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Classic fountain pens

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Re: Classic fountain pens

#171

Post by ahonhn »

tristor wrote: post #84

I collect fountain pens (and other types of pens) and paper/stationary. I have been writing extensively by hand for many many years. While it is not my overall favorite, I think it's important for folks to know that from a writing quality and feel perspective that modern low-cost pens are actually /very/ good, and are the way to go. The Platinum Preppy is every bit as good as the majority of classic fountain pens, an…

Absolutely right about the paper. I use copier paper to write on, and a specific brand of it, because even between the brands of identical looking paper there are huge differences. Some branks seem to suck up the ink like blotting paper with more feathering than an explosion in a pillow factory, others are just too rough and feel horrible to write on. The ink also makes a big difference. Some inks just kinda suck, others work really well. (Currently I'm running Platinum Blue-Black in a cheap Platinum Plaisir on 'Double A' brand copy paper. Parker Quink also works very well for me.)

Re: Classic fountain pens

#172

Post by Al-Khwarizmi »

throwanem wrote: post #159
quantgenius wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Pilot Metropolitans sold in Europe use standard international cartridges. The ones used in the US use proprietary Pilot cartridges.

No kidding! I had no idea.

Me neither (that the American version used proprietary ones), otherwise I'd have specified.

Re: Classic fountain pens

#173

Post by adamquek »

quantgenius wrote: post #50

This list is certainly not classic fountain pens. They are mostly machined pens made by small batch producers with generic nibs and two with somewhat "different" nibs I wouldn't normally suggest most people get. These are pretty good pens but not what I would get as a first pen. Here are the pens I would suggest you consider if you don't know a lot about fountain pens. If you are a fountain pen collector, I'm mostly…

My daily driver is my Platinum Century (3776). The lavender colour just makes me feel like using it more.

Re: Classic fountain pens

#174

Post by eternityforest »

quantgenius wrote: post #50

This list is certainly not classic fountain pens. They are mostly machined pens made by small batch producers with generic nibs and two with somewhat "different" nibs I wouldn't normally suggest most people get. These are pretty good pens but not what I would get as a first pen. Here are the pens I would suggest you consider if you don't know a lot about fountain pens. If you are a fountain pen collector, I'm mostly…

I like this list a lot! But I'd also add that a lot of the cheap knockoff "gas station knife" kind of pens write just fine.

I suspect a lot of FP users are in it for the same reason as me. I'm not writing tens of pages a week, I use them for occasionally taking a few notes, in a really pretentious way just to be extra, partly as a protest against the trend of not having any hobbies besides eating and scrolling. It's like a living history project every time you use one!

My penmanship is already terrible, I don't expect to dance over the page effortlessly, I'd need probably years of practice to not need to constantly think about each movement, no matter what the pen is.

So to me, choosing a $10 pen by what looks cool is totally valid as long as there's enough reviews to be mostly sure it won't leak or just not work at all or something.

Even low end ones provide a lot of value if you just want to write without anything too 21st century ruining the low tech aesthetic, and it only costs $15 or so to get into.

Just be sure to get a modern pressurized pen as a backup if you don't spring for the nice fountain!!

Re: Classic fountain pens

#175

Post by ziml77 »

dan-robertson wrote: post #7
ziml77 wrote: post #4

I got into fountain pens for a while. One big problem with them is that you really need paper that's designed for them. A lot of common paper ends up wicking out the ink way too fast. But they are still pretty cool writing implements. It's easy to change the nibs in them so I would recommend trying out a few different sizes and styles to find one that suits you. It's a fun experience even if ballpoint pens are overal…

I always got on fine with laser printer paper. But it was never really a hobby – my school required them at one point and at another my parents thought it would help my handwriting. If you have a bunch of school kids made to use fountain pens, they aren’t going to be fussing about paper quality; they’ll just use what they have and be fine with it. I think you don’t really need certain types of paper. People just like…

I actually do expect a lot of printer papers to be fine. But typical notebook paper turns the lines into a mess.

Re: Classic fountain pens

#176

Post by ziml77 »

BeetleB wrote: post #56
dan-robertson wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always got on fine with laser printer paper. But it was never really a hobby – my school required them at one point and at another my parents thought it would help my handwriting. If you have a bunch of school kids made to use fountain pens, they aren’t going to be fussing about paper quality; they’ll just use what they have and be fine with it. I think you don’t really need certain types of paper. People just like…

In my experience, most laser printer papers feather heavily with fountain pen ink. I buy the Target brand ones, and they handle FP ink decently well. But yes - you definitely need paper that handles the ink well. Most notebooks sold in regular American stores do not. If your city has a Kinokuniya[1] store, likely most stationery sold there will handle it well as fountain pens are still used a lot in Japan. [1] https:…

> fountain pens are still used a lot in Japan

I ended up getting a Japanese notebook for that reason. I think the one I got may still have been a step up in quality from what's standard there, but it was a leap up from the generic US notebook I had been trying to use.

Re: Classic fountain pens

#178

Post by e40 »

gregors wrote: post #85
e40 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I saw the recommendation for the Lamy Safari in a lot of places. Just want to say I actually hated writing with it. Maybe I got a bad one, but I doubt it.

I really love my Lamy Safari, but tbh my experience is limited. What did you follow up with?

Btw, just got a 3-pack of Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pens and it's pretty nice. It feels like a rolling ball with a nib, and that pen was my go to pen for a long time before the Pentel EnerGel replaced it.

Re: Classic fountain pens

#179

Post by e40 »

MisterBastahrd wrote: post #42
e40 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I saw the recommendation for the Lamy Safari in a lot of places. Just want to say I actually hated writing with it. Maybe I got a bad one, but I doubt it.

I have two. The first one was purchased as part of a box kit from Bespoke Post. That one is fantastic all-around. Then I misplaced it and purchased a second one from Amazon, apparently with a different nib. I prefer the Pilot disposables to that one.

Decided to try the Pilot Varsity disposable, when I saw the price was so low (3 for ~$9). Thanks for rec!

It feels like a rolling ball with a nib, and that pen was my go to pen for a long time before the Pentel EnerGel replaced it.

Re: Classic fountain pens

#180

Post by Al-Khwarizmi »

okprod wrote: post #160
Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my view, Lamy Safari is way overrated. Don't get me wrong, it's far from bad, a pretty consistent pen for the price. But the ink dries fast-ish if you don't use it, and especially, the cartridges are proprietary so you're tied to the brand's cartridges and ink colors (there's a piston converter, but converters, meh). A Pilot Metropolitan is approximately the same price and at least in my view, it's better as it us…

Agree on the Lamy Safari drying out very quickly; I use it about once a week, and it is always dried out at first use. I know Montblanc can be overpriced, but it's the only pen I have that writes immediately without skipping after a time, even if I haven't used it in a month. My daily drivers are a Lamy 2000 with a TWSBI Eco in different color ink for highlighting/commenting; I also carry a Pilot 823 on me as a backu…

In case you want to try something different, I have several Platinum Century #3776. They are much cheaper than the typical Mont Blanc and they can go unused even for several months without any issue. My favorite pen functionally speaking (not so much in terms of design, a bit too conservative for my taste).
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