Fountain pen inks: the good, the bad, and the ugly (2011) • Hacker News Board

Re: Fountain pen inks: the good, the bad, and the ugly (2011)

#231

Post by SomeHacker44 » Tue, Mar 13, 2018, 7:18 PM UTC

weinzierl wrote: post #142

nimbius wrote: post #93

I went through a fountain pen phase for about a year and finally gave up on it after a few notable incidents. - going through the airport was hit or miss. Bristol? Stuttgart? things are perfect. interstate travel in the US? id lost two pens to the TSA. My flight to calgary started perfectly, and ended after a half full fountain pen quietly burst in my jacket pocket. not fun. - No one seems to know what these things a…

> My flight to calgary started perfectly, and ended after a half full fountain pen quietly burst in my jacket pocket. not fun. This isn‘t too uncommon, I have been told. Years ago, when I worked in aerospace, I had a colleague who always carried his precious fountain pen in a small black box. When I asked him about it, he told me that the box was only partially to protect his pen but also to protect his bag and the t…

I always take my fountain pens out of my travel bag before leaving if flying is involved. The pressure changes I have always assumed do not do good things to the pens. As an unpressurized plane owner I don’t often interact with the TSA, though.

OTOH after an extended absence from my office, my desk TWSBI 580 EF worked perfectly the first stroke after six weeks, filled with a Noodler’s plum ink (the name escapes me right now).

Re: Fountain pen inks: the good, the bad, and the ugly (2011)

#232

Post by aries1980 » Thu, Mar 15, 2018, 9:44 AM UTC

Steve44 wrote: post #230

aries1980 wrote: post #228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends on the nib. A 18K nib is soft enough to develop flatter surfaces over the time, based on the owner's writing style. It is also mentioned on one of the premier fountain maker's (and OEM nib maker) page: https://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US.CMS.displayCMS.25...

I can't see where on that link it talks about the nib developing flatter surfaces. The nib is flexible and with long term use and excessive pressure can alter the angle of the tines. That can affect the ink flow through the slit affecting how the ink is laid. The tip, the only part which touches the paper, is made of iridium[1], or similar, which is very hard. As far as I can tell that doesn't wear. Some very old or…

“As the material is soft enough to adapt to your handwriting with time.”

Not every nib is flexible. My Duofold and Meisterstück certainly aren't, my cheap Noodler's Ahab just to a limited extent (but it is a special steel flex nib).

Re: Fountain pen inks: the good, the bad, and the ugly (2011)

#233

Post by UenoHDTV80 » Sat, Mar 24, 2018, 3:15 AM UTC

matte_black wrote: post #31

UenoHDTV80 wrote: post #25

If you're not a caligrapher, why bother? Just buy gel pens and get the comfort with way less maintenance.

There is something timeless about writing with a fountain pen that a crappy gel pen can never capture. I rarely have to write by hand these days, but when I must write something beyond a few scribbled notes, I find the fountain pen encourages me to write with intent , and to savor every stroke.

Savor every stroke? Timeless? See that's what I'm talking about. Fountain pens and gel pens are both tools but somehow people associate fountain pens with class. It's great that you like fountain pens but you must admit, you like the image more than the actual pen.

I think gel pens are more practical tools, but I like the image better as well. To me, fountain pens are like fedoras... people think wearing a fedora makes you classy like some noir detective. Except to everyone else, it makes you look sily.