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Mountain of Ink

mountainofink.com

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Re: Mountain of Ink

#51

Post by _giorgio_ »

voidUpdate wrote: post #24

While the colours and such do look very nice, the "writing samples" images show exactly why I hate using fountain pens. I'm left-handed, so if I try to write prose then my hand will just smudge the writing. I've always found that cheap ballpoints are the least likely to smudge, even if they still leave residue on my hand, and as the pen gets more "premium", the worse the smudging problem gets. I like to use as fine a…

I'm left handed and I never smudge at all.

I use Iroshizuku Kon Peki, Oxford Optik paper, Pilot Prera and Kakuno in M width.

Re: Mountain of Ink

#52

Post by cropher »

When it comes to fountain pens and inks, I went down a rabbit hole more than once in the past.

Noodlers makes some unique pens and inks. I have a Noodlers Ahab, for example, that has a very flexible nib. Different than any of the more conventional pens I used before.

But one thing that bothers me about fountain pens is that they are messy. Some of it can be avoided. You don't need a piston filler to dip into your special ink bottle to refill your pen if you don't mind using regular cartridges. But one thing that seems unavoidable is that the "section" (the part where you hold the pen) gets messy when you put the cap on it. I wonder why every fountain pen seems to have this design. One would think that a smaller cap that only covers the nib would suffice.

I wonder if there are fountain pens like this. I feel another rabbit hole calling.

Re: Mountain of Ink

#53

Post by bayindirh »

Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #28
voidUpdate wrote: post #24

While the colours and such do look very nice, the "writing samples" images show exactly why I hate using fountain pens. I'm left-handed, so if I try to write prose then my hand will just smudge the writing. I've always found that cheap ballpoints are the least likely to smudge, even if they still leave residue on my hand, and as the pen gets more "premium", the worse the smudging problem gets. I like to use as fine a…

As a fountain pen enthusiast with some beautiful pens that will probably become rare in the future, it makes me somewhat sad that my only son is left-handed.

Don't feel sad. I'm left handed, too and use fountain pens specifically. I hold my pens as a right handed person would, so my hand is very far from what I write, and I never smudge anything.

Re: Mountain of Ink

#54

Post by bayindirh »

kromo888 wrote: post #37
agambrahma wrote: post #16

I think people over-complicate fountain pens a lot. I have a Lamy Safari that I got in 2012 and works just as well today. It's what I still recommend to anyone who asks what to get. Just get the pen, with its cartridge, add more cartridges -- you can stay here and already you're way better than with most standard ball pens that you'd be using otherwise. Then, get the small converter, plop it in, get your first bottle…

You are putting rationale and practical thinking up against a classic irrational hobby. The best hobbies are usually both irrational and completely unnecessary.

I mean, if using an "irrational" tool to write allows me to write longer, better and helps me think clearer, I'll only call this hobby "irrationally rational" :)

Re: Mountain of Ink

#55

Post by bayindirh »

throwanem wrote: post #40
calmbonsai wrote: post #3

In the states, Goulet Pens is a wonderful niche retailer of inks and fountain pens. https://www.gouletpens.com/

Strong recommend. Brian's a friendly and diligent guy, always ready to help research and solve customer problems. The only fountain pens I don't get from Goulet Pens are the ones they don't sell.

Once I bought something from them and they shipped it here, overseas. The packaging arrived perfectly. I really wish them all the best.

If you talk with him, and if you can relay this, I'd be glad.

Re: Mountain of Ink

#57

Post by bayindirh »

cropher wrote: post #52

When it comes to fountain pens and inks, I went down a rabbit hole more than once in the past. Noodlers makes some unique pens and inks. I have a Noodlers Ahab, for example, that has a very flexible nib. Different than any of the more conventional pens I used before. But one thing that bothers me about fountain pens is that they are messy. Some of it can be avoided. You don't need a piston filler to dip into your spe…

How do you carry your pens? Do you fly with them a lot?

Re: Mountain of Ink

#58

Post by cropher »

bayindirh wrote: post #57
cropher wrote: post #52

When it comes to fountain pens and inks, I went down a rabbit hole more than once in the past. Noodlers makes some unique pens and inks. I have a Noodlers Ahab, for example, that has a very flexible nib. Different than any of the more conventional pens I used before. But one thing that bothers me about fountain pens is that they are messy. Some of it can be avoided. You don't need a piston filler to dip into your spe…

How do you carry your pens? Do you fly with them a lot?

Not at all. But it seems that the inside of the caps gets messy anyway. Probably from the nib making contact when capping.

Re: Mountain of Ink

#59

Post by voidUpdate »

_giorgio_ wrote: post #51
voidUpdate wrote: post #24

While the colours and such do look very nice, the "writing samples" images show exactly why I hate using fountain pens. I'm left-handed, so if I try to write prose then my hand will just smudge the writing. I've always found that cheap ballpoints are the least likely to smudge, even if they still leave residue on my hand, and as the pen gets more "premium", the worse the smudging problem gets. I like to use as fine a…

I'm left handed and I never smudge at all. I use Iroshizuku Kon Peki, Oxford Optik paper, Pilot Prera and Kakuno in M width.

What hand position do you use? The equivalent of a right handed person, or a specialised one to move your hand away from the writing?

Re: Mountain of Ink

#60

Post by doom2 »

voidUpdate wrote: post #59
_giorgio_ wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm left handed and I never smudge at all. I use Iroshizuku Kon Peki, Oxford Optik paper, Pilot Prera and Kakuno in M width.

What hand position do you use? The equivalent of a right handed person, or a specialised one to move your hand away from the writing?

This is why I can't get into fountain pens (also left handed). I want to hold a pen like a right handed person does. I want to use the inks, pens, and papers that everyone else uses without taking special consideration for my being left handed. Why should I have to learn to write underhand or to hook my wrist or to tilt the paper when I write, just to avoid smudging? I don't see right handed people doing it.
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