plenty around but not worth loosing my job! I started using my mechanical pencil and it is an interesting change of pace. then I came home tonight and when trying to write in my diary my Ahab ran out of ink. Being lazy i wrote with a pencil.

Nice story. I like the idea of refilling cartridges, but why not a converter? I always found mechanical pencils fiddly, though, again, nice engineering (I had a nice Rotary). I actually like 'normal' pencils if I can't use an FP and I favour a soft lead; even a 3B or 4B; even a 5B. In my camping kit I have a little bundle of pencils cut in half. Sharpening a pencil is also a nicely fulfilling thing to do...

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Nice story. I like the idea of refilling cartridges, but why not a converter? I always found mechanical pencils fiddly, though, again, nice engineering (I had a nice Rotary). I actually like 'normal' pencils if I can't use an FP and I favour a soft lead; even a 3B or 4B; even a 5B. In my camping kit I have a little bundle of pencils cut in half. Sharpening a pencil is also a nicely fulfilling thing to do...

Pencils aren't terribly big or heavy in their complete state are they? I really quite like using a pocket knife to sharpen pencils, its kind of like whittling with purpose, a nice contradiction I think

Originally Posted by edhewitt

Pencils aren't terribly big or heavy in their complete state are they? I really quite like using a pocket knife to sharpen pencils, its kind of like whittling with purpose, a nice contradiction I think

Pencils aren't heavy but they do tend to be too big for the average pocket to securely enclose them, or for some purposes a shorter pencil is better suited to the mode of carriage. I have a couple of sketch books that I have short pencils elastic banded to...And I dare anyone to try it cutting a mechanical pencil in half and making two serviceable shorter pencils...


Mick

Originally Posted by MickR

Pencils aren't heavy but they do tend to be too big for the average pocket to securely enclose them, or for some purposes a shorter pencil is better suited to the mode of carriage. I have a couple of sketch books that I have short pencils elastic banded to...And I dare anyone to try it cutting a mechanical pencil in half and making two serviceable shorter pencils...


Mick

Perhaps a pencil quiver would be in order then. I find short pencils unsatisfactory to hold, but I am not a drawist by a long stretch.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

Perhaps a pencil quiver would be in order then. I find short pencils unsatisfactory to hold, but I am not a drawist by a long stretch.

Nor I, but it's something that doesn't bother me one way or t'other. I got used to carrying a short pencil in the boy scouts attached to my notebook with my two bob stuck to the inside of the cover for emergency 'phone calls.


mick

Originally Posted by MickR

Nor I, but it's something that doesn't bother me one way or t'other. I got used to carrying a short pencil in the boy scouts attached to my notebook with my two bob stuck to the inside of the cover for emergency 'phone calls.


mick

my daughter thinks i am ok at art, but better at craft. I keep emergency 5 buckses tucked away in various spots too, well unless I have used them and not replaced them.
I am a bit of a Rolf Harris when it comes to drawing, except you can rarely tell what it is yet, even at the end.

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Nice story. I like the idea of refilling cartridges, but why not a converter? I always found mechanical pencils fiddly, though, again, nice engineering (I had a nice Rotary). I actually like 'normal' pencils if I can't use an FP and I favour a soft lead; even a 3B or 4B; even a 5B. In my camping kit I have a little bundle of pencils cut in half. Sharpening a pencil is also a nicely fulfilling thing to do...

Get a 'Palomino Blackwing' - best wooden pencil around!

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Nice story. I like the idea of refilling cartridges, but why not a converter? I always found mechanical pencils fiddly, though, again, nice engineering (I had a nice Rotary). I actually like 'normal' pencils if I can't use an FP and I favour a soft lead; even a 3B or 4B; even a 5B. In my camping kit I have a little bundle of pencils cut in half. Sharpening a pencil is also a nicely fulfilling thing to do...

I think converters are nicer overall but this pen is a cheap Sheaffer from the 1970's. It cost me a dollar. It uses relatively little ink and I usually keep an eye on the level.

A problem with mechanical pencils is you don't know how much lead is left in them easily. With a standard pencil it is obvious as it gets shorter!

I break thinner lead to easily. My everyday mechanical pencil uses 1.15 mm lead. It is also stainless steel. You would need a hammer to break it I think.

Its amazing to me, everything I've learned and discovered from these forums- I've always had a soft spot for the flair and class of the older, traditional ways of doing things (as someone said, straight razors and fountain pens are very much related), and I've discovered just how much I enjoy some of the finer things by reading these threads. As such, I bought a Noodler's Ahab for $20 and I'm hooked. I've been looking at different inks and higher quality notebooks for notetaking, both personal and professional, and I'm not sure I would have if I hadn't read these forums. So thanks Gents!

A serious question- My Noodler's seems to seep a bit of ink from where the nib/feed meet the body of the pen... its not excessive and doesn't drip, but it leaves the nib with small smears of ink, and the feed is...saturated? if that makes sense. Is this normal? do I need to adjust it in some way? Thanks!

Ryan